Getting a Replacement Canopy for a Garden Swing

I have a canopied glider swing that needs serious help. It's less than 2 years old, but due to the fierce Arizona heat, the canopy is totally shredded from sun-rot. How can I salvage the rest of the swing, which is in perfect condition?

Kathy from AZ

Answers:

Getting a Replacement Canopy for a Garden Swing

I had the same problem with my 3-seater swing. This summer I fixed my canopy with a tarp I bought at the local home improvement store. Since my swing is dark green with tan and brown cushions, I got a brown plastic tarp. Cut it to size so it had about 4-5 inches overhang for the ruffle, centered it on the canopy frame, attached it with those plastic zip ties (where they would not show), and now have a temporary canopy cover that looks just fine until I can locate a replacement or come up with a better idea for a replacement. I saw one house that had put the same type of tarp on their swing only it was in blue. I think mine looks better cause the brown matches the cushion colors. Just a thought. (06/06/2008)

By Indy Fayzer

Getting a Replacement Canopy for a Garden Swing

Always wanting a new set for myself but never wanting to spend $150 or more for one I just never got one. Then my daughter's got totally rotten and weather beaten, torn, and even mildewed. She was going to throw it away and I took it. Knowing how to sew I knew I could redo the whole thing. So I stripped the whole thing saving one of everything as my pattern and then bought fabric at Walmart for $1.00 a yard. It required 8 yards. You can buy any type fabric, but I chose a polyester stretch fabric in rust color which I love.

I repainted the frame with Krylon paint in a Georgia clay rust color and then made all new fabric pieces for it. It turned out great. I plan on taking off the complete fabric pieces each fall and wash and dry and store away for each summer so it remains like new. The top canopy was the easiest part to do. It was basically one long piece square. I just put the fabric across it and clipped with clamps in place letting it hang as I wanted.

Then I stood underneath it and used chalk to mark a line on both sides along the poles underneath top so I would know where to add a fabric casing. Which I then sewed on in the under side. Then you just undo the poles and slide through the casing onto the poles. I just used a serger on the edges to give it interest.

So you could just pick a color fabric close to your existing fabric on it to match and do the same. Here is my after picture of mine I redid. Wish I had the before picture to show the set was terrible looking. But I have one now and only spent $8 on the fabric $10 on the batting for it. By the way, the insides of those cushions from the factory, the pads are just simply air filters like ones that go in your air conditioner unit. But they have no paper glued around them. It's the type of stuff like water ponds are lined with because it does not absorb water. So on the backs of my cushions I used just plain batting (like in making quilts), but on the bottom cushions I used air conditioning filters and just took off the paper so it did not get wet. We had had 2 hard rains since they were finished and the whole thing dries really fast. (06/06/2008)

By Julie

Getting a Replacement Canopy for a Garden Swing

We stretched a fitted twin bed sheet on our swing frame where the canopy was. (06/07/2008)

By Sib

Getting a Replacement Canopy for a Garden Swing

In my day, a friend or myself, would take the canopy off the frame, take the stitching out, and use the pieces for a pattern, to make a new one. Hope you have a friend that sews! C Bolin, Winchester, VA (06/08/2008)

By Guest

Getting a Replacement Canopy for a Garden Swing

I replaced my canopy with a large vinyl tablecloth. Sewed seams where the original canopy had them and was able to get another five years out of the replacement. Walmart and Target always have a large selection of colors and prints.

Hannah (06/10/2008)

Getting a Replacement Canopy for a Garden Swing

We had the same problem. We went to Wal-mart and got some canvas material, cut out the shape of the canopy, stapled it in place, good as new. It doesn't match the cushions, but serves the purpose. Remember to get enough to cover both sides if you want to. (06/11/2008)

By Donna J.

Getting a Replacement Canopy for a Garden Swing

Try Garden Ridge, Home Depot, Lowe's, Wal-Mart, or even Target. If you sew, have you thought of using the old one as a pattern and making your own? (06/11/2008)

By Linda S.

Getting a Replacement Canopy for a Garden Swing

Check out Snappy Canopy on Ebay (06/26/2008)

By Vicki E.

Getting a Replacement Canopy for a Garden Swing

I've been looking for a replacement canopy for quite a while and just found out Garden Winds (http://www.gardenwinds.com) has it. (08/26/2008)

Getting a Replacement Canopy for a Garden Swing

I replaced mine with shade cloth, saving the old fabric to use as a pattern (10/21/2008)

By Cheryl

Getting a Replacement Canopy for a Garden Swing

I covered my 40 year old lawn swing with a plastic bamboo shade I bought at the hardware store. They come in green, white or beige color. They also come in different widths. I just draped it over the wing and tied it down with the draw cords. It took about 15 minutes and cost about $14.00. You could also use a real bamboo shade. I tried that first but it got black mildew as I left it out all winter. The plastic one I have had on the swing for 2 years with no problem. (10/21/2008)

By Mary C.

Getting a Replacement Canopy for a Garden Swing

Easy peasy. I used an old fitted double sheet over the frame. I used four grommets across from each other, on the underside, and then used a bungee cord to secure it. It fits very well, and I got to use an old sheet that I couldn't use anymore (no more double size mattress). (06/03/2009)

By le mort