Tips for grilling/smoking on my new composite deck


 
S

Stuart Osterweil

TVWBB Fan
Having a composite deck built (finally), and am just now realizing I have to be careful about heat/grease/dirt from my grills/smokes. I have an 18 inch WSM, 22 inch OTP, and a Genisis S-310.

I have a grill matt (from Lowes, the brittle ones), but am not sure how bad the "fade marks" will be.

I'm wondering what others use to protect their decks (composite or otherwise)?

Plus, any general tips/advice for a grill friendly deck.

Thank you,

Stu
 
Obviously, you don't want to be using a chimney on your deck even with a pad. Make sure it's well up off the deck, like on a cinder block.

There have already been posts of burnt decks from starting a chimney on top of a pad.
 
I wouldnt light my fuel in a chimney if I had a composit deck. A poster on this site posted on the benefits of starting fuel with a torch. It's the only way I start lump or briquettes now. I find it's faster lighting and I can easily place my fuel inside the kettle when its not lit.
 
See, I never thought about the chimney starter. I guess I will just place it on the "charcoal grate" to light. (used to put it on a cinder block, but there won't be one sitting on the deck, so).
Do I need to worry about the sparking ?

How far away from the vinyl railing does the grill need to be ?
 
I have a wood deck so I don't have to be as careful, but here's what I do. Keep in mind I'm extremely lazy (and cheap) and worked with materials on hand. I'm sure there are better suggestions ahead.

My WSM and OTS are both on platforms made of bricks. I don't have a picture of them, but here's one of my ECB, also on a brick platform. Since the picture was taken, my WSM has replaced the ECB and I've upgraded to a beach umbrella velcroed, not taped, to the deck when cooking on rainy days.
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I'm guessing your mats work as good or better under your WSM & OTP.

I also have a brick platform for my charcoal chimney (left side of picture) that I use when using the minion method in my WSM. I don't think your mat would work for this.
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I suppose I could uncover the kettle and use its charcoal grate, but like I said, I'm lazy. When lighting all the coals at once, I start my chimney on the charcoal grate of whichever Weber I'm using and pour it in from there so I don't chance dropping coals on the deck. I don't know about composite decks and spills or fade marks. The area under my bricks doesn't fade, it just gets dirty, but then it's an old deck. Most grease I can pressure wash out periodically. As for your gasser, my Genesis has been there forever and I've never had a burn or stain from it and don't have anything under it. Good luck.
 
Originally posted by Stuart Osterweil:

How far away from the vinyl railing does the grill need to be ?

For the Genesis, I would check the clearances to combustibles off your install manual, or their web-site. A foot should be fine for the WSM and the kettle.

Tim
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Have a new deck using Trek planks. Just went to Walmart and bought a metal 24" x 48" oil drip pan in their auto section. Hold by two webers OT's just fine.

guy
 
Well the "deck destoyer" or shimney is always a good way to start ur fire but small lit coals may(will) get out and make a mess on the deck. i suggest u have a fire proof mat under ur grill like me.(i will go out take a photo brb
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Still got alot of "burn marks" from last seasson but this will help with not just coals but with marinade dripings and other mess.

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Thank you for all the replies.

My biggest wory will be transfering the lit coals from the chimney to the grill. I always seem to drop a few small pieces here and there.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Stuart Osterweil:
Thank you for all the replies.

My biggest wory will be transfering the lit coals from the chimney to the grill. I always seem to drop a few small pieces here and there. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I have that same problem. I'm curious to hear what other people suggest. So far the best option I have seen is using a torch to light them. No transfer required.
 
We moved into a new house in 2007 with a composite deck, it is Trex product. Initially, I wasn't very impressed - the deck stained and didn't clean up very well spring 2008. As you are, I was worried about grease spillage, etc., and I put a mat under my gas grill in 2007. Left it there until spring 2009 and discovered it was kind of nasty underneath. Used Thompsons Deck Wash and was pleased to find it cleaned up nicely. I did not replace the mat. This spring, I used the Deck Wash again, following pretty closely the directions, and have to say that the area around the grill cleaned up nicely. Had some grease spots that were taken care of. I'm now looking more favorably at the composite material - but it probably needs to be cleaned twice a year.
 
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