Grilling on a wooden deck and storing grills with Craycorts outside


 
L

Laura D

TVWBB Fan
Hello Everyone - it's me, Laura. I've been knocked out of grilling for a bit because I live in crazy San Francisco, and I am being driven out - the house I rent is going up for sale so I must go and rising rents in SF are at a place I currently can't afford. So I'm looking to head towards Marin county. I might rent a place with a wooden deck where I would keep my Weber 22.5 OTG, my gas WGA, and my favorite grill, my Smokey Joe.

I've been searching threads for grilling on wooden decks and I am getting some 404 links. So, grill pad is good (is there one that is definitely fireproof)? Perhaps 2 grill pads so my grills can just live on them side by side? Of course I always have my fire extinguisher handy, I don't leave the grill unattended, I would probably even have buckets of water ready just in case. I've been grilling in my driveway 10 feet away from the house and this will be a little different on the wooden deck. Any other tips are appreciated. I may also get a metal table so that my smaller grills are higher up instead of knee high, that would feel safer to me as well.

Secondly, all my grills have Craycorts and they have been stored in my garage in my grills with the vents open. Now I'll probably keep them outside and am wondering if anyone has any tips. I am still googling to see what others think but any thoughts appreciated.

If I am being redundant from past threads, forgive me, send my poor brain the links. I'm exhausted trying to find a safe place to land. I had to turn down an apartment today because they would only allow gas grilling. I must grill with live fire, or what's the point?!

If I choose the place with the wooden deck, I will not be doing any overnight cooks, just grilling or BBQ where I am hanging out, watching. I wil also give up my beloved hardwood lump and stick with Stubb's, because of sparking factors.

Thank you -

Laura
 
I use the OTG on the deck with no grill pad under it. It's never left unattended for any length of time. Our deck is old so I don't worry about stains on it. Fire on the other hand could be a problem. For that I make sure I empty out the ash catcher after every use. A full ash catcher could make any hot embers blow or fall out of the catcher and onto the deck. The WSM is never used on the deck. That is always on pavement. I don't have Craycort grates so I can't comment on that.
 
Laura two things I have encountered. Be careful where you start or carry your chimney if you use one and the second would spills or leaks of meat juices when being brought in from the grill. I have damaged my deck inspite of using two pads under my smoker and kettle. Transporting across the deck can be the risky part. Once I spilled hot juices and the other time was from a small coal that was stuck and then fell out of my chimney.
My wife and I both wish I had a cement patio.
 
Hi Laura,

I've had my Craycourt since Dec 2010 and have always stored my Performer outside. I've also have two OTPs and a OTG with CharBroil's cast iron insert. Those too are stored outside. I live on the Monterey Peninsula close to the ocean and the cast iron inserts have done just fine. I do use the grills frequently and also keep them covered.

The OTG should be fine on a wooden deck, but I agree with you that having a matt underneath as well as keeping a fire extinguisher nearby is a smart move. Good luck.
 
I grill on a wood deck with grill pads. Sounds like you run a pretty safe operation. I agree with checking the chimney after each use. There always seems to be one coal left regardless of briquettes or lump.
 
I grill and smoke on a wood deck, what I did was put some stone pavers down where the grill sets, that doesn't help transporting hot coals, but does take some of the worry out of grilling.
 
Add another to the list of those who uses grill pads on a wooden deck. I have two side-by-side. It's a bit of a tight fit, but I can have my 18.5 wsm, 22.5 wsm, and 22.5 OTG on the pads, going at the same time. As the others have said, yes, I've had a hot coal or two fall out of my chimney at inopportune moments. I keep a pair of tongs handy in case I need to quickly get a hot coal off the wooden deck. I also keep an extra clay saucer on a lower shelf of a side table so that I always have a place to set the hot chimney after dumping the charcoal.
 
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I've had my OTG on the deck for years, with a mat underneath. I use to keep one of my eggs on the deck, too, but move it when the owner of a rub company's eggs through out a spark from the air intake, caught the deck on fire and burned his house down (they put screens on the eggs intake now). Gotta be real careful with using the chimney, particularly when lighting lump.
 
Is there a lawn near the deck? Is there a reason that you must grill on the deck? A few years back, a guy I know lost his beautiful and very expensive
home to fire. A fire that started on the deck after the grilling was done. Put the grill on the lawn, walk a few extra steps, its good for you, and you can
continue to use your favorite sparky lump with no worries. Smokey the Bear would probably tell you the same thing.......
 
Well, it turns out I did not get the place with the wooden deck (but I would have turned it down if I felt it wasn't safe enough after checking in with you guys here).

Grilling is one of my top 2 things I must be able to do do in my new place, and I keep turning down apartments because they won't allow charcoal grilling. The market is awful here in SF but I really need to be able to grill.

I now am up for an apartment that has like . . . astro turf in the backyard. So I'm going to talk to the landlady about what might be best but I'm thinking perhaps the oil pan and/or a grill pad or two. I already have a pizza pan I use for my chimney, to set it down. I still plan on keeping my grills outside so that info is very helpful as well. I'm super safe but I do worry about a stray coal landing on that silly astro turf and ruining it.

Thank you all for the helpful info -

Laura
 
Back deck or Astroturf, I also recommend pavers. I have a WSM and a OTS along with my Performer and Genesis. I have pavers under the WSM & OTS and a paver platform for my charcoal chimney for when I'm not using the Performer. They're much cheaper than grill pads and work better.
 
Lew - thank you for this. I'm a bit ignorant of pavers. Do they come in a brick square, like a square foot? I imagine that I will be putting out the pavers and then putting them away when I'm done grilling (not confirmed yet that I have the place). I'll do more research but any tips on this is much appreciated.

Thank you -

Laura
 
Everyone - thank you for your help! I got the place with the fake astroturf, and the landlady doesn't care if I ruin it. But I bought two oil pans to protect it - one for normal smokey joeing, and two for when I use my 22.5 OTG for grilling and BBQing.

I can't wait to move and get grillin' - wahooooooo!

Laura
 
Laura, I have used an oil pan for years on my deck with no problems. Easy to handle and store. Using routine precautions you should be good to go on the astroturf.
 
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