How level is level enough?

Patrologia · Jun 17, 2020

I am building a patio and plan to put the grills on it. I need to amend my dig, but the current line up includes a Genesis gasser, a 22” kettle, and as of a couple days ago a vertical offset smoker. (Come to think of it, maybe I should extend the patio a bit.)
Anyway, I’ve been planning for a slight slope, about 1/8” per foot, to allow drainage away from the house. Since that is enough slope to affect water run off, is it enough slope to affect cooking with any of my outdoor kitchen? I would assume the kettle to be the most forgiving, but what about the gasser, and the new-to-me smoker. I know nothing about it’s properties, haven’t even lit a fire in it yet.
Should I come up with a section of the patio that stands level and doesn’t shed water? Suggestions welcome.

tom b · Jun 17, 2020

I don't think 1/8 in. will effect anything, none of my cookers set more level than that

Mike Twangzer · Jun 17, 2020

Can always shim the cooker if necessary

JD08 · Jun 17, 2020

First, what do your building regulations say? I believe ours is 3/16 per foot.

Second, I have a patio built to code and my 6 ft long table has never had a single issue with levelness, even when I use a burner on it with a fry pan.

TC Smoke & Que · Jun 17, 2020

My gasser on my patio had to be shimed up because the angle made the gas flow to one burner and not enough to the other.

Nuco59 · Jun 17, 2020

shim it if you need to- don't if you don't. Simple problem, simple solution.

Mikhail · Jun 17, 2020

You do not want a section that is level. Up there behind the Cheddar Curtain®
you'd need ice skates to cook on it.

Keep your head.

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Patrologia · Jun 17, 2020

Mikhail said:
You do not want a section that is level. Up there behind the Cheddar Curtain®
you'd need ice skates to cook on it.

Keep your head.

Hey, that cheese head might protect me in the inevitable fall! I guess maybe it’s time to get one.

HouseDoc · Jun 17, 2020

TC Smoke & Que said:
My gasser on my patio had to be shimed up because the angle made the gas flow to one burner and not enough to the other.

Laughing and calling BS at same time! :clap:

Mike in Roseville · Jun 17, 2020

Worry about your runoff on the patio first...cookers can always been shimmed or rearranged.

thirdeye · Jun 17, 2020

The 1/8"/ft is standard in my area, but it's likely you will have an unexpected low spot that will puddle some water. Concrete finishing is manual, and texturing is more important to me. Anyways, as long as water moves away from the house you are good. Leveling your cooker is easy and you never truly need it until you are cooking something like these butter broth thighs.

SmokeRingsMatter · Jun 18, 2020

I leveled my 13x13 Gazebo. Bad mistake. Rain comes in from one side and pools in one spot. Its so annoying.

TC Smoke & Que · Jun 18, 2020

HouseDoc said:
Laughing and calling BS at same time! :clap:

No, quite true! Could not understand why the one side of my gasser was hotter than the other with same settings. All with brand new burners in the grill .
Put shims under one side and my temps were even across the grate, and equal flame. Still about 3* out of level, but it worked.
Because of this thread, checked my angle on patio, just for the heck of it; 3/8" drop for every 18". Way too steep.

How level is level enough?

Patrologia

Well-known member

tom b

somebody shut me the fark up.

Mike Twangzer

is One Chatty Farker

JD08

is one Smokin' Farker

TC Smoke & Que

is Blowin Smoke!

Nuco59

Babbling Farker

Mikhail

Babbling Farker

Patrologia

Well-known member

HouseDoc

Full Fledged Farker

Mike in Roseville

Babbling Farker

thirdeye

somebody shut me the fark up.

SmokeRingsMatter

is Blowin Smoke!

TC Smoke & Que

is Blowin Smoke!

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