Gathering friends and family under one roof, heating up the grill to cook them barbeque and bonding over other different meals is arguably one of the best motivations to invest in a gazebo. You can sit with your friends and family, depending on its size and converse as you eat juicy barbeque and cold drinks.
However, there is a question of safety; is it safer to grill under a gazebo? While some of us prefer grilling outside, under no roof whatsoever, grilling under a gazebo is more convenient because it provides shade on days that are sunny and shelter during the rains.
Therefore, grilling under a gazebo is safe, for the most part. It is not exactly dangerous, but there are several factors you to consider. First the roof’s height, the vicinity area and gazebo features.
Most gazebos are designed to accommodate grills, but here a few safety tips to help you out:
Safety Tips for Grilling Under Your Gazebo
Aeration
This is the most prevalent issue when grilling under a gazebo; you have to make sure there is sufficient aeration. This ensures the smoke and heat don’t accumulate in the gazebo and cause dizziness.
Mostly, gazebos do have a design that has an open-air as well as pillars to hold the roof. Nonetheless, some modern designs still have walls and low roofs. Therefore, you have to consider your gazebo’s design before you decide whether or not to grill under it.
That said, if you don’t have a gazebo yet, you should consider buying a grill gazebo. They are perfectly aerated, with high roofs to make sure the smoke gets out of the structure to avoid stuffiness.
In addition, the grill gazebos even have hooks that are used for hanging accessories, hence making it more convenient for grilling purposes.
Grill Positioning
Where you position your grill under the gazebo is also vital in ensuring safety. We recommend placing it between two pillars of the gazebo and not against them. This way if there are flying sparks or ash debris, they won’t prove to be an issue that could cause a fire. In addition, its recommended to place your grill 5 feet away from the house.
If you have a high roof four pillar gazebo, then you will place your grill at the center for maximum aeration.
Flammable Materials
Most gazebos are made of wood, which is flammable, hence increasing the effects of fire risk. We don’t recommend grilling under a gazebo made from materials that are flammable since it could catch fire.
This may also be the case with metal gazebos. Low quality metal gazebos are an excellent choice for providing shade in your backyard. Nevertheless, they are made of aluminum, so if there’s intense heat, they could buckle or snap.
Additionally, some gazebos feature fabric canopies and even though they are made of fire-resistant polyester, this material can melt under intense heat thus presenting a high risk of fires.
That said if you have a metal gazebo made of thick metal that can handle intense heat, you can grill under it. But if the material is thin then the gazebo will cave in under high temperatures.
Additional Tips
- Have a fire extinguisher close by and make sure any flammable materials aren’t near the grill.
- Clean your gazebo regularly and clear any grease accumulation that could increase the chances of a fire.
- You should use accessories like grill pads to shield the floor from fire risk stains like grease stains.
Grilling Under a Gazebo: The Benefits
Protection from Weather Elements
Grilling under your gazebo is convenient since you can cook outdoors, perfectly shielded from the weather elements. On a sunny day it provides shade and on a rainy-day shelter.
Enjoy Cooking in the Outdoors
Grilling turns your gazebo into an excellent cooking space, ideal for holding barbeques and social gatherings with friends and family.
In Conclusion
So, is it safe to grill under a gazebo? Well, it depends. Grilling under a gazebo can be a good experience but always ensure you keep in consideration the tips mentioned above for a guaranteed safety.
In case you need to boost your grilling game, make a consideration of investing in our gazebos. We have a wide range of gazebos; from the more fancy and spacious ones with magnificent canopies and fine details in design to the more rustic and metallic options, perfect for barbecuing with friends and family.