Building a wood deck comes with a significant amount of fire concern. Exposure to embers may cause the potential to spread fires, especially on a surface that doesn’t have the right treatment. If you live in dry environments, this concerns owners doubly. So, how do you fireproof a wooden deck?
To address the risk of ignition, you should fireproof during the initial building process. By choosing non-combustible materials, you set yourself up for success. You can also coat your deck with fire retardant spray.
In the rest of this article, we will go into other methods of fireproofing your patio. We will also go through some ideas to consider to be ready for a fire should it occur.
Choose The Right Decking Materials
When assessing the vulnerability of decks, the first area you look at is material. When the flames spread to certain types of decking, they are more likely to catch fire. It’s essential to be aware of the different resistance levels:
- Class A: flame spread rating between zero and 25.
- Class B: 26 to 75.
- Class C: 76 and 200.
All of the above materials are effective against some level of exposure. Class D and E products are considered ineffective against fire.
Below are a few deck surfaces you might consider for your needs:
Composite Decking
Composite components aren’t all made equal. The plastic in some of these boards is more flammable, putting them at Class C or lower.
Fire-Retardant Treated Wood
You may use chemically treated wood in the construction of your patio. This wood typically has a class A rating, costing quite a bit more than untreated wood as a result.
Pressure-Treated Woods
Pressure-treated woods are magnificent at being resistant to moisture. When asking for pressure-treated lumber, look for those with a Class A or B fire rating. The two types have a bit of crossover, as the idea is to keep whatever is trying to get to the lumber away.
Less Flammable Lumber
Thick lumber is more effective due to its tendency to burn slower. Hardwoods like mahogany, walnut, and oak can reduce your chance of fire.
Fire Treatment after the Wood Deck is Built
If your deck is already complete, what you can apply to it is somewhat limited. But there are two things you can do specifically to improve protection from flames:
- Fire treatment spray: Hardware stores allow you to spray a coating of fireproof liquid material on the surface of your patio.
- Replace the wood: You can replace portions of the wood with any of the woods listed above.
Other Methods of Reducing Your Chance of Fire on Your Wood Deck
When you’ve done everything you can to reduce the patio’s chance of fire, you move onto things connected to the deck:
- Remove any dead vegetation and dry wood from on or around your wooden surface.
- If you have a grill, make sure that it is entirely out before you leave it.
- Make sure you have fire extinguishers and hoses to take care of any fires quickly.
Final Thoughts
While your best results in fireproofing happen during the instruction, you can also do small things to reduce your chance of fire. By keeping these things in mind, you will be able to feel confident in your deck. Just make sure you work with someone who knows what they are doing.
