How to find a safe beam for toddler swing?

[amrita_diy]

 

 

 

 

Hi all! Thanks for your help. 

I am trying to find a place to hang a toddler swing. I would like to hang it on our deck but not sure if the beams are load bearing/strong enough for the swing which is constructed for use up to 40kg. 
I am attaching pictures. Can anyone help?  

Thanks so much!! 

[MitchellMc · Accepted solution]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @amrita_diy. It's amazing to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about hanging a swing.

I'm not a great fan of how those rafters seem to be attached to the wall wailing plate. They haven't used joist hangers, so it is hard to tell just how solid that connection is. The one closest in your last shot looks poorly cut and fitted for that style of joint. The only things that could be holding that rafter in place are some nails and that tiny amount of timber at the top.

My issue is that since it's such a poorly fitted joint, what else was skimped out on? Perhaps they only used one nail to secure the rafter in position. In that case, there's a good chance that an additional 40kgs on the rafter would cause that tiny section of timber to break off and the joint to fail.

Pergola roofs are typically not designed to take additional weight on top of the roofing they carry. If this roof was designed only to meet minimum requirements, you should not add additional weight. Given this is a swing for a toddler, I'd recommend you enlist the services of a professional to assess the structure and implement additions that would ensure it's safe to hang a swing off. One addition that would make a world of difference would be a wailing plate placed under the existing one that the rafters sat entirely upon.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

 

[amrita_diy]

Thanks so much Mitchell for the speedy reply! It’s as I thought! 
Moir other thought was to hang it indoors somewhere. 
two more questions if you don’t mind. 
Can we assume that any ceiling beam will be able to take this load/is structurally load bearing? Can any doorframe take this load? Is there a way to asses their load bearing potential? 
Which sort of professional is best placed to install it if we decide to go that way? A carpenter or general handy man? 

Thanks so much again 

Amrita 

[MitchellMc]

Hi @amrita_diy,

Accessing load-bearing characteristics of beams is something best left to engineers, but you're not talking about supporting the weight of a roof here. A carpenter should be able to make any necessary adjustments and install mounting points into an existing structure to ensure a safe mounting point. 

Mitchell

[amrita_diy]

Thanks again Mitchell. Appreciate your help with this. 

[amrita_diy]

Hello again! 
I am picking up on this project again. We have decided the front porch might be the way to go. I’m guessing this will be a better location for load bearing since it is supporting the roof? Any advice for how to best mount a toddler swing here safely? Thank you!!!! 

 

 

 

 

[MitchellMc]

It's great to hear from you, @amrita_diy.

You can presume that the construction techniques used for the porch section would be superior to the pergola. I'd be comfortable with you screwing into the ceiling joists here. Grab yourself a stud detector to ensure you screw into the middle of a joist.  I'd recommend using either Swing Slide Climb Ductile Swing Hooks or Zenith 12.7 x 140 x 10mm Zinc Plated Eye Screws. For the screws eyes, you'll need to pre-drill holes the size of the internal shank. That's the screwed section minus the screw threads. The idea is that only the screw threads cut into the timber.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

[amrita_diy]

Thank you so much Mitchell! That’s very helpful advice and super clear for a newbie like me! Appreciate it. Cheers 

[MitchellMc]

No worries at all @amrita_diy. Keep us updated and I can't wait to see the swing in position.

Mitchell