Nearly one-third of all new homes constructed in 2020 had a deck, according to the Survey of Construction conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau.
A wooden deck or patio is a welcome and valuable addition to any home, so below you will find some fire pit safety measures.
It provides homeowners with a communal area where friends and family members can gather, and statistics show that it even adds monetary value to homes.
But if you plan to use a fire pit on your wooden deck, there are a few things you should know.
Conventional wisdom should lead you to believe that a wooden deck isn’t fireproof; therefore, you’ll need take some precautions when using a fire pit here.
The good news, however, is that you can safely use a fire pit on a wooden deck, but only if you follow these safety measures.
Place Fire Pit Away from Your House
When choosing a location to place your fire pit, a good rule of thumb is to keep it at least 10 feet away from your home. Whether it’s on a wooden deck, stone patio or elsewhere, follow the 10-foot rule. Doing so reduces the risk of serious property damage and injury.
Don’t Use Lighter Fluid In A Fire Pit – Ever
Never use lighter fluid, gasoline or any other flammable liquid in your fire pit. If you accidentally spill any of these liquids on your wooden deck, it could easily ignite and catch fire. If you’re having trouble starting a fire, place additional tinder in the center of the wood or coals. Once this ignites, the heat should catch the wood or coals on fire.
Choose A Level Surface For Your Fire Pit
In addition to keeping your fire pit at least 10 feet away from your house, you should also place it on a flat, surface. Assuming your wooden deck was built properly, it should be level (or almost level).
Nonetheless, it’s a good idea to double-check and make sure the surface is level before using your fire pit.
You can use stones or bricks to accomplish this but make sure that you are on as flat an area as possible to start with.
Place Barrier Between Fire Pit and Wooden Deck
It’s also a good idea to place some type of fire-resistant barrier between your fire pit and wooden deck. A small square-shaped grid of stone pavers, for instance, will protect your wooden deck from the fire pit. While a fire pit typically won’t produce enough heat to ignite a deck, this will protect your deck from heat stains and scorching.
Putting The Fire Out Fully Before Bed
One of the most common reasons for fires coming from a fire pit is not fully extinguishing the fire when you are done. This is often at the end of the evening or after a few drinks.
Don’t just walk away from the fire pit. You can fully extinguish it easily with a fire pit snuffer which we highly recommend.
But even if you have to pour water on the fire in the fire pit, that is better than just letting it “burn out”.
If you have any questions regarding how an S&S Fire Pit can enhance your outdoor living space in any way; We can help. https://ssfirepits.com/contact/
