Porch Swing Hardware Guide

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Porch swings are the envy of many homeowners. If you’re among them, we’ve put together this comprehensive porch swing hardware guide, to get you familiarized with all of the pieces you need to make it a reality. Also, we’ll feature some information about mounting these swings safely and in a way that makes your frontage even more inviting. If you spend a lot of time on your porch and you’re thinking about installing a porch swing, you’re going to want to look at this guide. 

We’ll cover some of the basics, along with a list of which pieces of hardware you’ll need and what they’re for down below. 

Before we jump into it though, there are a whole host of good reasons you should be looking to install a porch swing for those of you still on the fence: 

Why Should I Install a Porch Swing? 

• They’re great for the resale value of your home 
• They create a warm and inviting atmosphere on an underused space 
• They’re a comfortable way to enjoy the outdoors 
• The best place to enjoy your morning coffee 
• Creating an outdoor space where you can relax and unwind 

Looking for an easy way to add to the curb appeal and overall resale value of your home without taking out a line of credit? Porch swings are a cheap and effective way to add some character, and charm to your front porch. 

Consider wood options that you can hang from your porch’s structure, as opposed to less attractive free standing swings. Throw on a fresh coat of paint to match your porch, some nice outdoor cushions, and you’ve got a lovely new draw to your home’s overall curb appeal! 

How Do You Know if You Can Install a Porch Swing?

The first thing we’re going to touch on here is just how feasible it is to hang a porch swing on your front porch. The goal is to have a porch swing that can safely accommodate two people, or roughly 500 pounds. Finding out whether or not you have the right kind of joists or supports for a swing is fairly straightforward. Look into the top of your porch to see if you can spot any 2×6 or 2×8 load-bearing wood beams. 

If your porch structure is covered on the inside by plywood or beadboard, you’re going to have to carefully remove it and check for these support beams before proceeding. Never attempt to hang a porch swing using just the flimsy boards overhead. 

What Kind of Chain Should You Use for a Porch Swing? 

A chain used for hanging a porch swing should be a minimum of ¾-inch thick, made of stainless steel. There’s several reasons for this. Stainless steel is durable, and not prone to damage with regular use.

It provides a safe and effective chain for hanging load-bearing seats like this from. Secondly, the thickness ensures that the chain is able to safely hold the weight that the rest of the hardware and porch swing is rated for. In this case, that weight is 500 pounds. 

What Hardware is Needed for a Porch Swing? 

Porch Swing Hardware Guide: 

• Eye Bolts or Screw Eyes 
• Chain with a minimum of ¾-inch thickness 
• S-Hook (to secure chain to Screw Eye on each mounting point of the swing)

Alternatively, there are mounting hook kits available with a few or more of these components which are already rated for 500 pounds, such as this one.

Ensure that you have enough Screw Eyes or Eye Bolts for both the two load-bearing beams, as well as each point at which the chain meets the porch swing. Using an S-Hook to connect the chain to an eye bolt on the swing seat itself is the easiest way to attach it. 

How Do You Secure a Porch Swing From the Wind? 

There are a couple techniques you can use which we’ll cover here. First of all, if your swing is connected to the chain via S-Hooks, you can safely detach the hooks from the eye bolts on the swing itself to then set it directly on the porch. With the help of a spare pair of hands, of course. While cumbersome, this will keep your swing safe in high winds. 

The next option is to install yet another eye hook onto the board directly beneath the porch swing. After which you can attach another chain that can be looped around one of the back rest boards of the porch swing, and re attached at the hook. This would keep the porch swing more or less suspended in place. You could also consider using one length of chain and a single S-hook and loop the chain onto either the arm rest or seat of the swing seat, and around the bannister of the porch. Secure both ends with the S-hook in the middle, and you’ve got the swing affixed in the ‘up’ position during high winds.  

Lastly, if high winds are of serious concern to you where you live, and your porch swing could do some damage to a window, there is one final option. Consider a porch swing design that is composed of thinner pieces of wood or metal, which would allow wind to flow through it and cause much less swaying. 

Thanks for checking out our porch swing hardware guide! Did you find it informative? Either way, we’d love to hear about your experience or questions about porch swings down below. This is a great DIY project for those looking to add something a little extra to their front porch, patio or deck space! When starting a project of this scale, be sure to keep safety in mind and ensure that all of your hardware is rated for the weight limit you’re aiming for. 

Secondly, follow the manufacturer recommended guidelines for installing hardware whenever possible. Thanks for stopping by, make sure to check out our product recommendations, reviews and guide for all things patio, porch and outdoors.