We highly recommend putting protection between the fire pit and your surface. Especially on a wood deck. The radiant heat from the bottom of the bowl could scorch your wooden surface such as a deck. Small embers may fall out of the drain hole on the bottom and cause loose grass to burn or leave marks in wood. Be careful to properly protect your surface with a fire mat, flagstone or pavers. Use your own judgement and be careful.  The washers at the bottom of the feet are made from Zinc. While these have a weather proof coating, you may still see some smudging on a smooth surface like concrete or stone. Adding a snuffer lid to your fire pit will greatly reduce any ash or embers falling through the drain hole in event of rain. The snuffer lid will keep your area around the fire pit much cleaner.