DIY Arbor With Swing

Drive wooden stakes into the ground beside the inside face of the frame. Raise the frame so it is level, and drive screws through the stakes into the frame. On the ground, mark the inside the corners of the frame 1-3/4 inches in each direction to locate the center point of the holes for the posts.

Cut 2 x 4s to brace and level each post, and secure the braces to the post and the setting frame with 3-inch-long deck screws. Mix concrete following the manufacturer’s instructions and fill the holes. After placing the concrete in each hole, check the post for level, adjust as necessary, and allow the concrete to cure overnight.

Attach the front/back post wraps (B) to the posts (A) with construction adhesive and 6d galvanized nails with the top of the wraps at the layout mark on each post (Project Diagram, Drawing 4). Now add the side wraps (C) -- these boards will slightly overlap the front/back wraps you applied earlier – and center the boards on the post assemblies.

Because the post dimensions can vary slightly, cut the caps (D) from 1 x 2 cedar boards to fit around the post, and secure with adhesive and nails on top of the post wraps (B) and (C) (Project Diagram, Drawing 5).

To cut an arch in each beam (Project Diagram, Drawing 6), first draw the 1-3/4-inch end circles and the arch centerline (Project Diagram, Drawing 6). Mark each centerline 5-1/2 inches down from the top edge. Bend a long scrap until it touches the radius points of the end circles and the centerline mark; then clamp it in place. Trace the arch with a pencil and repeat for the remaining beams.

Screw the side beams (E) to the post (Project Diagram, Drawing 7), aligning each end with the outside face of the posts (A), and then add the front/back beams (F).

The side rails panels and trellis panels we will cut from six foot pre-assembled deck rail sections for quick and easy installation. For the side rail panels (H), cut two 32-inch-long sections from the treated deck rails (Project Diagram, Drawing 8). Cut the panels so the spindles are evenly spaced over the length of the side panels. Secure to the bottom rails with screws, and install the top rails (G).

Adjust the layout for the hanger beams (I) based on the center points of the hanging chains for your swing (Project Diagram, Drawing 9). Based on the hanger beam locations, cut the outside trellis panels (J) from the treated deck rail sections as you did with the side panels. Secure the trellis panels and the outside hanger beams (Project Diagram, Drawing 10).

Cut the center trellis panel (K) to the length needed, add the hanger beams to the end of the trellis panel, and attach the assembly to the front/back beams (F).

Clamp the arch panel boards in position with the bottom edges aligned with the bottom edges of the end beams (E) and front/back beams (F) (Project Diagram, Drawing 11).

Trace arch cutouts from the end beams (E) on the end arch panels (L) and the arch cutouts on the front/back beams (F) on the front/back arch panels (M). Now offset the traced shape by 1/4 inch to the inside of the beams to make the arches slightly smaller. Cut the shape with a jigsaw and sand smooth. By creating this slight offset, the parts do not need to fit perfectly, and they will create a shadow line after the arbor is painted.

From a 1 x 6 board, cut the beam bottoms (R) to cover the spaces between the hanger beams (I). Glue and nail the boards in position (Project Diagram, Drawing 12).