How to Adapt a Portable BBQ to a Balcony

A portable BBQ can turn a small apartment balcony into additional living and cooking space. However, adapting the BBQ grill to an often narrow or small space can be a challenge. Unless you figure out how to create furniture that does double duty, you may have to permanently dedicate one end or corner of your balcony to your BBQ. Most fire laws require any BBQ or fire be located at least 3 feet away from any combustible surface. That includes the outer wall of your apartment unless it is solid brick.

Step 1 - Measure Your Balcony and Grill

Make sure you're in compliance with both fire laws and your landlord's policies. Find out how far your bbq must be from the outer wall of your apartment. The minimum distance is usually 3 feet, but some apartments may require a distance of up to 20-feet. Using your tape measure, measure the distance from the wall to where you want to place your grill. Measure your grill. Is there enough distance between the nearest edge of the grill and the wall?

Step 2 - Determine How Your BBQ Must Be Adapted

Many portable BBQs are designed to be set on a tabletop or on the ground. This means the bottom of the grill will need to sit on a fireproof surface. If your balcony has a concrete surface, there's no problem. If the surface is wood, however, you must protect it with a hearth pad or other means so the heat doesn't destroy the wood or start a fire.

If you're cooking on a balcony, using a grill that's on the floor may not be a comfortable option. On the ground means bending over and some difficulty reaching and using the grill. If you have a small balcony, you may not have a table or room for a table on your balcony. If you need height only, consider buying a small metal table for your grill. Some table top models also have a tripod, or a set of legs available for separate purchase that allow you to use your grill at waist height.

Step 3 - Add a Table and Fireproof Pad

Since most portable BBQ grills are tabletop models, adapting their use to a balcony involves adding a small table. You can stack one or more large concrete cinder blocks, but more than two blocks will most likely be unstable. Do not use a folding tv tray as a table. Television trays are unstable and may tip over if bumped when you're grilling and cause serious injury or a fire.

Purchase a sturdy wrought iron table or a sturdy wood table and add a fireproof pad and ceramic tile cover to the table top. The fireproof pad and ceramic tile will keep the heat from the bottom of your grill from burning the table top below. You can buy a hearth pad or fireproof pads from most fireplace supply stores. You can make your own fireproof table top by using fireplace tiles and fireproof grout to personalize your table.