When I saw one of my friends grilling with charcoal on a wooden patio, the question that came to my mind was, is it safe? and can I use my charcoal grill on wood deck?
Unfortunately No, charcoal grill on a wood deck is a big red flag, but you can still cook with a charcoal grill on a wood deck. For which this can be done keeping in mind the proper safety guides and measures.
You cannot do this with both a gas grill and a charcoal grill. But what if you do not have any other place to cook or you want to cook for some other reason? The question here is how to cook on a wooden deck safely.
How To Use Charcoal Grill on Wood Deck
Read the tips I give to my friend, it was very successful in protecting you and your wood deck from damage.
Make Distance Between Charcoal Grill & House
This is the first point that should be kept in mind when you are going to cook on a wooden deck with a charcoal grill. Here we are not being served knowledge but being warned that fire can create a big problem. Proper spacing gives you time to act on the right things.
Where to put grill on deck? I advised you to keep your friend’s grill away from home so that he has enough time to control it in bad conditions. You should make a charcoal grill at least 8 to 10 feet away from the house.
Learn more about what says mass.gov about the putting grill on the deck.
If you have more space, go as far away from home as possible. You should also make sure there aren’t any dry shrubs or tree branches too close to the charcoal grill.
Before storing a charcoal grill, make sure that the fire is completely extinguished, for this you can leave it outside for a few hours.
Handy Fire Extinguisher
You must be wondering what is the need for a fire extinguisher while cooking.
Often you are under the impression that you have been grilling for so long but never lit a fire, so what about today? Let us tell you that once such an incident will happen it can take a terrible form.
So leave your ego and think about your family’s safety. Take the fire extinguisher out of the basement and verify that it is working properly. Keep it in such a place that it comes easily in your hand.
Apart from this, keep baking soda with you which works to extinguish the fire in grease. By sprinkling baking soda on the fire, the fire extinguished in 4-5 seconds.
Be Aware Of The Weather
This is important If you think it’s going to be windy today, you should postpone your plans to grill with charcoal.
In such a situation, if the coal in the grill burns unsafely due to strong wind. If the wind knocks a charcoal grill onto your wooden deck, the spark will attempt to ignite the deck.
Use High Resistance Grill Mat
If you cook on a wooden deck the only safe solution I would make a top priority is to use a high-quality grill mat.
Luckily, grill mats come in a variety of sizes that may be ideal to fit under your charcoal grill. The fireproof grill mat for wood decks is designed to not only protect the embers of your charcoal fire but also protect your wood deck from grease stains.
When purchasing a charcoal grill mat for a wooden deck, you may not get the cheapest one. Don’t try to save a few dollars because it will do no good to protect your expensive wood deck top.
You have to make sure that the charcoal grill mat for the wood deck has enough room around the grill and is wide enough for 12 inches around the unit. Be sure to get a fireproof grill mat for the wood decks before purchasing.
The high-resistance charcoal grill mat for wood deck will allow you to make the meat completely safe on a wooden patio or deck. It is also protected from any kind of damage.
Have A Hose Handy
Never use water to put out a grease fire because throwing water on a grease fire can spread the burning grease, which is a bad thing.
When using a charcoal grill on a wooden deck, you should pour water on the bottom of the grill so that if any stray embers or sparks do come into contact with the deck, they will be less likely to ignite the damp wood.
Keep Eye On The Grill
You always have to keep an eye on the charcoal grill because your neighbor’s playing ball, your pet, your child, or a wild animal can come from anywhere and hit the grill.
Keep Your Grill Grease Free & Clean
According to the National Fire Protection Association, the main cause of grill fires is their timely maintenance and primarily cleaning.
The drip pan is made to collect grease so that cleaning can be done easily, which can reduce the chances of fire, but small negligence of some people invites big accidents.
Before you start grilling, make sure your charcoal grill is thoroughly cleaned. If traces of grease are found on the cooking compartment or pan, clean them first then use them.
This advice is being given to you only because you are going to be cooking on a wooden deck with a charcoal grill. Had it been on the ground, the danger would have been less. Grease has tremendous power to light a fire. Once again, take full care of cleanliness.
Use Heating Zone
You place the burning charcoal on one side of the bottom of the cooking grate and the heat flows through the cooking grate on the other side. This process is called a 2-zone cooking system. This is a great way to cook over an open flame, and it also reduces the chances of flare-ups.
Flare-up will only happen when the fat on the meat and charcoal dries out. The 2-zone indirect setup is able to quickly move your Turkey to the “cool” side of the cooking zone.
Close All Vents When You Finished
Close all of the charcoal grill’s air vents as soon as the Prime Rib or Tomahawk to be cooked is placed inside. By doing this, the coal will not get oxygen and the fire will get extinguished quickly.
Use a tool to blow the ash out of the inside of your charcoal grill, taking care to use it after the grill has cooled.
Avoid putting the ashes immediately in a dustbin as they can still catch fire. wait a few hours and then throw it in the trash
FAQs
Can you use a Weber grill on a deck?
Yes, you can use a Weber grill on the deck, but with safety measures that prevent fires. Place a high-quality grill mat under the grill and fire extinguishers.
Where should a grill be placed on a deck?
To be safe, keep the grill as far away from the house as possible. Note that there should not be any dry grass or straw around the grill and ensuring proper distance from the wooden railing of the deck is also necessary. Visit Bestlifeonline for more details
How much clearance do you need behind a grill?
Follow the manufacturer’s guide for the proper evacuation of flammable materials. We recommend 24 inches behind the grill.
Is it safe to put a gas grill on a wood deck?
No, unwanted fires may start if you are using the grill on a wooden deck. A spark can ignite wood decking boards and windy conditions can increase the danger from a stray spark. If you grill on a wooden deck, follow safety guidelines.
Final Verdict
We’ve covered almost all the ways you can cook on a wooden deck using a charcoal grill. We look forward to hearing what safety precautions you take when grilling on a deck or patio.
Whatever you decide to do, just make sure you use as much caution and common sense as possible when cooking with a fire!
If you don’t have a grill mat please make sure you have one.