A porch swing is a great summer addition to an outdoor space, but it can become dangerous once the bad weather rolls around. A strong enough gust of wind will blow it over or into things, possibly causing damage.
So, let’s look at how to secure a porch swing from wind. Our tips will work for built-in porch swings and freestanding patio swings and egg chairs.
1. Consider placement
Works for: patio swing or porch swing
First, make sure your patio swing is placed away from your home or that it at least has enough distance to swing freely without banging into something. Of course, this might not be possible (especially with a porch swing), but keeping some distance between it and your home will avoid the worst of the damage.
2. Stake it down
Works for: patio swing
A good option for how to keep a patio swing from blowing over is to stake it down. Any kind of heavy-duty outdoor stake will work, but this’ll only work on soft surfaces like grass.
3. Bolt it down
Works for: porch swing or patio swing
Alternatively, if your porch swing is set up on a deck (or porch), bolt it down. Anything from a corner brace to a swing hanger will do the job. Canopy sand bags can work for a patio swing if it’s on a freestanding frame and you don’t want to permanently fix it down.
4. Bungee cords
Works for: porch swing or patio swing
If your main concern for how to secure a porch swing from wind is the seat itself, bungee cords are a good option. For a patio swing, wrap them through the seat and around the frame and they should stop it from moving around in the wind. To secure a built-in porch swing, you’ll need to try and fix the seat to something like a railing.
5. Use a windbreak
Works for: patio swing or porch swing
In lighter winds, a simple windbreak should be enough to stop the seat from moving. Of course, this won’t prevent a patio swing frame from blowing over, but it’ll make sitting on it a bit more pleasant. For porch swings, arrange the windbreak around your porch or install some kind of screen.
You could also make a windbreak from any piece of fabric. The intention isn’t always to stop the wind completely but to reduce it enough so that it’s no longer a nuisance.
6. Remove the cushions
Works for: patio swing or porch swing
While this isn’t a tip for how to secure a porch swing from wind, it’s common sense if you know bad weather is coming. Remove the cushions completely or follow our tips on how to keep them from blowing away.
7. Put things on it
Works for: patio swing or porch swing
It might sound like an obvious suggestion, but sit things on the swing to stop it from blowing around. They’ll need to be pretty heavy, though. Consider using other patio furniture, although if the wind is strong enough, you risk causing even more damage.
8. Lay it down
Works for: patio swing
Perhaps the easiest way for how to keep a patio swing from blowing over is to lay it down yourself. After all, if you’re concerned about it getting damaged, you might as well take a proactive approach!
Final Thoughts
Knowing how to secure a patio swing from wind is a bit more complicated than other outdoor furniture. They’re an easier target because they’re big, but at least one of the options above should be suitable. However, if all else fails, you could just take the swing apart and store it indoors until you want to use it again.