Few things are more enjoyable to us than firing up the grill on a warm summer day. You can almost smell your BBQ starting to heat up. The last thing you’re probably thinking about is where you’re going to be placing the grill on the day in question.
However, you should certainly take steps to ensure your BBQ is placed safely for whatever you may have in mind. For example, can you put a BBQ against a wooden fence?
The answer to this question is yes you can, but it is recommended to leave a few feet between your BBQ and your fence for general safety concerns. It may even be better altogether to find another location for your BBQ.
Where Is the Best Place to Put a BBQ?
Obviously, this is the most important question you need to keep in mind. Chances are, you want the grill to be relatively close to where your friends and family are going to be in the yard. You want something that is close to the heat source, as well. What is a good compromise that will keep questions such as these in mind?
Some say that BBQ needs to be at least ten feet away from the house. We’ll let you decide that for yourself, and cover the subject in greater detail shortly.
At the end of the day, what you want to be certain of is that your grill is going to be away from anything that might start a serious fire. As far as a wooden fence specifically is concerned, you really shouldn’t have too much to worry about.
When your grill is being used safely, and when the heat and all other components are confined to the grill itself, meaning there are not sparks or tall flames, you really won’t have anything to worry about. Obviously, you don’t want to leave the grill unattended for any given amount of time.
You also don’t want to cook at higher temperatures than what is suggested, or do anything else that might cause an explosion of any kind.
Type of BBQ
Where the BBQ goes can also be determined by the type of BBQ you have. Some grills are obviously better than others at keeping the heat where it ought to be. Some grills are also more prone to damaging flare-ups than others. Don’t be afraid to do some research on whatever BBQ you currently, or are planning to purchase.
If you’re in the market for a new BBQ, we recommend a charcoal grill with offset smoker like this one by Royal Gourmet. It’s a dual style barbeque that can be used for grilling and smoking to give your meat that extra kick of flavor that it’s been missing.
If your grill flares up, it is entirely possible for that kind of brief explosion of heat and flame to cause damage to a wooden fence. This is obviously going to be dependent on how close it is to the fence in the first place. Some never have this problem, so they keep the grill right up against the fence.
While that may be fine, our suggestion ultimately is to prefer to play it safe. This means putting at least a little distance between the grill and the fence. Some also suggest building a brick exterior for the BBQ. This ensures the heat isn’t going to travel very far beyond the grill. It can also protect you from the possibility of a flare-up.
Also, to reiterate an earlier point, you want to be certain that you are keeping the BBQ away from anything that might be flammable. This can include hanging branches, rags, gasoline containers, or literally anything that could become combustible without very much in the way of provocation from outside sources.
It can also be helpful to know the fire codes and other regulations for your specific area. Due to dry weather and various factors, there may be additional considerations that you have to take seriously, when placing your BBQ.
Compost, mulch, and manure are other potential fire hazards. Do not keep your BBQ anywhere near any of these things!
Close to your wooden fence, but not right about against it, is as close to a universal answer to this question as anyone is probably going to get. The brick exterior is a further measure that we suggest taking. Creating a unique, semi-protected space for your BBQ is going to be best for everyone concerned.
Next, let’s take a closer look at the considerations for where the BBQ should be, as far as the rest of your home is going to be concerned.
How Close Can the BBQ Be to the House?
Keeping in mind everything that we’ve covered thus far, it is safe to say you should have a pretty good idea at this point of where the BBQ can be established in regards to the rest of your home. Obviously, it should be kept reasonably away from open windows, but there is a bit more to the subject than that.
Covered areas, hanging plants, and anything combustible should be avoid, as you decide where is the best place to put a BBQ. As mentioned before, a lot of experts believe ten feet from the home is the safest bet to make for everyone. We would agree, although again, the choice is ultimately going to be yours to make.
How Far Should A Propane Grill Be From A Wood Fence?
As we mentioned earlier, propane grills tend to be easier and safer to use than charcoal-based grills. Which one you prefer from a taste perspective will be your choice to make, but a propane grill can set up just a handful of feet away from any given wooden fence. This thought can also be applied to vinyl fences, or anything else you may think of.
Gas grills in general offer several advantages for many consumers over charcoal. The heating process tends to be more even, which reflects in the quality of everything you’re cooking. These grills also usually produce more steam than actual smoke.
Finally, the meats or anything you cook on a propane grill have the benefit of generally being moister than what you cook on a charcoal grill.
You would also want to consider the fact that charcoal grills, generally speaking, take longer to heat up.
You should absolutely weigh the pros and cons of these options yourself. However, if you don’t have a lot of room to work with in your yard, and you want to place your BBQ safely, a propane grill may prove perfect.
Final Thoughts
An uncovered area is the best location for a BBQ. This should be a reasonable amount of space from your home, but also convenient enough that you can still enjoy company. Keeping a reasonable distance from other people is also a good way to prevent accidents.
You should also keep in mind that if you’re using charcoal over an open flame, you have something that tends to be more challenging to control than gas-powered or infrared counterparts. Natural gas grills generally give you a much greater degree of control. This in turn means you will have a bit more freedom, in the context of where to best place the BBQ.
You should also try to set up a BBQ that keeps in mind the potential for smoke. While this isn’t an immediate danger, it can still be extremely unhealthy, as well as annoying, for neighbors, visitors, or anyone else who might be around. You can’t control every single aspect of the weather, but there is still plenty you can do to minimize risk, annoyance, or anything else along those lines.
