Granite or Paver?

A paver with something to allow just a bit of air flow between it and the base of the egg, and you should be just fine. 

I priced a granite remnant for the egg base and top of my table.  14"x14" base and 22"x24" top.  $950.  Blew me away...all they had to do was cut them out and finish one edge for my top.  I ended up using a paver I already had and finding a top off craigslist for $10.  I win!

Whatever you choose, make sure there is an air space between the egg bottom and the "stone".

I built a backyard kitchen with a spot for the BGE and used a slab of granite. From what I was told the egg could be placed directly on the granite. This is not a good thing to do. The first time I cooked pizza the granite cracked and had to be repaired. I then installed a table nest. Essentially it provides about 1-2" of air gap under the egg. Even with thick pavers I would not put the egg directly down on top. While the pavers will likely be OK I would not want to transfer that much heat through the medium and into a wood frame. My frame was concrete block so I didn't think I had an issue either. To be honest if I never cooked Pizza on the egg it would probably have been fine. But for real cooking be safe and use the spacer.

New here... I too am in the process of building our XL egg table.  Although I don't have a lot of experience with my table burning down or my granite cracking, knock on wood,  I second jn_austin. Use the table nest especially with the granite.  Granite is strong stuff but not as forgiving as a concrete paver. Knowing this ahead of time is good so that you can adjust for the extra two inches in height you will gain with the table nest.  I called Green Egg and they told me that their plans on their website are not for use with the table nest and that with their plans your egg would be raised 2 inches higher above the table top, but they do recommend the use of the table nest with wood tables.   We have 2cm granite under our XL with the table nest.  I pray that the 2cm granite will hold up.

I went on Kijiji and found a granite place that was selling scraps for $1, any size. Cutting and edging was extra. I figured the cutting etc, would be $60-70+ for a cut. guy told me he would make a cut for $10. I found apiece that just needed one cut to fit my measurements and got it for $10. He didn't even charge me for the original $1. WOOO HOO.

 

Just finished my table and, I too am trying to decide paver or table nest. I just found the feet that came with our Large three years ago. Has anyone used them on wood?

tndawg said:

I have started building a table for my two eggs and I have a question as I continue to look at pics of tables that have been posted on here. I can't decide on whether I want to put granite or a paver under the eggs. Do they both have the same ability to handle the heat from the bottom of the egg? I don't want to consider granite if it lets the wood get too hot. Any experiences or thoughts you can share? Thanks!

This is what I did...

A few holes in the granite to let heat out

I have a piece of granite under the nest that is 18"x18" and a piece that is flush with the top of the table that is 18" x "21 (see my avatar). Both including cuts were $100. I like the piece under the egg with the nest, I think it looks nicer, I would be concerned that a paver stone (16" x 16") might not be large enough to have the nest sit on top. Best of luck!

Most granite countertop companies have a "bone yard" with leftover pieces, cut outs and mis-cuts. after buying the first piece of scrap fo $25, the owner now gives me whatever I want and encourages me to take more. I always show him pictures of my projects and he gets a kick out of how I use some of the pieces he has given me. (The rack of ribs probably didn't hurt our relationship either -lol)

jaydub58 said:

I have used the original ceramic feet that came with the egg for three years now.

Oooops!  I didn't state that I used the ceramic feet on a single layer of three concrete pavers.

No worries about heat there.