You can use a Solo Stove on a deck that is made of composite materials or fire resistant materials.
I already owned a Solo Stove when I moved to a house with a deck. As such, I had to do my own research to find out if it was safe to set up this fire pit near my home.
In this post I will show which types of deck you can set up a Solo Stove on as well as which safety guidelines you should follow. Let’s get started!
According to Solo Stove, the bottom of their fire pits and camp stoves don’t get nearly as hot as the cooking ring.
Nevertheless, they do say that Solo Stoves should not be placed on heat sensitive surfaces. The surface material needs to be considered oven safe in order for you to use a Solo Stove on it.
So, what does this mean for you? Can you use your Solo Stove fire pit on your deck?
Well, this depends on the type of deck that you have. Most people have a wooden deck, although you may have a composite deck.
Composite decking is a combination of recycled wood and plastic, making it a more resilient option.
Now, I don’t need to tell you what will happen if you place hot metal containing a wood burning fire pit against a wood deck. The Solo Stove radiates heat and this heat can be transferred to the deck below.
Even if the Solo Stove doesn’t burn through the material, it can still damage the surrounding wood deck.
Then, what about a composite deck? Well, as mentioned, composite decking is stronger so you will have a better chance of using a Solo Stove safely on this deck.
Nevertheless, you will still need to take some precautions. This means that there needs to be some kind of barrier between the Solo Stove fire pit and your deck.
Solo Stove has come up with a stand for each of its fire pits.
Contrary to what you might imagine, the Solo Stove stand is more like a perforated stainless steel ring. It is 2.75 inches tall.
As mentioned, these Solo Stoves radiate residual heat. The stands allow for cool air to pass through and under the fire pit. This means that less radiant heat is transferred to your wooden deck.
Not to mention, there is a barrier between the hot fire pit and the wood deck.
So, can you use the Solo Stove stand on your deck? According to the company, the stand can work on most decks.
Therefore, if you have a composite deck, then you can use a Solo Stove on this surface.
Here’s the caveat, though – Solo Stove doesn’t mention which types of decks the Solo Stove stand will work on. Due to this, you can’t be a 100 percent certain that it will work on your deck.
I know that concrete decking is rare. However, if your deck is largely made up of this material then, congratulations, you can set up the Solo Stove on your deck without any issue at all!
In general, though, if your decking has a Class A rating, then it is mostly fire resistant. Materials with this rating slow the rate of spread.
So, even if there was a fire due to your Solo Stove, you would have more time to put it out and prevent it from moving towards your home.
Believe it or not, there are treated hardwoods that are fire resistant. Therefore, it is a good idea to check just what kind of material has been used for your deck.
You may end up lucking out!
If you have a wood deck, you may be insistent on using a Solo Stove fire pit anyways. If this is the case, let me offer you some guidance:
Especially if you have a larger Solo Stove fire pit, then these stands can get pretty pricey. As such, you may be thinking about using an alternative or substitute.
Here’s the thing, though, it won’t work as well as the stand. See, you don’t just need a platform to sit in between the fire pit and the wood deck.
You need an object that raises the fire pit off the floor while allowing cool air to flow throughout. This is what allows the heat to dissipate.
So, unless you can find a pretty close replica to the Solo Stove stand, I would suggest going with the real deal.
The last thing that you need to do is damage your wood deck in any way at all. Wooden decks are expensive and even the smallest mark can be tricky to fix.
This is why it is a good idea to use a fireproof mat. This will give you an extra layer of protection.
Not to mention, it is great for peace of mind as well.
I feel like that with a wooden deck, the more precautions that you can take, the better.
This is why you may want to think about setting up some kind of concrete platform on your wood decking. It doesn’t have to be anything permanent or fancy. A few concrete pavers stacked up will do the trick.
Now, if you have a concrete platform like this, it is unlikely that you will need the stand as well. However, it can help to allow the surface below from heating up nonetheless.
Just because your Solo Stove pit is set up on the stand or a platform doesn’t mean that you can ignore it.
Keep in mind that the fire pit can give off sparks. These aren’t dangerous but if they land on the wood deck, they may do some damage. They may even be considered a fire hazard.
To prevent this from happening, make sure to keep a close eye on the fire pit as you use the Solo Stove.
As you are dealing with such a delicate decking, it is important to make sure that the Solo Stove is stable at all times.
This is even more vital if you are setting the Solo Stove upon the stand or any other higher platform.
Make sure to give it a wide birth and to ensure that no kids or pets are running around it.
There is always a chance that the Solo Stove may get tipped over. This is why I like to clear away the deck as much as possible before bringing out the fire pit.
This way, even if it is turned over, there is less clutter to catch fire in the surrounding area.
Don,t want those sparks to go flying everywhere? Then you can buy and use one of the shields that are sold by the company.
These fire resistant covers go over the Solo Stove and prevent sparks from flying everywhere. As you can imagine, this is a pretty handy thing to have on a wooden deck.
There is no guarantee that you can use the Solo Stove on your wood deck even if you are careful.
Thus, it is a good idea to have a test run. Set the Solo Stove up on a section where you will not notice any damage or it can be easily damaged.
Let it burn for a bit, turn it off, and wait for the Solo Stove to cool. Once it is cool enough to move, check the wooden decking below that spot. If it all looks good, then you know that it is fine to use the Solo Stove on your deck.
Well, you will need to weigh the pros and cons before making this decision.
If you want my advice, I would suggest against setting up a Solo Stove on a wood deck. There is just too much risk of the material getting damaged.
The best way to enjoy your Solo Stove is to guarantee that you are using it properly each and every time that you get it started. Here are the top tips for doing so:
It is important to set up the Solo Stove in the right location. Ideally, the fire pit should be kept at least 6 feet away from the house as well as deck railings.
In general, make sure that there is a 6 foot radius of free space around the Solo Stove. This way, any stray sparks or embers will not lead to any trouble.
It is also best to set the fire pit up in an open air space. Look to leave about 20 feet of space between the fire pit and any overhead structures.
I would actually advise against keeping your Solo Stove anywhere there may be an awning, hanging plants, and even hanging light fixtures.
This should go without saying but make sure that the Solo Stove is on solid, even ground. This reduces the risk of it tipping over.
Before you start up the fire pit, give it a little budge. If it appears a bit wobbly, then you may want to change its spot. In case there is no movement at all, then you can get the fire going.
There are some woods that spark more than others. Needless to say, you are going to want to use the fuel that is less likely to cause a fire.
This is where kiln dried hardwood comes in. You should be able to find this at home improvement stores.
In case you want to save money on the kind of wood that you are using, then you should try to use the Solo Stove shield instead.
Even if the wood does spark, the shield will ensure that it is contained within the confines of the fire pit.
When the fire pit is out, it is best to keep pets indoors. It is quite possible for your pet to rush into the Solo Stove and topple it over.
Keeping your pets inside is as much for their safety as yours. After all, you don’t want your pet to get hurt, do you?
With so much of focus on fuel and sparks, it is easy to forget that the exterior of the Solo Stove is incredibly hot. In fact, the company confirms that this surface is hot enough to melt the soles of your shoes.
Due to this, it is best to be careful around the fire pit. Make sure the chairs are kept several feet away to avoid the chance of you accidentally brushing up against it.
If you need to tend to it in any way, it is best to wear fire resistant gloves.
Did you know that it can take embers up to 12 hours to completely die down? In the meanwhile if they come into contact with any flammable surface, they can cause a fire.
This is why you should never just leave your fire pit out on the deck, thinking that the embers will go out by themselves. Always place a shield or some other kind of fire resistant metal over the pit so that the embers can’t fly away.
So, there you have it – all that you need to know about using a Solo Stove on a deck. Now that you know the important details, you can make sure to set one up safely.
