Just ask suzanne henninger who owns a weekend cottage in seaside florida where the front porch features a swing painted a cool blue.
How to support porch roof to support chair swing.
If your patio does not have a ceiling then you must double or triple up rafters at the point where you intend to hang your swing.
If the swing is to be structurally stable you must bolt the support fasteners into the ceiling rafters and not just screw them into drywall or a wood ceiling.
Stand a post up in the bracket and hold a level on its side.
Make sure that the support beam or joists in your ceiling will support the weight of the porch swing and its occupants.
The classic chain setup has two chains hanging from the ceiling that each split into two separate chains creating an upside down y shape which attach to the four corners of the swing.
If you re unsure of your ceiling s strength have an experienced carpenter check it out.
Hanging swings are often added to an outdoor porch or a favorite corner of a quiet room to create a comfortable retreat.
Only a joist can safely hold the weight of a swing with people on it.
Connect the short chain to the long chain on each side about 2 or 3 feet above the seat this is variable as desired using small s hooks or quick links.
Before you purchase a swing you ll need to make sure you can safely hang it on your porch.
You can also attach four individual chains to each corner which might make your swing support stronger but requires drilling four holes in the ceiling.
Make sure the posts are plumb and check if the corners are square.
Drill pilot holes through the beams and through the posts and lock them together tightly with 7 carriage bolts.
Position a mounting bracket at one of the marks on the bottom of the porch.
Measure off the porch at intervals of 6 feet.
Clamp the support beams to the top of the posts and use a spirit level to check if they are horizontal.
Secure each short chain to the rear of the seat.
Porch swings should be mounted into ceiling rafters for safety and stability.
Build the support beams out of 2 8 lumber.
A porch swing isn t just a piece of furniture it s a state of mind.
It is not your patio roof that will support your porch swing but the ceiling of your patio that must do the job.
A typical two person swing can be supported by a single 2 x 8 joist two 2 x 6 joists or three 2 x 4 joists.
This is the length in between each post.