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Choosing the Right Porch Rocker for You |
Porch Rockers have long been a favorite for whiling away the hours comforting a baby, contemplating the scenery, or relaxing on the porch. Porch Rockers are still just as popular today as they were generations ago. Choosing the right porch rocker will provide you years of enjoyment and the satisfaction of knowing you purchased the right rocker for you.
Before buying your porch rocker you need to consider a few factors other than
price. As we all know the price of an item is very important but as the saying
goes, "You get what you pay for." The most important factors to look for in
your rocker are location, type, construction, assembly, comfort, maintenance
and warranty. All of these factors will ultimately provide you with a clear understanding
of the value of the rocker. Quality rockers will cost a little more but
last a lot longer!
Location
Location is an important factor in determining what kind of rocker to buy. If you are in the market for a porch rocker then you will want to clearly understand what type of finish is applied to the rocker. Is the rocker made to be outdoors? For example, some rocker manufacturers offer water based acrylic stains that will hold up for years under a covered porch. Others may offer a painted finish that's made to withstand the elements. However, we personally recommend you keep your rockers under some covered area for years of enjoyment. Constant rain may weather your rocker faster than anticipated causing cracking in the paint finish and rotting if left in standing water.
Wood Type
Wood Type is an important factor to consider as well. Most rockers should be made of a hardwood such as Oak, Brazilian
Cherry or Teakwood. You will find that Brazilian Cherry and Teak rocker are more expensive than a traditional oak rocker. These are two of the hardest woods available and are exceptional for outdoor use. Oak wood is exceptionally durable as well and is most commonly used in the manufacturing of porch rockers.
Types of Porch Rockers
You may see several types of rockers. The most common are slat back, ladder back,
and cane back. Slat back rockers are considered the traditional style rocker.
The wood slats that create the back of the rocker running vertically from the
top of the rocker to the seat are called slats.hence the name slat back. Ladder
back rockers are similar in design except the wood slats that create the back
are horizontally place from the head to the seat. Then you have your cane rockers.
These rockers usually have a cane seat with cane back. The cane is hand woven
on to the rocker seat and back offering a comfortable and alternative rocker
style.
Rocker Pitch
You will want a rocker that is pitched correctly.
The pitch is a term that describes the angle of the rocker from the point you
sit down, lean back and rock. Lesser quality rockers may not have a pitch that
is suitable. You don't want to feel like you are about to flip backwards when
rocking. Also, you want a "perpetual rock" which is a rocker that rocks smoothly.
The rocker runners, which are located at the bottom of the rocker, should be
sanded perfectly to prevent any unpleasant bumping as the rocker rocks. No one
likes a rocker that doesn't rock smoothly.
Comfort
Comfort is an import issue when choosing your porch rocker. You need to consider two important factors when looking for comfort. First is the size of the rocker. For example, our three most popular size rockers can be explained as Small, Medium and Large. The small and medium rockers are the same size in width and depth. These rockers will accommodate most adults. The differences between the two are the height. The medium rocker is about three inches higher than the other. We have found that a lot of our customers prefer that extra height for comfort and style. Then the large rocker, also known as the giant rocker is larger in width, height, and depth. Each part is larger accommodating a larger person. The second factor to consider is the seat. Believe it or not the way the seat is designed is important too. For example, our rockers have a double scooped seat which means the seat is curved or "scooped" from front to back as well as side to side. This scooped seat offers exceptional comfort and contours to the body. Other rockers may come with a flat slatted seat which will prove to be uncomfortable over time. The scooped seat makes a tremendous difference in comfort.
Construction
The construction of your rocking chair is an important factor to consider. How the rocker is constructed will determine the strength and durability of the rocker to withstand every day use. Exceptional quality rocking chairs will be constructed without glue using a technique called "swelled joint construction." This technique involves the manufacturer seasoning the larger posts located on the front and back of the rocker for six to nine months and the smaller posts are kiln dried. This causes a variance in the moisture content of the wood and the small posts absorb moisture from the large posts causing them to swell. As the smaller posts swell the larger posts shrink making a much tighter fit in the joints as opposed to gluing the joints together. These joints will get tighter over time ensuring the stability of the rocker.
Interlocking Joinery is also an important feature to look for in a porch rocker. This process is one in which the front and back frames of the rockers are assembled separately. When these two parts are clamped together, the boring on each frame notches the dowel on the front post and back post making it near impossible for the front or back assembly to be pulled apart. These are just two processes that are important for making a rocker last a lifetime.
Special Orders
If you are special ordering your rockers and delivery is required then you will notice that some rockers are shipped "KD" or assembled. Rockers shipped "KD" are considered Knocked Down and will require you to assemble your rocker. This is an option that allows you to save money with delivery because it can ship via FedEx, DHL or UPS. Otherwise your rockers will have to ship via common carrier (tractor trailer). This offers up a debate, do you pull out the overalls and tool belt or have it shipped assembled? Regardless of which delivery type you choose you will have some assembly. Assembled rockers are shipped complete except for the runner assembly. The runners are located at the bottom of the rocker and which allow the rocking motion.
Runner Assembly
Attaching your rocker runners is fairly simple. You invert your rocker on a solid surface with padding between the surface and chair. We use a blanket over a work table to assemble our runners. Fit the first rocker runner on to the tenons at the bottom of the legs of the rocker. The front of the rocker runner is end where the hole is closet to the end of the rocker runner. Using little force tap the rocker runner front first and then back. Repeat back and forth until you have a good fit for both the front and back. You may use a rubber mallet for this or a hammer. If you choose to use a hammer place a magazine over the rocker runner to provide protection for the rocker runners. This will prevent you from altering the smooth rocking motion. Do not hammer one side all the way down and then hammer other side down completely. After runners are fitted properly onto all legs; use the stainless steel nails provided, to attach runners to tenons. Turn the rocking chair on its side and hammer the nails from the inside of the rocker runners into the center of the tenon. Pre-drilling holes may ease in the runner attachment. Please use caution when nailing onto painted surface.
Warranty
As with most quality products you need to check the warranty. Manufacturers that offer a warranty on their product will prove to be invaluable for you. A manufacturer's warranty should state that they will warrant the product for defects in material and workmanship. This will apply to "normal use" or normal conditions up to a specified time after the purchase date such as 60 days. In most cases the warranty will not apply if the product has been altered in some fashion. This includes repainting or modifications to the rocker. Also, it's common that the warranty does not apply to the finish. If your rocker comes with cushions then the cushions may be warranted separately. In the unlikely event that you are to find a defect in the product you can return the product to the retailer and they will help you with the issue. The manufacturer will fix the problem or replace the product if covered by the warranty. Shipping rates may not be covered by the warranty so check before purchasing.
Maintenance
Yearly maintenance of your rocker will help keep its finish looking new. Whether outdoor or indoor, keep your rocker cleaned and polished with a high quality furniture polish to extend the life of the finish. Should your rocker get wet, please sure to dry it as soon as possible. If used outdoors, the finish on any wood product will eventually begin to deteriorate. To restore the beauty, we recommend a light hand sanding and cleaning followed by application of a quality finish material as directed by your local paint store.
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