Okay, so I’ve been wanting to build a proper brick oven in my backyard for, like, forever. I finally decided to just go for it. I’m no expert, but I figured, how hard could it be? Famous last words, right?
Getting Started
First, I spent hours online, just looking at pictures and some how-to guides. Then I drew up some rough plans. It wasn’t anything fancy, just a basic dome shape. I wanted something that could cook pizzas, bread and Maybe even roast a chicken.
Then the hard work started. I cleared a spot in the backyard. It was a bigger area and I leveled the ground. and preparing work are so tiring!
Building the Base
I decided to go with a simple concrete slab for the base. I’m not gonna lie, mixing and pouring the concrete was tough. I borrowed a mixer from my neighbor, thank goodness, because doing it by hand would have killed me. I built a form the concrete, and poured it carefully.
After several days, I removed the form. My base was ready.
Laying the Bricks
This is where things got real. I bought a ton of firebricks – those are the ones that can handle the super high heat. Regular bricks would just crack. I also got some fireclay mortar, which is also heat-resistant.
I started laying the bricks in a circle, slowly building up the dome shape. This was the trickiest part. I used a lot of temporary supports, like pieces of wood and even buckets, to hold the bricks in place while the mortar dried. Each brick had to be carefully positioned, and I spent a lot of time tapping them into place with a rubber mallet.
- Mixing mortar: Getting the consistency right was a pain. Too thin, and it wouldn’t hold. Too thick, and it was impossible to work with.
- Cutting bricks: I had to cut some bricks to fit, especially as the dome got narrower. I rented a wet saw, which made it a lot easier.
- Keeping it level: I constantly checked the level to make sure the walls were going up straight.
The Dome
As the dome got higher, it got more and more nerve-wracking. I kept thinking the whole thing was going to collapse. But, slowly but surely, it took shape. I left an opening at the front for the oven door, and a smaller hole at the top for the chimney. It’s my first time to build this, I was nervous.
Finishing Touches
Once the dome was complete, I built a small chimney out of more firebricks. Then I covered the whole thing with a layer of regular mortar, just to give it some extra insulation and a smoother finish. Finally, I made a simple wooden door to close off the oven opening.
Firing it Up!
After letting everything dry for a couple of weeks, it was finally time to fire it up! I started with a small fire, gradually adding more wood to slowly heat up the oven. It took several hours to reach the right temperature. I can’t tell you how excited I was. And my first pizza? Amazing! It was totally worth all the effort. Even my wife and kids loved it!
