Thoughts on Patio Arrangement for New Smoker

[peeps]

So, in my introduction thread (link), I described a new smoker I am having made. It has a 2'x'2'2' firebox and 2'x2'x3' smokebox (so a ~4'x4' footprint) and will be ready in a few weeks and I am looking to have a final plan for the patio arrangement that is as safe as possible from possible firebox contact and home damage as the firebox is uninsulated and I have a toddler. We also have an above ground pool with gate access near the area I want to have the smoker. A typical traffic pattern is from the back door of the house to the swing gate for pool access, so I plan to have my prep table act as a barrier to the firebox to force people from walking directly towards the firebox.

I have sketched everything to scale in the sketch below.



I am mainly looking for recommendations on how close I should put the smoker to the house. Is 2' a safe distance for the vinyl siding from the non-insulated 2'x2'x2' firebox? If not, what distance do you recommend?

I am also considering the following options should the recommmendation more than 2-3' from the house.

1. Buy a sheet of Hardie board and mount vertically about a foot behind the smoker...then maybe store wood behind the board (Soffits also have gutters installed).
2. Mount a piece of insulating board wrapped in fire blanket on the back side of the firebox.
3. Think of alternate arrangements.

Any thoughts you have on my proposed arrangement are welcome as well as things I might have overlooked in my considerations.

[caseydog]

I would build a long prep table against the wall -- with a sink, if possible. The smoker could sit centered on the patio, kind of like a kitchen island.

CD

[rjnolan85]

Why not just swap the smoker and prep table?

[peeps]

Originally Posted by caseydog

I would build a long prep table against the wall -- with a sink, if possible. The smoker could sit centered on the patio, kind of like a kitchen island.

CD

2' deep table + 3' access between table and smoker + 2' deep smoker puts the smoker out at the edge of the 8' uncovered portion and puts the smoker near the access path to the gate.

I can think about putting step stones to train people into taking an alternate path to the gate, but the direction of swing puts them back towards the smoker.

Will see if I can work up a sketch of that idea to get a better picture of it.

[peeps]

Originally Posted by rjnolan85

Why not just swap the smoker and prep table?

???

That puts either the firebox next to the house or the firebox out in the open near the route from the door to the gate.

Could you expand on your reasoning? It seems I may be missing the logic in going with that configuration.

[ButtBurner]

I am putting a wood stove in my cabin and they make a piece of fireboard that goes against the wall to protect it from heat.

Maybe check those out, they are not expensive, I dont know if they are rated to be out in the weather.

[peeps]

here is caseydog's idea. This could work even without training people on an alternate route if I can see about swapping the hardware on my gate to reverse the swing. I flipped the smoker around to have the smokebox door open toward the prep table.

[peeps]

Originally Posted by ButtBurner

I am putting a wood stove in my cabin and they make a piece of fireboard that goes against the wall to protect it from heat.

Maybe check those out, they are not expensive, I dont know if they are rated to be out in the weather.

Yeah, I am looking at similar ideas...Hardie board is fire resistant and I see many people place their smokers very near fences and brick homes or homes with Hardie siding. So I thought I could just make a free standing panel of it to place as a screen behind the smoker.

I have also considered getting the vinyl replaced with Hardie, just haven't gotten an estimate. That is my long term plan, but looking for other alternatives until that point.

[sliding_billy]

peeps - Can you give any info on the build (price, how they were to work with, etc)? I am always thinking about my next smoker, and most of the builders in TX are either too expensive for my [wife's] budget (the close ones in North Texas) or far enough away to give me pause since I can't go look at their products quickly and either have to pay shipping or make a long drive to pick up.

PM me whatever you can share.

[peeps]

Originally Posted by sliding_billy

peeps - Can you give any info on the build (price, how they were to work with, etc)? I am always thinking about my next smoker, and most of the builders in TX are either too expensive for my [wife's] budget (the close ones in North Texas) or far enough away to give me pause since I can't go look at their products quickly and either have to pay shipping or make a long drive to pick up.

PM me whatever you can share.

You have a PM.

I forgot to add how he has been to work with....so far he has been pretty good. Good communication when I ask questions and open to my ideas. He has sent pics when I have asked as well.

[dwfisk]

Is the 8x12 uncovered patio already in place? Even if it is, An alternative might be to extend it with pavers past the pool fence gate and then starting with the CD version ofvyour sketch turn the cooker 90* so it backs up to the fence with the firebox opening to the front. I think you would wind up with a natural traffic path away from thr hot spots. Just a thought. That is gonna be one nice cooker. More picscwhen yu get it in place and cookng, please.

[peeps]

Originally Posted by dwfisk

Is the 8x12 uncovered patio already in place? Even if it is, An alternative might be to extend it with pavers past the pool fence gate and then starting with the CD version ofvyour sketch turn the cooker 90* so it backs up to the fence with the firebox opening to the front. I think you would wind up with a natural traffic path away from thr hot spots. Just a thought. That is gonna be one nice cooker. More picscwhen yu get it in place and cookng, please.

The patio is already in place. I thought about having it backed up to the pool fence but the plan is already to have the firebox door on the end instead of the front (already in fabrication) so it would have me tending fire between the house and the smoker. Though if I swap the gate around like I would want to do with CD's concept, I can push it more to the corner near the gate and get more room for tending fire.

I think swapping the gate around is the key to being safely away from the house and protecting folks from radiant heat or direct touches.

I will investigate that when I get home. Pretty sure it can be handled with ease as it is one of those metal modular fences. Might just have to touch up the old hardware holes with some paint.

Once I get the smoker, I will be sure to post pics, a review of how it performs, and pr0n ;)

[sliding_billy]

Thanks for the info peeps.

[peeps]

Originally Posted by sliding_billy

Thanks for the info peeps.

No problem!

I had a look at my gate and it looks like I can swap the hardware pretty easy. Will probably try to do it this weekend...the weekend activity list is adding up. This is my last free weekend before the smoker is supposed to be ready.

Saturday
- Friend's kid's b-day party
- Swap swing direction of gate
- Paint new Mini WSM
- BBQ spares to add enjoyment to getting an evening ass-whooping by Ole' Miss
- Drink beer

Sunday
- Change oil on garage queen
- Clean up garage queen for upcoming road trip
- Burn-in/paint bake new Mini WSM
- Noon Cowboys game
- Drink beer
- Try makin' some Q on the new mini WSM to see how she idles

[peeps]

Got the gate all swapped. Pretty uneventful process.

Just waiting on the smoker to be finished...tick tock...tick tock.