Are you wondering what do you put at the bottom of a fire pit? If so, welcome to Delta Fire Pits. The aim with this post is to give you a great overview and our top recommendations to set you up for success.

No one can deny the pleasurable experience of a fire pit in winters. It’s an excellent activity that can refresh your mind. People love camping and spending nights near a bonfire or pit, but you cannot go camping every night. The best option is to make a permanent pit at your home. If you don’t have enough space or you don’t want a permanent fire pit, you can get a portable fire pit that you can enjoy at your home or near a campsite.

While using a portable fire pit, you need to make sure that the surface under it is protected. If you are using the pit on a concrete surface, there can be burn marks on the surface after using the fire pit. It won’t start a fire, but you need to take safety measures. If you are using it on a wood deck or grass, then you need to take safety measures. Fire pits can burn your grass and can even start an unwanted fire. Thus, you need to put something at the bottom of the pit to prevent any problem. Due to high temperature, the surface of the wood deck can turn into black, or it can also catch fire. Therefore, people usually ask, “What do you put at the bottom of a fire pit?”

How to Protect the Wood Deck or Grass from a Fire Pit?

Everybody knows that pits can damage the expensive deck. It can also start a fire in the worst case. It’s not a big problem because there are products that can prevent damage. You can save your wood deck or grass by using different products that you can put at the bottom of a fire pit. The products are heat and fire-resistant, and they protect the surface. People spend a lot in their backyard and decorate it with wood, decorative stones, and grass. If you want to protect the surface, you need to use safety products.

The commonly used product is the fire mat. You can put a fire mat under the pit, and it will protect the floor. Fire pit mats are usually made of heat-resistant and fire-resistant material. They can protect the surface under the fire pit. You need to maintain a clearance between the pit and the pad because the pad cannot handle the excess temperature. You cannot put a pit directly over the mat; there must be the recommended clearance.

Fire Pit Shields

The next common thing that people usually use is the metallic heat shield. The shield is made of metal; therefore, it’s very durable and long-lasting. It can withstand high temperatures, even if you put the fire pit directly over it. It can protect the surface, but it’s quite expensive.

The most affordable option is the reflective fire pit pad. It can reflect the radiant heat to protect the surface. No matter how much the temperature of the pit is, the pad will reflect the heat with perfection. Most of the reflective mats can reflect up to 95% of the radiant heat.

Now, you might have gotten the answer to the question, “What do you put at the bottom of a fire pit?” Let’s look at some products that can help you protect your valuable deck or decorative surface.

Best Products to Put at the Bottom of a Fire Pit

We have researched some of the best products that you can use at the bottom of pits. These products will protect your wood deck, grass, concrete, or any other surface.

1)  Infinite Heat Solutions DeckProtect 24-Inch Octagon Outdoor Fire Pit Pad

If you are looking for something that can provide superior protection, then you must see this pit pad. It can be an excellent choice, and you will never regret choosing it. The most important thing about this fire pit pad is its construction. It’s a fire board that is heat and fire-resistant. It will not only protect the surface, but it will also protect itself. Many fire pit pads catch fire when they are placed very close to the pit, but this fire pit pad is fire resistant.

Moreover, there is an aluminum plate under the pit pad, which offers durability and optimum performance. There are holes on the aluminum plate that help in draining the moisture. The pad also has rubber feet to provide ventilation to the board. It has an excellent engineering design.

The size of the pad is 24 inches, which is suitable for most pits. The pad has a maximum weight capacity of 250 pounds, which is more than enough. The manufacturer also offers a one-year warranty for the product. If you have this pad, you don’t need to worry about your wood deck or grass.

The only problem with the fire pits is that it’s made of basalt, which can cause skin irritation if it comes in direct contact. So, you need to wear gloves.

Pros:

• Superior protection
• Heat and fire-resistant
• Lightweight
• Durable
• Warranty

Cons:

• Can cause skin irritation

2)  Fireproof Mat

This fire pit pad is suitable to protect the wood, decorative stones, lawn, concrete, or composite surface. You can place it under your pit, and it will protect the surface from any damage.

The fire pit is made of durable heat resistant material. It can bear temperature up to 1300˚F. It can protect the surface and last for a long time. The stitching of the mat is also fire retardant.

You only need to make 2 inches clearance, and it will reflect the heat efficiently. Its size is perfect for almost all pits that have legs. It can be rolled, so you can store it with ease without damaging its surface. The manufacturer offers a lifetime warranty for the product. It’s available at a reasonable price so that you can protect your patio or deck from burn marks, spills, and other messes.

Pros:

• Multipurpose (For grill or fire pit)
• High-temperature resistance
• Easy to clean and store
• Minimum clearance required

Cons:

• Not large enough to protect from embers

3)  DUN Fireproof Mat, Fire Pit Mat for Deck Fireproof with Aluminum Foil and Glass Fiber

DUN Fireproof Mat is an aluminum reflective fire pit mat, which can reflect the radiant heat. It can withstand high temperatures up to 1300˚F.

The pit mat is around 36 inches, which is large enough for most fire pits. It covers the area under the pit and keeps it safe. It’s made of multiple layers to provide heat reflection and heat resistance at the same time.

It can be used for various purposes, such as under the grill or fire pit to protect from grease, oil spills, heat burns marks, and stains. If it’s under the fire pit, then there is no need to worry about the deck, grass, or decorative stone surface.

You must maintain a clearance of only 2 inches. It is only suitable for pits with legs because you cannot place the fire pit directly over it.

Pros:

• Large size
• Can withstand temperature up to 1300 ˚F
• Two layers for reflection and heat resistance
• Prevents fire
• Versatile

Cons:

• You must use a large fire mat/spark screen with it to protect the wood deck from embers.

4)  Ember Mat

This mat is specially designed to protect from embers and sparks. The area of the mat is 67” x60”, which is large enough to protect from embers and sparks. You can use the mat anywhere you like; it’s suitable for a wood deck and outdoor campsite. You can fold it with ease and carry it.

The mat has multiple layers of food-grade silicone to provide heat and fire resistance. There is no need to worry about it, even if embers fall on the mat. You can wait until ember cools down.

The mat is durable and easy to clean. Its reflective edges are also visible at night that tell you the boundary of the fire pit mat. It can last for a long time.

The mat cannot prevent heat from passing through it. It’s only to protect from embers, so you must use a heat shield or a reflective pad with it. You also need to maintain 10 inches clearance from the ground.

Pros:

• Large size
• Protection from embers
• Reflective edges
• Easy to clean and carry
• Durable

Cons:

• It cannot protect the surface under it. It requires a heat shield or reflective mat.

Closing Thoughts

You can enjoy a fire pit at your home, but you need to take safety measures to prevent any problem or damage. It’s necessary to use protective pads or mats to prevent any damage to the expensive deck or artificial grass. People usually ask, “What do you put at the bottom of a fire pit?” We have answered the question in detail. For your ease, we have also shared some of the best products in the market. The features, pros, and cons of the products are mentioned so that you can easily pick the best one. You must use any of the products to save the surface and prevent any unwanted fire. You only need to put it under the pit, nothing more. It offers you peace of mind while using the pit.

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