Charcoal Grill On The Wood Deck? (8 Important Safety Tips!)

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Is It Safe to Put a Charcoal Grill on a Wood Deck?

A wood deck around an above ground pool is economical, convenient and easy to install. A wood deck has a soft warm and natural feel to it. The pool deck serves many purposes. The ability to grill on the deck is certainly one of the important ones. But is it safe to put a charcoal grill on a wood deck?

You can put a charcoal grill on a wood deck provided you take all the safety precautions.

Ensure safe distance from your home & flammable materials, protect the deck & railings with a grill mat and wet blankets, keep a fire extinguisher and a bucket of water handy and you should be fine.

Grilling outdoors, especially on a deck, is certainly a lot more fun than cooking in a kitchen. But it does bring many more variables into play. You could create an unsafe situation for yourself, your family & friends and your property, if you are not mindful of the risks.

A charcoal grill on a wood deck further increases the risk level. However, a charcoal grill on a wood deck is fairly safe, provided you have a healthy respect for open flames and act responsibly.

Err on the side of safety, if you must!

In this post I will discuss the 8 safety tips that you must keep in mind while enjoying grilling on the deck. To be honest these tips are relevant to all types of grills and decks, but are even more important when using a charcoal grill on the wood deck.

Where Should a Grill Be Placed on a Deck?

Any grill, especially a charcoal grill should be kept at least 10 feet away from the house, sheds, property lines, overhanging tree branches or flammable material.

The International Fire Code prohibits the use of charcoal and gas grills and other open burning devices on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction.
Source: International Code Council (ICC)

You need to check the local code or the HOA rules. Some will not allow you to keep a grill under a covered porch, balcony, or too close to the house.

Place the charcoal grill at a far end of the wood deck. Create a no kid zone around the charcoal grill and ensure that grilling is done only by responsible adults.

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What Do You Put Under a Charcoal Grill on a Wood Deck?

You need to protect the wood deck from the hot coal that may drop. The charcoal grill also radiates heat.

Burning coal can reach a temperature of around 2000°F. The radiant heat at the cooking point could be hitting 350 – 600°F. The radiation can raise the temperature of the wood deck below to anywhere between 200 – 400°F.

That is really hot for a wood deck. It will surely get damaged. Protect your wood deck by placing a grill mat under the charcoal grill. Make sure the grill mat is larger than the footprint of the grill.

The important features to look for in a high quality grill mat are

Large Enough Size
High Temperature Resistance
Fireproof, Waterproof and Anti-skid
Non-stick & Easy to clean
Lightweight & Easy to store

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BONUS: You can use the MAJITA Grill Mat to protect your pool deck from a fire pit too!

How Do You Protect a Wood Deck from Grill Grease?

When you are grilling some nice fatty & juicy pieces of meat, there is bound to be some grill grease drips. Grill grease drips can stain and discolor you beautiful wood deck.

Use “Drip Pans” to contain the grease drip. A drip pan serves many purposes

Controls flare ups
Keeps the grill clean
Reduces waste
Captures the flavors for use in sauces
Temporary storage for food or leftovers

Check out Drip Pans for Outdoor Grilling

How Do You Protect Deck Railings from the Grill?

As mentioned before you should try to place your charcoal grill at least 10 feet away from other structures. This includes the deck railing.

However, this may not always be possible. Especially if you have a small, narrow wood deck around an above ground pool. The charcoal grill may end up being too close to the deck railing or a pool fence.

The best way to protect the railing or fence, from the high radiant heat and any wayward embers, is to throw a thick, wet, old, blanket on it. Spray water with the garden hose if the blanket dries up during grilling.

Can You Grill in High Wind?

I know it sucks but give the grilling plans a miss if it is too windy. It is very difficult to control the flames during high gusts of wind. With a charcoal grill the risk of uncontrollable flying embers is too high.

You may still be able to grill in moderate wind conditions but you will end up using a lot more coal to keep the fire going. The steak that you grill on a windy day may not be as tasty because you have less control on the consistency of the fire.

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How Do You Set Up a 2 Zone Grill?

Setting up two zones, a “hot” and a “cold” zone will help you control unexpected flare-ups. Fat drip from meat onto hot coals can be unpredictable. The resulting flare-up can be overwhelming and difficult to control.

You can set up a “hot” zone on your charcoal grill by piling up the coal at one end of the grill. The other end, with little or no coals, becomes the “cold” zone.

For searing the meat and getting caramelization, grill in the “hot” zone. In case of a flare-up, move the meat pieces to the “cold” zone. Wait till the flare-up dies down.

For smoking and cooking the meat to juicy, tender perfection use the “cold” zone for a slow cook from low heat.

How Do You Extinguish a Charcoal Grill?

Once the grilling has been done, the food has been eaten, the party is over. Well not exactly! You still need to make sure that the charcoal grill is extinguished safely. This is a two step process.

STEP 1

The hot coals need to stop burning and start cooling down. Fully close all the vents on the bottom of the grill. Also close the damper on the lid to cut off the oxygen supply to the coals.

STEP 2

Give the coals 48 hours to burn out. Then using a pair of long metal tongs, remove the coals, one by one, and place them in a metal bucket full of water. Remove the ash and place it on a tin foil. (Do not use plastic garbage bags for disposal of ash or burned coal).

Keep Fire Fighting Equipment Handy

Do everything in your control to make your grilling experience on the deck fun & safe. But be prepared for fire related accidents. Keep one or more of these, handy on the deck, while grilling: