Frequently Asked Questions

Most questions our customers commonly ask are answered in detail in the sections below. If there's anything not answered or you're still not sure on please don't hesitate to get in touch with us by calling us on 01297 443084 or emailing us at info@sittingspiritually.co.uk.

Swing Seats FAQ

What makes Sitting Spiritually swing seats the best?

18 years of research into making our swings beautiful,  not just to look at, but with such detailed ergonomics that once you sit on them – you won’t want to get off.

We honed in on the finest details over the years, concise changes in angles and shapes that will refine and improve our products. The seats we manufacture now are undoubtedly better than the ones we first made when we started out, in another 10 years time we expect to be able to say the exact same thing.

The quality of the material we use is incredibly important to us. We regularly seek to find new suppliers or timbers that are an improvement on what we have been using.

Can I set the swing seat on grass?

Setting a swing seat on a lawn for the short term is absolutely fine, but after a period of time you do need to protect the legs. The important thing is to set a slab on a level plane under each leg. It can be bedded on concrete if preferred. The key is to avoid having the legs stand on grass for long periods. 

How long will wooden swing seats last?

Ultimately it depends on how well they are looked after. Sitting Spiritually has been making swing seats for over 18 years, and we still have our very first swing seats on show in our garden looking weathered but just as  good as when we first made them – and they’ve been very well used!

Wood, if neglected, will be at risk of algae building up and rotting when subjected to the elements. It’s really important the swing seats are looked after with regular, easy care.

We do offer a full aftercare package.

How do I order?

You can order directly through our website, selecting the options you prefer and handling the whole situation online. Once you have made an online order, we will always contact you to discuss your selection so it’s never too late to tweak or amend.

Alternatively, if you prefer you can order over the phone or email. We’re more than happy to work in whatever way you would prefer.

How do I hang a swing seat from a tree?

The first thing we need to know is how high the bough is, and what the girth of the bough is.

One thing we can never guarantee is that the tree will be strong enough. If you’re in any doubt, contact your local tree surgeon and ask them to verify it. Watch our Youtube video on how to hang a swing seat from a tree. 

What are my options for the back of my swing seat?

At the moment, we offer 5 different shaped backs that are all the same price.

We have a Fan Back which has historically been the most popular, a Slat Back which offers an ergonomic benefit of improved lumber support, a Curve back, a Swirl back or our Arts & Crafts Movment inspired Heart Back. You can see the full range of back styles available here.

Do you assemble them for me?

Yes - we can! It's an optional extra when you check out. For a swing seat and frame we use a local removals company called Saturn Removals who will take your swing seat from the workshop and deliver to your door, a seat and frame will go through a standard door. They’ll assemble the frame in position for you before inviting you to sit on them for testing and adapt it to your personal height.

What wood is used for swing seats?

All of the wood we use comes under the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) meaning we know what tree it has come from.

The Kyokusen, Tranquillity and the Swinging Day Bed are all made using prime grade European oak and it comes from the managed estates in the Champagne region of France.

The Serenity swing seat comes in Western Red Cedar which we source from Canada. We’ve experimented with English Red Cedar but found it grows too fast and doesn’t have the properties we need.

For our Affinity painted range we use Accoya which is a unique engineered soft wood which has a 25 year manufacturers guarantee

Can swing seats be left outside all year?

Yes, they can! We never bring any of ours in from the Sitting Spiritually garden. There are covers available for purchase should you want to cover it in the Winter months.

Where can I see your swing seats?

You can visit our show garden in Lyme Regis where we have a number of commissions on display. To arrange your visit please complete the Visit Us form or call 01297 443084.

We have on our website a"Find a sear near you" where you can see a range of our swing seats on show in public gardens and places of interest across the UK.

We also offer a service whereby we can arrange to have a private viewing with another swing seat owner near you, subject of course to getting their permission.

Where can I put my swing seat?

Anywhere you like! Of course, some sites are better than others. Ideally the site needs to be level.

If you want to stand it on a lawn, we recommend putting it there and leaving it for a while to check it’s where you want it. After that you just need to put a paving slab under each leg so you can get around with a mower. If it proves as popular  as expect it will, you’ll likely wear the grass underneath so you might wish to put something there too.

You can also set the back legs in to a bed with a paving slab under each leg which is a popular option, that way you can let the plants grow under and around the swing seat. Sometimes the motion of the swing seat wafts around the scent of the flowers for a truly serene experience.

If you want to see how much space to leave behind a swing seat, check out our helpful video on YouTube.

How long will it take to make?

From commission, it tends to be 4-6 weeks. In busier times, it may be longer. Please get in touch with us if you have any questions about lead times. If you need it faster for a birthday or anniversary, do let us know and we’ll endeavour to accelerate our process for you.

We always aim to keep a small amount of swing seats in stock.

How about guarantees and warranties?

We offer a 5 year guarantee for all of our products, apart from the Accoya range which has a 25 year guarantee on the wood.  We recommend reading & following the contents of our Aftercare page

Can I hang a swing seat from a Pergola?

Yes, providing the pergola is of sufficient strength and quality, it’s a lovely option to hang a swing seat from one. We can provide the fixings and advise on the finer details such as where the centres should be.

What sizes do you make swing seats in?

The smallest is a one seater which is a generous chair size, through to a two, three and four seater.

Why do you spray paint rather than dip your seats? 

We sell our swing seats in 132 colours, personalisation and allowing our customers to find the perfect seat for their garden is such a big part of what we do. Combining the colour range with the size of our largest items we’ve found that spray painting (with five coats) provides an exceptionally high quality of finish without needing to compromise. It does take longer, and requires skill to achieve the finish we demand, but our seats are worth the wait.

What about colours on your painted range?

We tend to focus on two main suppliers for our painted range: Farrow and Ball or Cuprinol Garden Shades. We use a 5 coat painting system, starting with a stain block coat, followed by a primer and an undercoat before the final layers. The result is a high build of paint with exceptional quality.

Can your seats be customised?

Yes. Most of the accessories that we offer as standard are as a result of people asking us if we can personalise their swing.

We can do all sorts of wonderful extras, from insetting an ammonite as a tip of the hat to our Jurassic coast heritage, to carvings and inscriptions, caricatures, drinks shelves, bottle holders… we’re always open to new ideas.

See Accessories 

Do I have to pay upfront?

No, our normal terms are that we take a deposit. We then confirm back to you exactly what you would like with any additional accessories.

We won’t start making your swing seat until you give the go-ahead, and we’ll keep you updated with an image of it finished in the workshop approximately 4 weeks down the line.The balance is payable proir to delivery.

Do swing seats need covering in the winter?

No, the swing seats don’t explicitly need covering from the elements, though we do have recommended covers available should you want to.

We actually find leaving them out accelerates the process of allowing the wood to mellow to a lovely silver hue that characterises outdoor wooden furniture.

What maintenance do they require?

Common-sense looking after. What you must avoid is letting them get dirty or built up with algae, instead keep them clean with a regular scrub with sugar soap or with our recommend cleaning products.

Over time as the natural tannins leave the wood in the weathering process, the wood will get ‘hungry’. We recommend applying a feeding oil.

Further information on maintenance can be found on our Aftercare page.

Do the seats need fixing down to the ground?

Our standard frame swing seats do not need fixing down to the ground. We recommend fixing down the Tall Oak Frame due to it's particularly high frame, and the same for the Trilogy if ordered with an extra high frame. You can read more about fixing down your seat.

How can I stop wasps eating wood from my bench?

Ways to deter wasps from stripping wood from your swing seat include hanging an artificial wasp nest nearby, put a piece of freshly sawn oak nearby, or buy an anti-wasp oil.

That said, wasps are gardeners' friends and our policy is to live and let live. You can learn more about that in our article: Wasps.... friend or foe of your swing seat?

Rope Swings FAQ

What makes Sitting Spiritually rope swings the best?

The oak we use to make them with is seasoned. A lot of companies use unseasoned green oak, which is a lottery in terms of its finish. When green oak dries out, the wood may sometimes ‘misbehave’ and split which can lead to problems.  Ours don't do this.

Our rope swings also come with under-batons, a strengthening device where the ropes enter the wood that reinforces the swing.

For rope, we use hempex which is a synthetic rope that looks authentic and identical to hemp but has the advantage of not rotting.

If you're still deciding how to choose what Rope Swing is best for you, watch as Sitting Spiritually founder Martin Young guides you through the different options in our video.

How long will my rope swing last?

We’ve been producing them for over 10 years and we have never had any reports of them deteriorating. As a natural material, wood will need care and attention over time to ensure it stays in good condition - you can find out more on our Aftercare page.

How long do they take to make?

If it’s uncarved, they can be ready within 5 days. For carved we would allow up to 14 days.

Can they be customised?

Yes, they can be customised with inscriptions and carvings. Head to our carvings page to see the sort of work we can do. 

Can you hang it for me?

Unfortunately this is not a service we offer, though we happily guide you through the process and explain what to do, it's really very easy!

Do they come with a fixing kit?

Yes, all of our rope swings come with our fixing kit as standard.

Can they be left out all year?

Yes, always!

What sizes do they come in?

They come in 4 sizes. A children’s size (75cm), a single (75cm), a double (110cm) and a round rope swing (35cm).

How do I order?

You can order directly through our website, selecting the options you prefer and handling the whole situation online. Once you have made an online order, we will always contact you to discuss your selection so it’s never too late to tweak or amend.

Alternatively, if you prefer you can order over the phone or email. We’re more than happy to work in whatever way you would prefer.

How about guarantees and warranties?

We offer an unconditional 12 month guarantee for all of our rope swings. In reality, it can go much further beyond that. We take immense pride in our customer service and ensuring they have the best possible experience with us – if a customer has an issue with anything, we deal with it. It is our policy that if something goes wrong and we are at fault, Sitting Spiritually will deal with it at our expense.

How do I hang a Rope Swing?

The most common problem we get is when people order their ropes too short, incorrectly measuring the height or underestimating the girth of the bough.

You will need to get up the bough of the tree, there’s no way of easily avoiding that. The quick way of doing it is to get a long piece of string and put a weight on the end of it, throw it over the bough of the tree and pull it back down again and then measure that on the floor.

It’s very difficult to estimate when you look up how high it is.

We are happy to help advise how to measure or hang a rope swing, don’t hesitate to get in contact and we’ll guide you through the process.

We have also created a handy video tutorial on how to hang a Rope Swing, click to go to our YouTube channel.

Please note, we can provide kits to hang them from a beam or ceiling.

How much rope do I need?

The most common problem we get is when people order their ropes too short, incorrectly measuring the height or underestimating the girth of the bough.

When you are ready to hang it you will need to get up the bough of the tree, there’s no way of easily avoiding that. But to measure the drop the quick way of doing it is to get a long piece of string and put a weight on the end of it, throw it over the bough of the tree and pull it back down again and then measure that on the floor.

It’s very difficult to estimate when you look up how high it is.

We are happy to help advise how to measure or hang a rope swing, don’t hesitate to get in contact and we’ll guide you through the process.

Our video tutorial we created on our YouTube channel may help you find the correct amount of rope.

What wood do you use for you rope swings?

We use a superior kiln-dried FSC oak.

Do they need any maintenance?

Regular cleaning will help prolong their life. Ensure they don’t get too dirty or allow any algae to set in.

Do the freestanding rope swings need fixing down to the ground?

We recommend fixing down the Tall Oak Frame due to it's particularly high frame, and the same for the Trilogy if ordered with an extra high frame. You can read more about fixing down your furniture.

Benches FAQ

What wood do you use?

We almost exclusively use Oak, Cedar and Accoya but can use larch as an alternative.

How long do they take to make?

Usually 4-6 weeks from the date of commission.

What maintenance do they require?

Common-sense looking after. What you must avoid is letting them get dirty or built up with algae, instead keep them clean with a regular scrub with sugar soap or with our recommend cleaning products.

Over time as the natural tannins leave the wood in the weathering process, the wood will get ‘hungry’. We recommend applying a feeding oil.

Further information on maintenance can be found on our aftercare page.

How do I order?

You can order directly through our website, selecting the options you prefer and handling the whole situation online. Once you have made an online order, we will always contact you to discuss your selection so it’s never too late to tweak or amend.

Alternatively, if you prefer you can order over the phone or email. We’re more than happy to work in whatever way you would prefer.

Day Bed FAQ

What wood do you use?

Our Swinging Day Beds are made using Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Oak. We have had bespoke commissions in recent times where customers have requested different wood types, which we are more than happy to discuss and quote for separately.

How long do Swinging Day Beds take to make?

Our Swinging Day Beds typically take 4-6 weeks to make and deliver from commission, this may take longer during busy periods. If you have a tighter schedule, please let us know and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.

All Swinging Day Beds are made to order, we do not hold any stock.

What maintenance do they require?

As with any Sitting Spiritually product, we recommend you look after them properly, with common sense.

Ensuring you clean, feed, and treat the wood is important. For the first 3 years, the natural tannins from the wood will help preserve the oak.

We would then recommend our aftercare products to help treat and feed the wood.

Customers must avoid build-up of algae or letting them get dirty. Please be sure to clean your Swinging Day Bed regularly with sugar soap or with our recommended cleaning products.

For more information on maintenance, please visit our Aftercare page.

What makes yours the best?

Our Swinging Day Beds are one of a kind, as they are exclusive to Sitting Spiritually.

All Swinging Days Beds are made to order and you can feel the exceptional quality and comfort when you relax on one.

The high-quality materials and methods used bring a joyful experience like no other. The comfort largely owes to the positioning of the suspension springs at the hanging points, which soften the feel of the bed. 

How do I order?

Our Swinging Day Beds are available to order simply online. If you have any questions during the ordering process, you can call us on 01297 443084 and we’ll be happy to assist.

Can you assemble the Swinging Day Bed and Pergola for me?

The Swinging Day Bed can be delivered fully assembled. If you opt for the pergola with your Swinging Day Bed, we can assemble it during delivery. Our team will come up on the day of delivery and leave you with a finished product, pergola, Swinging Day Bed, cushions and all! It typically takes our team roughly 1 working day to get it all fully assembled. You can select our installation option when checking out online. We can also deliver unassembled if you prefer, though this is less common.

Can I assemble the Swinging Day Bed and Pergola myself? 

The day bed itself on its own comes fully assembled when delivered, but please note, it weighs roughly 200kg, so it isn’t a one-man job.

If you opt for a pergola as well to hang your day bed from, we have an informative video and instructions detailing how to put it together. The pergola will first be assembled in our workshop and then deconstructed with numbers on each part to help during assembly when delivered. Watch our how to build a Pergola YouTube video.

Can Swinging Day Beds be left outside all year?

Yes, they can, however please do keep in mind the following:

The mattresses we use are typically made from Nautolex Maritime Vinyl – a weather-resistant material, designed to be left out all year round.

However, if you opt for cushions when ordering your Swinging Day Bed, these will need to be brought in to avoid getting wet.

Alternatively, if you’d prefer to leave everything outside all year round, you can purchase our Waterproof Pull Over Cover. This cover is made from Top Notch® 9, a high-quality, breathable and water-repellent polyester fabric, that is topped with a highly durable boat vent. This design allows air to circulate under the cover and lets moisture escape, reducing chances of moisture and build-up of mildew.

How long will Swinging Day Beds last?

As for all Sitting Spiritually garden furniture products, life expectancy will depend largely on how well you look after it.

We have been making swing seats for 18+ years now, and our first made swing seat is still on show in our garden looking as good as ever.

Wood requires care to keep it in top shape if neglected, a build-up of algae and rotting can occur as a result of the elements.

We strongly recommend our aftercare package, to keep your swing seat looking as good as new for years to come.

How much space do I need for a Swinging Day Bed?

Our Swinging Day Beds have been designed to swing within the footprints of our pergolas, but these vary in size.

See our Swinging Day Bed dimensions for full details on available sizes.

What do I need to secure/keep my Swinging Day Bed in place?

If you’re planning on putting your Swinging Day Bed on soft ground, we’d recommend excavating four holes and concrete the pergola logs in, for maximum security.

If you’re opting to place in an existing paved area, we have steel shoes with bolts available for our pergolas to help keep it secure.

Once in place, you can keep your Swinging Day Bed still, if required, using the supplied restraining ropes to prevent any unwanted movement.

What accessories are there?

We have plenty of accessories available for our Swinging Day Beds to make them more tailored to your needs.

See our Swinging Day Bed Accessories for the full range.

One of our latest and exciting additions to the Swinging Day Bed accessories range is the Day Bed Roof. This is a custom roof specifically designed for our Swinging Day Beds, for a more enclosed setting.

How do I keep out of the elements?

We have various options to keep your Swinging Day Bed protected from the elements, come rain or shine.

In the summertime, you can keep the sun rays at bay with our UV Covers. You can place them on each side of the pergola, as well as on top for maximum protection. Opting for UV Covers on all sides and the top enable a lovely, enclosed space, letting in a comfortable amount of light.

For the winter months, or even wetter days, we have a couple of options to keep your Swinging Day Bed protected from the elements.

Option one being our Waterproof Pull Over Cover – this accessory allows you to keep your cushions out, along with the already water-resistant Nautolex Maritime Vinyl mattress.

Option number two is the latest edition to the Sitting Spiritually Swinging Day Bed range – The Day Bed Roof. This accessory will be made in situ around your Swinging Day Bed and pergola, keeping it protected from all elements.

Can the mattress and cushions be left out?

In the UK, we typically use Nautolex Maritime Vinyl for the Day Bed mattress – a weather-resistant material, designed to be left out all year round.

The cushion must be brought in, or covered using our Waterproof Pull Over Cover.

In countries with a hotter, dryer climate, we tend to use Sunbrella® outer for the mattress with reticulated foam inside, allowing water to pass through.

Pergolas FAQ

Do you make bespoke pergolas?

Yes, it is an ever-increasing part of our work. We can work from garden designer drawings or design them ourselves and install them for you. We make our pergolas almost exclusively in oak.

What wood do you use?

We almost exclusively use oak (see above question) but can use larch as an alternative. In recent times we have built bespoke pergolas in a range of different timbers at a customers request, so do speak to us if you have specific ideas.

How long do they take to make?

Usually 4-6 weeks from the date of commission - subject to scope of project and availability of materials.

What maintenance do they require?

Common-sense looking after. What you must avoid is letting them get dirty or built up with algae, instead keep them clean with a regular scrub with sugar soap or with our recommend cleaning products.

Over time as the natural tannins leave the wood in the weathering process, the wood will get ‘hungry’. We recommend applying a feeding oil.

Further information on maintenance can be found on our aftercare page.

What makes yours the best?

The material that we use is crucial. The oak that we use for our pergolas is typically a prime grade, joinery quality oak. This means that we can reject sapwood and only use heartwood, selecting wood with the least number of knots possible. We make use of modern fixing to make a really efficient assembly, see our video here.

How do I order?

You can order directly through our website, selecting the options you prefer and handling the whole situation online. Once you have made an online order, we will always contact you to discuss your selection so it’s never too late to tweak or amend.

Alternatively, if you prefer you can order over the phone or email. We’re more than happy to work in whatever way you would prefer.

Can you assemble pergolas for me?

Yes we do offer an installation service,we use our own joiners who will deliver and assemble. They’ll assemble the pergola in position for you before inviting you to sit on them for testing and adapt it to your personal height.

Alternatively we can send a DIY install guide with delivery. Both options are available for you to choose when you are checking out online.

Accessories FAQ

Can I choose what accessories I want during or after ordering?

Yes. You can select what accessories you would provisionally like when you buy online, though this is in no way binding. We will always check with you exactly what options there are and find the right accessories for your needs.

The answer really is you can select your accessories at any stage of the order process before the final sign off, whether it be online or by phone or email. We know requirements change over time, we try to be as flexible as possible.

Can I use my own cushions?

You are more than welcome to use your own cushions, however we would stress that ours are specifically made and designed for our product range with complimentary colour palettes.

We use an outdoor furniture cushion fabric called Sunbrella that doesn’t fade, and allows water to pass through it. It means you can leave them outside in the rain and they're more weather resistant than most.

How do I know what vinyl or fabric to choose?

We would always recommend using Sunbrella fabric for cushions. The only time it’s different is for a day bed mattress. Because the mattresses are large and quite cumbersome, they tend to be left outside year round so the Nautolex Maritime Vinyl is well suited to handling the wear and tear.

Why would I want suspension springs?

Suspension springs soften the feel of the whole seat which makes a notable difference. 

Can you provide recommendations on what I should have?

Yes, no one knows our products as well as we do. We will gladly discuss with you what each different accessory does and whether it’s right for you.

Can the cushions be left outside?

Yes, we use an outdoor furniture cushion fabric made by Sunbrella. It's very resistant to fade, and allows water to pass through it. We don't recommend they stay out permanently.

For our mattresses, we use a Nautolex vinyl that is fully water resistant.

What carvings can you do?

Inscriptions are the most popular, it's a simple charge per character  We will send you a digital preview of how your inscription will look before we commence with the carving.

We can also do unique carvings, symbols or caricatures set in to the wood. We’re open to new ideas for carvings, let us know if you want something unique or new.

Aftercare FAQ

How do I look after the wood?

Common-sense looking after. What you must avoid is letting them get dirty or built up with algae, instead keep them clean with a regular scrub with sugar soap or with our recommend cleaning products.

Over time as the natural tannins leave the wood in the weathering process, the wood will get ‘hungry’. We recommend applying a feeding oil.

Further information on maintenance can be found on our Aftercare page.

Is the metalwork going to rust?

We use marine grade stainless steel for all of our metal work, so it will not rust when cared for properly.

The wood has changed colour, is that right?

That’s what we want it to do! As a natural material, when timber is exposed to the elements it will mature and change colour over time, naturally mellowing to a lovely silver hue. With the right care and maintenance, all of our range can be left outside throughout the winter months. You can maintain the golden colour by applying a feeding oil once every few months.

Delivery FAQ

My garden is difficult to get to, will that be an issue?

In terms of road access, we use a removals company.They use large vans (typically Ford Transits) that can access all but the smallest roads. Our delivery team will carry your commision to your chosen spot and if required assemble .

Is delivery included in the price?

Delivery is always itemised separately from the product. It is based on postcode, you can find out the cost of delivery by adding a product to the basket and inputting your details.You can choose deliver or deliver and assemble at that point.

Do you deliver to outside the United Kingdom?

Absolutely, delivery can be arranged for anywhere in the world. Although the shipping of large products in a container may initially seem expensive, this can be offset against the VAT which won’t be payable.

Delivering to Australia may in fact cost no more than delivering to Scotland.

Given the incredibly bespoke nature of our products, delivery is costed on an individual basis so please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Will you deliver and assemble my garden furniture on site?

Yes, we use a local removals company called Saturn Removals who will take your swing seat and frame from the workshop and deliver to your door. They’ll assemble the frame in position for you before inviting you to sit on the seat for testing and adapt it to your personal height.

We don’t offer assembly for rope swings at this time, though we do provide setup instructions and we’re happy to guide you as much as required. Pergolas are normally deliver only, we can offer assembly, this is very much POA

How will they be delivered?

For larger items such as swing seats, our delivery team will deliver your in a small van and assemble the product on-site for you. Pergolas come as self assembly. We try and minimise our carbon footprint by avoiding using large HGV’s.

If we’re delivering abroad, the product will often be delivered in a protected crate and delivered to your door.

Is assembly an extra cost?

Our normal process is to quote for delivery and assembly together, the assembly element is typically an extra £47. For an accurate quote, please get in touch.