We have one of those metal fire pits that are off the ground, and fully enclosed by a screen. The instructions way "Do NOT use on a wood deck or any combustible surface." Problem is, a wood deck is the only place we have to put this. Is this just a precaution they are required to put in the instructions? Do any of you have an outdoor fireplace on a wood deck? If I got one of those fireproof "grill mats", would that suffice?
They do put the warning on there to protect themselves against a lawsuit but if you place it away from any railings and insure it is covered when in use then I have had no problem with mine. I did however use a grid of stepping stones underneath to insure that any hot legs did not do damage to the deck.
I want to put a firepit on a wood deck - The manual says no. Just a precaution?
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September 22nd, 2009 at 12:12 pm
I have a "chiminea" You know, one of those clay chimney things. It is on my wood deck. I have never had a problem with it. It is about 8 " off the floor on a metal stand. I have had some pretty good sized fires in there too. I do check the deck every know and then to see how hot it was getting. Never did.
They have to protect them selves from liability. Try a fire in it, small first and feel the deck under the stand. See how hot it gets.
The colder the weather, the safer it should be.
Good luck!
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September 22nd, 2009 at 12:51 pm
They do put the warning on there to protect themselves against a lawsuit but if you place it away from any railings and insure it is covered when in use then I have had no problem with mine. I did however use a grid of stepping stones underneath to insure that any hot legs did not do damage to the deck.
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September 22nd, 2009 at 1:31 pm
This isn’t a teriffic idea, a grill mat is better than nothing but is not guranteee that you won’t have a fire.
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September 22nd, 2009 at 2:00 pm
We have a chiminea on our wood deck also, but one thing you should consider is putting some terra cotta tiles (the thick patio/walkway type tiles available at Lowes, etc.) under the firepit to save your deck in case it gets hot. You just never know.
We have 4 under our chiminea and sparks do fly out of that thing on occasion. It’s good to know that an ember won’t set our deck on fire.
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September 22nd, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Put down a sheet of dura rock
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