Price beat promise.
The fire is the centrepiece of an Australian backyard. Everything else arranges itself around it.
View the full rangeA real wood fire cooks a pizza in 90 seconds. Everything slower than that is just an oven.
View the full rangeMost umbrellas fail in the first serious wind. These are engineered not to.
View the full rangeAn indoor fridge put outside will rust inside a season. These are built to live out there.
View the full rangeStart six weeks earlier in spring, and keep growing right through winter.
View the full rangeFuel, covers and the small parts that keep a fire going year after year.
View the full rangeCategories
We are Hayden and Tim. Two of us, no call centre, and the same person answers the phone before and after you buy.
Our storyRead and learn
Ring before you buy. I will tell you what suits your space, and what to avoid, even when that means spending less.
Get a quote1300 515 620The fire is the centrepiece of an Australian backyard. Everything else arranges itself around it.
Outdoor FireplacesEthanol Fire TablesEthanol Fire PitsEthanol Fire Pit KitsFireplace accessoriesBrands
EcoSmart FireOchre LivingView the full rangeA real wood fire cooks a pizza in 90 seconds. Everything slower than that is just an oven.
Pizza oven accessoriesBrands
ValorianiPolitoView the full rangeCast concrete, heavy enough to stay exactly where you put it.
Coffee TablesPlantersBrands
Blinde DesignView the full rangeMost umbrellas fail in the first serious wind. These are engineered not to.
Cantilever UmbrellasWall UmbrellasMarket UmbrellasCommercial UmbrellasUmbrella accessoriesBrands
ShadowspecView the full rangeAn indoor fridge put outside will rust inside a season. These are built to live out there.
FridgesWine FridgesBrands
HuskySchmickView the full rangeStart six weeks earlier in spring, and keep growing right through winter.
Greenhouse accessoriesBrands
Winter GardenzView the full rangeFuel, covers and the small parts that keep a fire going year after year.
Fireplace AccessoriesEcoSmart Fire AccessoriesPizza Oven AccessoriesUmbrella AccessoriesGreenhouse AccessoriesView the full rangeWe are Hayden and Tim. Two of us, no call centre, and the same person answers the phone before and after you buy.
Who we are
Who is My Acre?Why My Acre?Meet Hayden and TimOur installersContact usWhat we promise
Price beat promiseShipping and deliveryWarranty and claimsReturns and exchangeRead and learn
BlogsPizza oven guidesCustomer resourcesCustomer reviews Our story
Short answer: yes, you can put a fire pit on a deck, as long as you match the fire to the surface. The risk is the type of fire, not the deck itself. An open wood or charcoal pit throws embers and drops hot ash that scorch timber and melt composite, so it should never sit straight on the boards. A contained, flueless bioethanol fire pit is the deck-safe choice, because it produces no embers, no ash and no smoke, and it can be put out in seconds.
This guide covers timber decks and composite decks, what to put underneath, the clearances that matter in Australia, and how to choose a fire pit that suits a deck.
It is safe when the fire is contained and the deck is sound. A bioethanol fire pit burns from a sealed stainless burner with no flying embers, so the two everyday hazards of a deck fire, sparks and dropped coals, are removed. The deck also needs to be level, stable and clear of leaf litter, with the fire pit sitting flat so it cannot rock. An open wood or charcoal pit raises the risk sharply on any deck, and is better kept to bare earth, gravel or a paved area away from the house.
A wood deck handles a contained bioethanol fire pit well, provided the boards are sound and the flame is ember-free. Sealed or oiled timber decking is a stable, hard base, and EcoSmart Fire rates its ethanol fire pits as safe on sealed timber decking. The design does the work: articulating feet hold a 12.5 mm air gap under the base, so heat is not transferred straight into the boards. What a timber deck cannot take is an open wood fire, where a single dropped ember leaves a permanent burn.
Composite boards such as Trex, Ekodeck and Modwood are a timber-and-plastic blend that handles warmth but not direct flame or a fixed hot spot. A contained bioethanol fire pit is rated safe on most composite decking for the same reasons it suits timber, the sealed burner and the air gap under the base. An open wood or charcoal fire is the real danger here, as embers and sustained heat can scorch and melt composite permanently. For the full detail on composite boards, read will a fire pit damage a composite deck.
Bioethanol and gas are the deck-friendly fuels, because neither throws embers nor drops hot ash. Wood and charcoal are the opposite, scattering sparks and leaving coals that scorch timber and melt composite, so neither belongs directly on the boards. The table compares the four common fire pit fuels for use on a timber or composite deck.
| Fuel | Embers or sparks | Ash or hot coals | Suitable on a deck? | What it needs on a deck |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bioethanol (flueless) | None | None | Yes, timber and composite | A flat, level base with the clearances kept. No mat needed with EcoSmart's air-gap feet. |
| Gas (LPG or natural gas) | None | None | Yes, with care | Good ventilation, a stable base and safe bottle or line placement. Some models need a heat shield underneath. |
| Wood | Yes, flying embers | Yes, ash and coals | No, not directly on the boards | A non-combustible pad and wide clearance. Better on earth, gravel or paving. |
| Charcoal | Yes, sparks | Yes, hot ash | No, not directly on the boards | A non-combustible pad. Best kept off a deck entirely. |
Put it on a flat, stable, hard surface, and little else when the fire is contained. With EcoSmart's design no deck protection mat is required, because the articulating feet keep a 12.5 mm air gap between the hot base and the boards. Sealed timber, composite, paving, concrete, tile and stone all work; grass, artificial turf, loose rock and warped boards that make the unit rock do not. If you ever use an open wood or charcoal pit, a non-combustible pad is essential, which is one more reason a contained fire suits a deck better.
EcoSmart Fire's published guidance is a minimum of 600 mm side clearance to fixed structures, 2,000 mm overhead clearance to anything moveable, and at least 1 m clear of flammable items such as cushions and throws while the fire is running. Keep the pit away from the deck railing, the house wall and any pergola posts. Every EcoSmart fire pit and fire table complies with the ACCC mandatory safety standard for decorative alcohol-fuelled devices in Australia. During a total fire ban an open wood or charcoal fire is not permitted; rules for contained decorative devices vary by state and council, so check your local fire authority, and check your by-laws if you are on a strata title.
A bioethanol fire pit or fire table is the low-risk choice for a deck. The EcoSmart fire pits we stock are cast in Fluid concrete with a Grade 304 stainless burner, produce no embers, ash or smoke, and are light enough to reposition. Compact models suit smaller decks and balconies: the Pod 30 and Mix 600 for tighter spaces, and the larger Pod 40 where there is room to gather. Each runs on e-NRG bioethanol, an Australian-bottled fuel, with no gas line, hose or fitting to manage.
Set the fire pit on a level spot away from where chairs get shuffled in close, and use a glass wind guard on an open, breezy deck to keep the flame steady. Clear leaves and debris from under and around the unit before you light it. When you are done, follow the extinguishing steps in the manual and let the pit cool fully before you cover it or refill the tray. These habits matter more on a deck than anywhere else, because the surface underneath is part of your home.
Every EcoSmart fire pit ships free Australia-wide, backed by our price beat promise and owner after-care. If you are unsure whether a model suits your boards or your clearances, message us and we will help you choose.
Yes, when the fire is contained. A bioethanol fire pit has no embers, ash or smoke, so it removes the two deck hazards of sparks and dropped coals. Keep it level, follow the clearances, and never use an open wood or charcoal pit on the boards.
Yes. EcoSmart Fire rates its ethanol fire pits as safe on sealed timber decking, because the sealed burner produces no embers and articulating feet hold a 12.5 mm air gap under the base. An open wood fire should never sit directly on timber.
A flat, stable, hard surface is enough for a contained bioethanol pit, and EcoSmart's air-gap design needs no protection mat. Sealed timber, composite, paving, concrete and stone all work. An open wood or charcoal pit needs a non-combustible pad, and is better kept off a deck.
A bioethanol fire pit or fire table. The EcoSmart Pod 30, Pod 40 and Mix range are cast concrete with a Grade 304 stainless burner, produce no embers, ash or smoke, and can be put out in seconds, which makes them the low-risk choice for timber and composite decks.
Not with a contained bioethanol fire pit built like EcoSmart's, where articulating feet hold a 12.5 mm air gap that keeps heat off the boards. A mat or non-combustible pad is only essential under an open wood or charcoal fire, which is best avoided on a deck.
Had a great purchasing experience with Hayden at My Acre. He helped me choose the right umbrella for our patio and couldn't be happier with how quick it arrived and how easy it was to setup by following the videos (I'...
Recently purchased a Hotham fireplace through My Acre & thought it might be a bit too hard to put together but it was surprising easy & so happy with how it turned out!
I recently bought a Polito pizza oven from my acre. I was looking to replace an older outdated oven in my outdoor kitchen, which had started to fall apart after a few years cooking for the Boiz. I wasn't super stoked ...
Excellent communication and service from Hayden at My Acre. Personalised customer care and efficiency were on point and Hayden ensured a smooth experience from start to finish with our outdoor fireplace, even when cus...
I recently made a purchase from My Acre and was very pleased with the whole process, from their user friendly website through to their delivery time frame and after purchase customer service. It is evident they take p...
Australian owned · every order personally followed up
