Okay, so I’ve always wanted a brick oven in my backyard. I mean, who doesn’t dream of making their own pizzas and bread, right? I finally decided to take the plunge and build one myself. It was quite the adventure, let me tell you!
First, I spent a ton of time researching designs and materials. I watched countless videos, read a bunch of articles, and even sketched out some ideas on napkins. It was a bit overwhelming, honestly, but I wanted to get it right.
Once I had a plan, I started gathering materials. I needed a lot of bricks, like, a LOT. I also got some firebricks for the inside, cement, sand, and some other stuff I probably forgot the names of. I made quite a few trips to the hardware store, and my car got pretty dirty in the process.
Then came the actual building part. I started with the base, which was basically just a big rectangle of bricks and cement. I felt like a real mason, laying those bricks, making sure everything was level. It was hard work, I won’t lie. My back was killing me after the first day.
After the base was done, I started building the dome. This was the trickiest part. I had to cut some of the bricks to make them fit the curve, and I used a simple wooden form to hold everything in place while the cement dried. It was a slow process, adding a few rows of bricks each day, letting it set, and then adding more.
Once the dome was up, I added a chimney and a door. These were also made of bricks, of course. I made sure to get the height right so that it draws properly. Let the smoke go out.
- Laying the bricks: This was the most time-consuming part. Each brick had to be carefully placed and mortared.
- Building the dome: Shaping the dome was a challenge, but I managed it with a makeshift form.
- Adding the chimney: The chimney had to be built to the right height to ensure proper airflow.
- Making the door: I fashioned a simple door out of bricks to retain the heat inside.
Finally, after weeks of work, it was done! I let it cure for a few more days, then I fired it up for the first time. It was amazing! The heat inside was intense, and it felt like a real accomplishment. I cooked my first pizza in it, and it was the best pizza I’ve ever had. I mean it.
Building a brick oven was a lot of work, but it was totally worth it. It’s not just an oven, it’s like a centerpiece for my backyard now. We have pizza parties all the time, and I’ve even started experimenting with baking bread. If you’re thinking about building one, I say go for it! Just be prepared for some hard work and a lot of fun.
My Advice
If I were to do it again, I would probably build a bigger oven. Now I want to bake many pizzas at one time! But other than that, I followed the design plans really carefully and I think that helped avoid major problems. Make sure to cure it slowly after building, so it doesn’t crack from rapid heating the first time. Use good quality firebricks for the oven floor, that’s very important.
So there you have it, my brick oven adventure! I hope this inspires some of you to try it out yourselves. It’s a great feeling to build something with your own hands, and even better when you can cook delicious food in it!
