Many homeowners are turning to fire pits or the best chimineas for heat to make the most of their outdoor space. Whether you’re going the DIY fire pit route, purchasing a fire pit, or scouting out a chiminea, you want to make sure you’re protecting the ground underneath and preventing any fire hazards. That’s where a heat proof mat for fire pits and chimineas come in!
A heat proof mat is used outdoors to protect the ground under heating elements such as grills, chimineas and fire pits. These mats are heat resistant and can be used during any month where you want to be outside enjoying the fresh air while hosting cook outs or bon fires.
Uses for Heat Proof Mats
Heat proof mats are best used to protect the concrete or the wooden deck that a fire pit or grill may be placed on. These fire proof or fire resistant mats will protect the patio and deck from hot embers that fall to the ground. We consider them one of the best fire pit accessories to purchase when you get a new fire pit or chiminea.
Heat proof mats also are fantastic to use under a grill or fire pit to catch any hot drippings that may spill or splatter when cooking. This is specially helpful if roasting hot dogs or roasting marshmallows for s’mores.
Portable heat proof mats are also ideal in lawns. If you spend enough time outdoors, it’s likely you have a lawn that you take care of. We spend so much time keeping our lawns perfect looking in the warmer months, you don’t want a fire pit to burn your grass. Portable fire pits can be placed directly onto the heat proof mat and the grass will be protected directly under the fire pit from heat damage.
We recommend that you don’t use your fire pit or fire proof mat in the same location for a long period of time. Be sure to move it around. This minimizes the impact to the grass in each location. Otherwise you may see some of the grass in that area start to suffer.
When Do You Need a Heat Proof Mat
You need a heat proof mat when you are cooking or entertaining on a wood deck. Wood is the most susceptible to damage from drippings, embers and flames. The heat proof mat will protect the wood decking from burning and singe marks that can occur.
While we don’t recommend using a fire pit or chiminea on a wood deck, homeowners may temporarily use one on a deck and take the necessary precautions to protect the deck and their homes. This is where Heat Proof Mats for fire pits are extremely helpful. Decks are costly and time consuming to build, we want to protect these structures and homes as best as we can while still entertaining and fully enjoying the deck to its full extent.
Top Picks for Heat Proof Mats for Fire Pits
- GrillBee Fire Pit Mat
- Ember Mat
- Northland Online deck Defender & Grass Guard
- Newtex FirePad Deck Protector
GrillBee Fire Pit Mat
The highly-rated GrillBee fire pit mat is a 36 inch under the grill heat protecting mat that will protect your deck from grills, smokers and wood burning fire pits. The GrillBee comes in a versatile circular shape that is both lightweight and portable. This mat comes with a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee. The GrillBee is designed with a non-slip underside and it is able to reflect up to 95% of the heat upward and away from decking, grass or patios due to its aluminized reflective surface.
Pros:
- Lightweight & easy to transport
- Reflects 95% of downward radiant heat
- Heat-retardant and heat-resistant
Cons:
- 36” circular design is the only size option for this mat
Ember Mat
The Ember mat 72″x 60″ heat proof mat is used to protect your lawn, deck, campsite and patio from popping embers and dripping grease. This heat proof mat comes with 8 grommets to help adequately secure it to the ground. The Ember mat is coated with a food-grade silicon which makes it extremely easy to clean up from any messes caused by cooking.
Pros:
- Reflective edging at night
- Comes with 8 grommets to secure to ground
- Easy wipe and clean silicone surface
Cons:
Northland Online Deck Defender & Grass Guard
Talk about a 5 star option!This heat proof mat is an all-metal heat shield. No assembly is required for the Northland Online deck defender, simply unpack and place where you intend to use it. grills, chimineas, fire pits and smokers can be placed directly on top of this sturdy structure. It has a weight capacity of 350 pounds and a 2 year warranty.
Pros:
- 26″ x 26″ in size to accommodate fire pits, grills and smokers
- Made in the USA
- Holds up to 350 pounds
- 2 year limited warranty
- 100% fire proof
- Lifts off the ground to reduce impact to grass/lawn
Cons:
- Aluminum top plate and lower steel sub-frame operate together in a 2-piece construction which cannot be disassembled
- Much more expensive than the other options
Newtex FirePad Deck Protector
The Newtex fire pad deck protector is a 24″ circular fireproof mat. It is used for protecting the grass, concrete or decking while cooking or enjoying a fire. Fire pits can be placed directly on the Newtex pad which is designed with z-block technology to provide protection from both flame and charcoal burns.
Pro:
- Available in either 24″ or 36″ diameter
- Designed and manufactured in the United States of America
- Reflects heat with Z-flex technology
Con:
- Must be packed up and stored after each use
Which Heat Proof Mat for Fire Pit is the Best?
These are the top 4 rated heat proof pads so you cannot go wrong with any of them. As far as the best bang for the buck, the Northland can hold more weight and comes with a sturdier off ground design which allows for airflow below the metal frame. This is ideal for placing somewhere and leaving it there as a stationary protector.
The Newtex, Ember Mat and GrillBee are light weight and versatile. These heat proof pads can be taken anywhere. They are ideal for camping, tailgating or even taking to a friend’s house. They can easily go from deck to lawn with little hassle. It comes down to shape. The GrillBee and Newtex are circular while the Ember mat is rectangular. Fire enthusiasts who enjoy nightly bonfires may enjoy the Ember mat a bit more due to the highly reflective outer trim that makes its edging visible as the fire in the pit burns out.
All 4 of these mats are ideal for protecting your deck, patio, driveway or lawn from heat damage that is caused by a smoker, grill, fire pit or chiminea.
Leave a Reply