Ladies we can repair anything if we try.

Today I had guests checking into my B & B (bed and barn) for a week and I had been meaning to repair the porch swing that hangs below from the deck. It had rotten boards on it and while sitting on it the other day I got picking at the rotten board and made a huge mess that just had to be repaired. Ugh. So like usual I wait till the last minute, today, to do the repairs which I assume will be easy, yeah right.

What I think may take just a few hours was an all day ordeal. As you can see in the photo that is the completed swing that is now hanging and I just finished as guests pulled into the driveway. I had to warn them not to sit in it as paint was still drying. They can use it tomorrow for sure.

So first thing first was to get a step ladder and climb up to hoist the thing down from the springs that hold it up. Done. Next was to carry it over to the hay barn where the big tools ware stored so that I only had to move one large thing and not half a dozen. Done. I started to tear off the boards that had obvious rot and there were way more than I had expect. See photo.

So now with all the seating boards removed and now I must pull apart the supports all 4 of them across the bottom since they have to match perfectly in order for seating boards to sit right. What a pain in the butt this is beginning to be. Not an easy or fast fix to say the least. Now I hunt threw my pile of wood to find just the right boards and as usual I have what I need cause I don't throw anything away. Taught that one from my hoarding father. I just keep a few essentials unlike him.

So I find the wood now, onto cutting the boards just right so that the frame will still match up. I use a Dewalt 718 mitre saw, what a great tool. Ladies don't be afraid of power tools they make life so much easier. I cut all 4 support pieces and they actually fit perfectly. I am now really proud of myself. I go grab my never used nail gun. I am excited and a bit scared but I can do this. I hook up the compresser and nail gun and it works. I'm telling you I was excited. I wanted to nail everything on the farm.

Supports now in place I started to cut the seating boards to length there are 3 of them. I don't like the look as they are too wide and it gives the swing a cheesy homemade look. I know it is homemade but not very craftmanslike if I say so. See pic.

So now after looking at my new boards I am not happy with the look. I know I can do better and have decided to rip each one in length so that it has a more finished look. It's more work but the end result is better which you can see in beginning of article. I rip the 3 boards so now I have six which I can space evenly across the 18 inches of seat space. I need to prime everything exposed so that I don't need to worry about rot again quite so soon. This is an old swing but I believe I gave it more years now. After primer (Kilz) is dry I coat it for the first time with the paint that matches trim on the barn. I love green and this is a good color I think it's the same as the house too. See photo.

Next I placed the seating boards on the frame. I made sure that only the good side was up and any imperfections would be faced down and out of sight. I spaced them as evenly as I could and then got out the great nail gun and started firing. What a blast that tool is. Not sure how I managed without that one. Note to self, use nail gun more often. I rehung the swing before I touched up with the last of the paint as I was hanging it by myself and managed to scuff it up a bit manuevering it up and into place. Oh well. I am now the very proud owner/fixer of one barn porch swing. Girls if I can do this you can too. Ask a guy for help teaching you but you too can do this, even if it did take all dang day.