How best to add 6-foot swing under 12-foot deck?
Question:I have a second-story deck that's 12 feet above ground. I want to attach swings underneath for my kids, ages 15 months and 4 1/2. The swings from the store hang only 6 feet, both for safety (those kids can get crazy with too much freedom!) and practicality (ever seen a 12-foot-tall swingset for this age group?) Also worth nothing is that the deck extends only 6 feet from the house, so extending the chains on the swings is not an option as I fear the kids could literally smack against the side of the house in that case.
My question is what the best way is to attach a beam or bar to the deck so that it's only 8 feet max above the ground, then attach the swings to that beam. I don't want to impact the integrity of the deck. I also want to do it in a way that allows us to easily raise the height in the future without a lot of work or impact on the quality of the supporting beams for the deck.
The deck is 12 feet wide, with beams every 6 feet across.
Any suggestions?
Answers:
If I were you the first thing I would do would be to disregard the other two answers as someone will get seriously injured... Get yourself a 12' 2X8 or 2X10 pressure treated, and lag bolt it to the "legs" of the deck. this will not interfere with the integrity of the deck supports set them at the 8' level you are looking to get, and do two (2) staggered bolts per support leg staying away from the edges of the 4X4 or 6X6 legs. Get some eye bolts, long enough to go through the 2X8 or 2X10 (from bottom to top, not through the front or back) as far as adjustment after wards, the chain to the swing will allow you to adjust as they grow just jump a few links on the chain with the hook that hangs them!
Make sure that the posts from the bottom of the deck running to the ground are secured very well to the deck and at ground level. Get a 4X4 post and run it between the support posts. One on each side. You'll need one 12' long 4X4. Also pick up 4 - 8' 2X4's and place them under the new 4X4 at each post. Screw them into the support posts and these will insure the 4X4's will stay up. Now add your 4X4's on top of these 2X4 and fasten them to the support posts as well as the 2X4's.
Hope your children have fun on their new swings!
try hanging a 2x4 from 2 sturdy chains attached to the center support beam of your deck then attach the swing to the 2x4. the swing will then swing parallel to the house with no chance of bumping it and you can raise or lower it as needed.
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