This project is a surprisingly easy build, requiring only simple, inexpensive materials and basic tools for construction. Even the chains are purchased in sets that are designed especially for porch swings, so no metal-cutting is involved. As long as you have a sturdy porch ceiling capable of holding the weight of the swing plus users, you’ll have your porch swing up in no time at all. Hardscaping materials tend to be fairly inexpensive, using crushed stone or paver base, paver sand, landscape fabric, and edging. Polymeric sand is swept between the pavers and dampened with a hose; the sand hardens to a cohesive joint that is much like mortar. While water-based latex paints are tolerable in enclosed spaces, the oil-based polyurethane paints required for painting countertops emit a noxious smell. Not only that, but extensive sanding is also required to prep the countertops for the paint. That’s why summer is the perfect time to paint your countertops. In addition to wearing a respirator and other safety gear, you can fling windows and doors open and direct a house fan towards the outdoors to draw fumes and dust away from the inside. Owners of homes with vertically sliding single-hung or double-hung windows have it easy when it comes to purchasing and installing window unit air conditioners. For casements and horizontally moving slider windows, though, air conditioners are more expensive and trickier to install. But this project is well worth it, especially as a respite from working on your outdoor projects while temperatures are high. Properly installed crawl space insulation helps to control mold and mildew, keeps upper floors warm, and maintains the health of your home’s foundation.
