What types of wood are best for a porch swing?

You can get porch swings made from different types of wood. The most popular are cedar, pine, cypress and alder.

Cedar is the most desirable wood for porch swings because it is very beautiful, naturally resistant to rot, and insect proof. When new, cedar is red in color; it goes brown and eventually silvery gray, as it ages. It is also light-weight. There are two types of cedar used - Northern White Cedar and Western Red Cedar. Western Red Cedar swings are considered to be the best option, because of its beautiful rich red color and its uniform, fine-grained texture, which has a satiny luster. It also has a very pleasant odor.

A cypress patio swing is another option. Cypress is very durable, and it is also naturally resistant to decay and insects because of its oils. Its original color is like pale honey, and as it ages it goes gray.

Pine patio swings are also popular. Pine is the least expensive of all quality woods, and it is light-weight and rot resistant. It looks very attractive, with natural knots present in the wood. On the downside, pine is not the most durable of all woods, and it also requires regular staining to prolong the life of your swing.

Alder is a strong, durable and relatively inexpensive wood. Alder is very practical, but the wood itself doesn