Wooden Deck?

Blue Ridge Smoke · February 2009

Hopefully my dealer will call in a day or two with a date when my new egg will get "laid" and I can take it home.

Until then, I'm trying to figure out where to place the egg. It will sit in it's nest. I'd like to place it on a wooden deck, but I'm concerned about, well, burning my house down.

I'm thinking about getting some concrete backer board from Lowes to put under it.

I see that the wooden carts the eggs are popular, and I haven't seen photos of them in flames, giving me hope it can sit near the entertainment area of the house.

Suggestions? Ideas? Things I should be concerned about?

Thanks,
[pat]

Semolina Pilchard · February 2009

Some wooden tables have caught fire because the egg was set on the table with no stone under the egg. At least one house burned down when a spark flew out the bottom vent and landed in the garage. I think a mat would be needed at a minimum.

Salguod · February 2009

I chickened out of putting my egg on our redwood deck. I put it on the patio cement instead. Not as convienient, but safer. That said, you COULD put it on the deck with something underneath and great caution. But then you would always have to worry about sparks and mishaps. Don't let that stop you from egging though!

Firetruck · February 2009

I have the same concerns. I have a concrete porch and a wood deck that extends that. I usually leave the eggs on the porch when cooking which tends to add smoke to the white ceilings as well as sometimes filling the house with smoke when the door opens and the winds are right. I do sometimes roll it out to the deck if it is during the day and I can keep an eye on it.

All that to say a lot of folks have all wood decks and have never had a problem.

RRP · February 2009

Actually the big boxes like orange and blue do sell large semi-rigid fireproof mats for that express purpose. Only problem (but not as major as a home burnt down) is their contact with the wooden deck will discolor the boards due to moisture retention etc. OTOH and KNOCKING on wood I've egged for 9 years now on a wooden deck resting in a wooden table, but with concrete stones AND those 3 little green feet that newbies seem to hate. I trust the wire screen door for the damaging size embers - BTW that screen came about as I recall when NB's home burnt down! Just assess your risks and go from there.

golffer · February 2009

I have my large in a wooden table and on a wooden deck. I DO keep the "screen" door closed and to date have had very few sparks on the deck. I am looking for something fireproof to put under the entire setup.

reelgem · February 2009

Ron, I know what you're saying about the mats discoloring the wood. And it is impossible to get rid of the stain unless you sand it down. Not sure what I'm going to do at my house seeing the deck is wood and also the gazebo that's cooked in during the winter. A cart wouldn't work. Wierd you should bring up NB. Was just talking to Chris last night about the fire at his house. That's pretty scary story.
I got to try the Witchy Red you sent
Mike Love. I really liked it and I'm looking forward using mine when I get home. Not looking forward to coming back to the weather.
BTW- Lake Havasu was unbelivable! It is hands down by far the best egg event I've ever been too. Mike and his wife Aline do an unbelievable job. It's already on my calendar for next year.

Broc · February 2009

I have two Eggs on stones with feet... over fake wood. You know, the stuff that never rots.

I also have as fire extinguisher right at hand... and a heat shield between the Egg and the house [Yep! The Egg're right close to the house].

~ B

fishlessman · February 2009

it doesnt happen often, but a very small percentage of eggs crack. if it happens during an over night cook while your sleeping it may be a concern. i had that happen during an overnight cook and it just burned the table, my eggs nolonger sit on a deck. check your local firecodes, many places dont allow any type of grill on a deck

Popsicle · February 2009

Blue Ridge Smoke, I have cooked on my wooden deck since 95 without any problem. One thing I do is hose down the deck around the eggs before starting, especially if it hasn’t rained in a while. That being said, you still have to be careful on your deck. Good Luck and enjoy your Egg.
Popsicle

[Deleted User] · February 2009

SP - You are incorrect about "tables having caught fire". I have not heard of one instance where a table actually caught fire. I've heard of several where there was a gradual charring over time due to not using a proper base to set the egg on (this includes my neighbor who used neither feet nor stone). Not good (not safe) but not bursting into flame either.

My first winter I put my Egg and table on my wood deck. I did one overnight but otherwise the cooks were all no longer than ribs. It didn't seem particularly dangerous, but I kept a close eye on any cooks above 350 because I was never completely comfortable. I don't put my LBGE on the deck anymore because it was too much trouble and the deck doesn't get any sun in the winter. I do keep (and use)my mini on the deck tho.

The thing I am most concerned about is flying sparks! That's where you can get into trouble especially during the fall when there are dry leaves blowing around. Although I've never heard of sparks starting a pile of leaves on fire, I know it can happen!

In the end, do whatever you need to do to be comfortable with your setup.

fishlessman · February 2009

back when i got my egg there was no talk of using a stone, just the feet. this is a 2 inch thick table that burned thru over night. the egg bottom was cracked across the bottom and up the sides in three places. you can see where the three feet were, if it burned just a little wider the egg would have tipped over and crashed into pieces with a full load of lump while i slept during this low and slow over night cook, the cook was only 225 degrees. the egg was fine for several years sitting on this table before it happened. now my neighbor burned the back of his house down with a gas grill on a deck. he lost the skin from his elbows down on both arms and never fully recovered. fire does its own thing and its dangerous when it gets out of control, very hard to predict.

RRP · February 2009

I hope you like the Witchy Red. MySpicer back ordered the beet powder and I'm only missing that item. Then I'll be whipping up another 4 pound batch - will be up to 12 pounds so far meaning I'm into this venture up to my ears!

TheDirtyBurger · February 2009

Is it ok to store a fire estinguisher out in the open? Will the rain, cold, or heat hurt it at all? Contents under pressure and such. Just curious because I really want to get a fire proof mat under my egg and install an estinguisher out there. I have only had my egg for a couple of months, but it is on a wood deck.

Salguod · February 2009

I'm not a fireman, and that is who you should ask. But as a scuba diver I'm familiar with compressed gas cylinders. Storing it outside is less than ideal, but the pressure in a fire extinguisher is much less than in a scuba cylinder. ALL cylinders should be inspected from time to time, at least on an annual basis. I would say that if you kept a close watch on your fire extinguisher you should be fine. When in doubt, get a new one. They aren’t that expensive. Overall the risk of the fire extinguisher exploding is MUCH less than the risk of a fire. So you are going to be better off with the fire extinguisher right where it is needed.

[Deleted User] · February 2009

thanks Fishless- I stand corrected!
I didn't realize yours happened overnight.

my neighbor used neither feet nor stone under his XL and it took the better part of a year of regular cooks for his plywood shelf to look like yours.

never had any "fire" per se, just a little extra smoke.

fishlessman · February 2009

i kinda think it actually cracked a few days earlier during a 325 degree turkey cook, i heard a loud pop that echoed across the lake. thought maybe it was the box or something in the lump because the cracks werent really visable. after this i turned the egg over and you could easily see that there were cracks and when you heated it up the cracks got larger.

fishlessman · February 2009

i have some outside on the welding trucks and a couple in the boat, outside year round, but i have them inspected yearly at work. if you do use it, get it refilled or replaced because the valve never reseats properly and you will eventually lose the charge. i keep mine in the kitchen out in the open next to the bottle opener, everyone that comes over knows where the extinguisher is. ive used it both indoors in the kitchen and out by the egg

Little Steven · February 2009

Blue Ridge Smoke,

After having a barbeque related fire two years ago and my home is still not completed, I can advise you only that no precaution is too much. I was fortunate that none of my family were harmed but it is a terrible thing to go through. My fire started on my deck and burned back and ignited the house. I had never given it a second thought. A couple of barbeque mats and some curbstones may have prevented it. My new deck will be concrete for that very reason. Chris's fire was caused by an errant spark that travelled some distance before it ignited something. You need to think about every possibilty and protect against each one.

Steve

Blue Ridge Smoke · February 2009

Thanks, folks. Seeing pics of the charred wood, not meat, makes me rethink my location. I'll be building a nice area in the corner of the yard for the Egg when it is laid!

A fire extinguisher won't hurt, either!

[pat]

hawkegg · February 2009

Interesting topic. Where I have problems is when I light it. I use a MAPP tourch and sometimes it sends sparks everywhere!!

Wooden Deck?

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