Alright, so I’ve always wanted one of those fancy pizza ovens in my backyard. You know, the kind that makes you feel like a real Italian pizzaiolo? But they’re crazy expensive, so I decided to take matters into my own hands and build one myself. Just me, some bricks, and a whole lot of determination. Here’s how it went down.
First, I had to figure out where this thing was gonna go. Picked a nice spot in the yard, not too close to the house, but still within reach of the kitchen. It’s always good to be closer to your kitchen. Then, I grabbed my shovel and started digging. I made a big square hole for the foundation and built a wooden frame out of some old two-by-tens I had lying around. I thought that I should have a solid base, right?
Next up, concrete. I got some concrete mix and made a pad, pouring it into the frame and smoothing it out. My pad ended up being about eight inches thick, just to be safe. Let that dry for a couple of days, and it was solid as a rock. I must make sure the base can bear the heavy weight of the oven, and this should be it.
Then came the fun part – stacking bricks. I got some clay bricks, the kind that can handle high heat. Started laying them out in a circle on the concrete pad, leaving a gap for the oven door. I used fireclay mortar mix to stick them together, the one I bought online, and the delivery was pretty fast. I have to say that it’s not as easy as it looks. Anyway, each layer I added, I checked to make sure it was level. The oven is starting to come to life!
Building the dome was the trickiest part. I created a form out of sand to get that perfect dome shape. Then, I carefully placed the bricks over the sand form, making sure they were tight and secure. Each brick had to be cut at an angle to fit just right. I borrowed a saw from my neighbor, Mike, and he’s really a nice guy. Once the dome was done, I let it dry and then scooped out the sand. Voila, a perfect dome!
After the dome, I added a chimney. I mean, how could I miss that? Stacked some more bricks to make a little chimney at the front, right above the oven door. This helps with the smoke and keeps things nice and hot inside. The one I made is not fancy, just functional.
The finishing touches were fun. I covered the whole thing with a layer of chicken wire and then slapped on some more mortar for insulation. It’s not just for the look, I must make sure the oven can maintain a stable temperature inside. After that, I let the whole thing cure for a week. Patience is key, they say. Waiting is never easy, but it is worth it.
Finally, the moment of truth. I lit a small fire inside to test it out. Worked like a charm! The heat distributed evenly, and the temperature inside was perfect for pizza. I invited some friends over, and we had a pizza party. Let me tell you, that first homemade pizza from my DIY oven was the best I’ve ever tasted.
Here’s what I used:
- About 150 clay bricks
- 20 concrete blocks
- Fireclay mortar mix
- Concrete mix
- Chicken wire
- Sand for the dome form
- A shovel and some two-by-tens for the foundation form
- A saw borrowed from my friend
Building this pizza oven wasn’t easy, but it was totally worth it. I feel like I saved myself at least a couple thousand bucks, and now I’ve got a killer spot to make some amazing pizzas. If you’re thinking about doing something like this, go for it! Just be ready to get your hands dirty and learn a thing or two along the way.
