Wooden Porch Swings

Porch swings are available in different kinds of wood. Among the more popular choices are pine, cedar, alder and cypress.

Cedar would be the more desirable wood type to be used for porch swings, as it is very attractive and is able to naturally resist rot and ward off insects. If it is new, cedar is of a red color and then turns brown and then eventually become silvery gray when it ages. The two types of cedar wood, which are used in porch swings, would be Western Red Cedar and Northern White Cedar. Porch swings made of Western Red Cedar wood are seen as the best option, due to its attractive red color, as well as its texture, which is fine-grained and has a satiny luster, not to mention it has a pleasant odor.

Cypress is also a good alternative, as it is very sturdy and can also naturally resist insects and decay because it has oils. The original color of this wood is similar to pale honey and turns to gray, as it grows old. However, it is not as durable compared to other wood types and needs to be regularly stained so that the life of your porch swing can be prolonged.

Lastly, alder is a relatively inexpensive wood type, yet is durable and strong. It is quite a practical choice, however, the wood itself does not have a pattern or design which is naturally attractive and so, alder is usually painted.

A lot of porch swings have seats that are made with horizontal slats, however the difference is in the style of the back. The traditional style is a straight back with vertical slats from the top to the bottom. This style is able to provide the most comfort and a very classic look. There are also porch swings that start straight at the bottom part and then rolls backward at the top. There are also some backs of porch swings, which have some decorative carving at the top.