How to Safely Use a Fire Pit on Your Wood or Composite Deck?

 The weather is warming up which means we’ll soon be spending warm afternoons spent outside with friends and family. Many time those afternoons turn into long evenings, and when the sun goes down, there’s nothing quite like the ambiance of a toasty fire to keep the conversation and laughs going. But what to do when you don’t have a large enough yard, and the only place to put your fire pit is on your deck?

It may seem dangerous to put a fire pit on a deck made of the very materials you’re putting inside the pit to burn! Concerns for both wood and composite decks span from basic fire risk to warping, to cosmetic damage. Wooden decks, and composite decks made with Trex or TimberTech material are a large investment, so having a good understanding of potential risks and what information you need to evaluate them will go a long way in helping you protect your new outdoor space.  

With the proper safety precautions however, you can safely use a fire pit on decking, both wood and composite. Take a look below at a few tips and things to consider regarding proper deck fire pit safety:

Stay Alert

The number one rule seems simple, but it’s definitely worth emphasizing. When using a fire pit on your wooden or composite deck, or anywhere in your yard for that matter — never leave it unattended! Even by following all of the safety precautions mentioned in the article below, you can’t control changing winds or sudden, unpredictable sparks.

Keep Water & Fire Extinguisher Close By

Make sure that there’s plenty of water and a fire extinguisher within easy reach, as well, and let all your guests know where it is. For many households, this is already a done deal, at least if the outdoor hose is nearby. If not, it’s easy to keep a covered bucket, tub, or pitcher full of water near the fire pit on your deck. That way, anyone enjoying the contained fire will be able to put out a potentially dangerous blaze quickly and efficiently.

Create a Barrier For your Fire Pit

Never, never, NEVER place a fire put directly on a wooden or composite deck. Potential expensive issues due to the use of a fire pit on a wood deck range from full-on fire damage and the destruction or weakening of the decking and the supporting structure, to cosmetic damage from scorching. Similarly, plastics (polypropylene, PVC, etc.) are commonly used in composite decking, so the risk of warping and melting under high-heat conditions, like those produced by a fire pit, is something to be aware of as well. Polypropylene can start melting at 320° F and PVC at 212° F; Trex itself has stated publicly that their “decking will soften as low as 176 degrees Fahrenheit.”

To avoid damage and a potential fire disaster, there are specially made fire pit mats to place u which are made to withstand the extremely high temperatures a pit can reach. For a DIY option, simply arrange pavers or bricks in the area where your fire pit will be placed. Be cautious when placing the pavers on a composite deck to minimize scratching the surface. 

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