Oh, how you don’t want to leave the shady garden for a daytime siesta in a stuffy house on warm summer days. Well, why not relax in a light breeze, admiring how he fervently plays with foliage? And really, why? After all, there is a very comfortable option for this and its name is a garden swing made of metal. Today they are very popular with summer residents and owners of cottages. Designs can be assembled independently or purchased ready-made. In the first case, the swing will become a kind of confirmation of your talent, because in a homemade product, you can express all the originality of your imagination by assembling the structure in an unusual way and providing it with an unprecedented decor.
There are a lot of swing design options and ideas, so the homegrown master will not have to reinvent the wheel, you can simply modify the existing models.
Types of garden swing
Garden swings are divided into two types:
- Portable.
- Stationary.
Portable options
Mobile swings are quite stable. They are easy to install, easy to move and easy to transport. To ensure that the structure does not tip over during operation, it must be given maximum stability. This is done by choosing a flat area and fixing the legs with reinforcing pins. The latter will be easy to remove from the ground if necessary, move the swing to another place. Sometimes a metal structure is welded, fixing the junction of the crossbar with the supports with peculiar triangles. In this way, it is given additional rigidity. Portable models are also convenient because they can be removed for the winter in a dry place, so they won’t have to stand idle and rust.
Stationary options
These constructions are set thoroughly. Their supports go deep into the ground and are concreted. Typically, these swings are placed in spacious areas. Their operating instructions provide for a free space of several meters both behind and in front of the device.
back to index ↑Garden swing made of metal in various variations
swing bench
Classic assembly with suspension of the seat on rigid rods or chains. As for the creation of supports and everything else, here, if you are ready to assemble all this with your own hands, you are free to enter the zone of creative search. It just needs to be done, because looking at the projects of standard models, you will understand that simplicity, in the case of a swing, is by no means synonymous with comfort. It will be possible to swing on such an instance and enjoy it only in calm and dry weather: rain and wind will disturb the idyll of relaxation, since both the roof and side rails are missing in the configuration. This explains the high popularity of models with canopy visors, as well as soft seats, which will not be superfluous at all when it comes to convenience.
Forged swing
The presence of a welding machine and high-quality iron will allow you to create a masterpiece. Swings of this type are incredibly durable, powerful and, with proper care, are ready to serve for centuries. Beauty combined with durability makes them a priority of choice. The design has a wide base and all-welded suspension. The suspension is also fastened by forging, no springs. But the roof is better to make from polycarbonate than from metal. It softens and muffles the sound of rain, and it will not be so repentant from the sun. Incredibly aesthetic, almost magical, look forged swing, decorated with intricate steel ornaments and beautiful lamps.
sofa swing
“We can safely say that metal structures will look great framed by ornate forging and wood paneling”
This type of swing can be found in almost every second garden. They are chosen for their compactness and convenience. The soft blocks that cover the seat can be removed and folded. The model itself is quite maneuverable, so it is often moved to covered terraces and verandas for the winter period. Many designs have a seat that folds out into a horizontal plane.
Metal pipes and a profile are used to make a swing sofa. If you are going to purchase a finished product, then be sure to look at how many swings it is designed for, how many positions are provided for the backrest, and whether it is possible to convert it into a spacious bed.
Naturally, I would like to see a structure in my garden under a white tent and surrounded by fluttering curtains, but such a dream costs serious money. Look at more budget options: they are often no worse.
If we talk about the decor of the swing, then we can safely say that metal structures will look great framed by ornate forging and wood paneling. Peaks and canopies should be fastened low, made wide and do not forget to give them a slight slope so that rainwater flows back. If a night's sleep is planned on the swing, then it makes sense to hide the structure under the mosquito net.
You can decorate the swing with a translucent curtain. Its task will not only be decorative. It will scatter bright sunlight and protect against sharp gusts of wind. No one forbids to show imagination and, for example, to complement the decor with soft-sounding bells or unusual lighting effects. In this regard, everything can be in full accordance with your desires.
back to index ↑We build ourselves
What to consider when drawing up a project for arranging a garden swing made of metal?
- Type of construction and consumables. Both will directly depend on the budget, however, no matter what price segment we are talking about, the advantage should always remain with the quality: good plastic parts, high-grade metal, durable wood, etc.
- Construction size. Before you start building, decide on the dimensions of the swing. If you need it just for a short rest, then it is quite enough to make it double. For a large family or a noisy company, it is better to install triple models.
- Maximum load. This indicator is related to the number of seats and the class of the product, so it may vary. Minimum threshold - 150
kg, is usually provided for single options.Powerful triple models are able to "shake" all 400 kg. It is clear that if there is a financial opportunity, then it is more profitable to install a swing with a high load threshold. In this case, the wear rate of components will be much lower.
- Cross section of load-bearing elements. The frame must be powerful and durable so as not to collapse at the most inopportune moment in case of accidental overload.
- Support shape. This is a leading factor in sustainability, and, consequently, security. In addition, the shape of the racks or base dictates what kind of surface the swing can be installed on: on soft ground, in the garden, on the lawn, or on hard asphalt near the gazebo.
- working moments. The amplitude of swing, the height of the seat, the possibility of its transformation, the fixation function and other parameters that allow you to increase the level of comfort.
Small swing, big swing
Assembling metal garden swing, do not be too lazy to make a separate single option if there are children in the house. It will be much safer and more interesting for them to swing on a personal swing, and adults will not have to wait for the child to play enough on their territory.
For a children's swing design, four curved profile pipes and a central cross member will be required. The seat can be hung on a thick cable or chains. To increase ease of use and protect the child from falling, it is worth welding the back to the seat, and then lining it with varnished wooden slats.
For adults, a more solid structure is built from one and a half or two inches of pipes. Of these, supporting sidewalls are made, reinforced at the bottom with a spacer. On the upper crossbar, holes are cut out for the eyes or a pair of steel bearing races are welded to the pipe. This will firmly secure the seat.
Why is it better to build metal swings, especially stationary ones? Because this material is noticeably cheaper than wood, does not require complex maintenance, and only a welding machine is needed to create them.
back to index ↑Unusual offers
“The symbiosis of a hammock and a garden swing turns out to be amazingly cozy”
Connoisseurs of originality may like garden swings made of metal in an unusual design. For example, a traditional bench seat can be replaced with a comfortable metal cocoon chair fixed to the support post at one point. The amplitude of rotation and swing of this model is not limited by anything. You can even rotate around its own axis.
It will be unusual to replace the standard seat with a beach chair. Particularly interesting interpretations can be obtained by beating the shape of the support.
A symbiosis of a hammock and a garden swing turns out to be amazingly cozy. The fabric seat will not have a back, and it is not required, because it is convenient to half-sit or lie in a hammock without it. A great idea for those who like to take a nap in the garden.
By hanging the seat on one chain, instead of the standard two, you will get an installation like a swing chair.
An openwork metal chair can be attached, without further ado with supports, to a strong branch, and a rope can be used as a suspension. By doing this, you will demonstrate to the world that the comfort of sitting is important in a swing, and not the way it is fixed.
The next version of the swing design was apparently invented by great lovers of outdoor eating. They built a small table into the bench seat, on the surface of which drinks and desserts can be placed. For complete comfort, support platforms were installed under the legs, which allows you to comfortably settle down for a long conversation.
back to index ↑So that the swing lasts a long time
In order for a garden swing made of metal to serve for a long time, it is necessary to adequately and for its intended purpose operate the products.
– Under no circumstances exceed the indicated maximum load. Do not fall on the swing seat in a crowd, but evenly distribute along the length of the seat.
– Avoid shock loads, which include sudden seating. This negatively affects both the locking mechanisms and the stability of the structure as a whole.
- It is forbidden to jump on the swing. It is dangerous to swing on them while standing. A rigidly fixed seat is not worth trying to swing to the sides.
- An excessively large swing amplitude is fraught with an early failure of the connecting mechanisms of the structure. Since the seats are sometimes not too deep, in the form unfolded to the sofa they are generally devoid of a back, strong rocking can lead to the fact that you simply fall to the ground and it’s good if from a small height.
- A new element of garden design will require appropriate care, which consists in timely cleaning, lubrication of moving joints, wiping, painting, and replacing worn parts.
back to index ↑Conclusion
Installing a garden swing made of metal is a simple task and not too expensive. Their design is simple but reliable. They may well serve more than one generation of your family, of course, with an appropriate attitude towards them. So think about it, maybe it's time for you to equip a full-fledged recreation area on a suburban area, and not plant everything with potatoes?
Photo gallery: metal garden swing
back to index ↑
Video