Okay, so I’ve always wanted a brick oven. I mean, who doesn’t love that crispy, smoky pizza crust? But a full-blown outdoor setup? Not really feasible in my tiny city backyard. So, I started looking into indoor options, and let me tell you, it was a rabbit hole!
First, I spent hours, and I mean hours, scrolling through forums and watching videos. Most of what I found were these countertop pizza ovens, which are cool, but they weren’t really what I was picturing. I wanted something that felt more… authentic, I guess.
The Big Idea
Then it hit me – could I build something into my existing kitchen? I started sketching, measuring, and generally driving my wife crazy with the idea. My initial thought was to modify a section of my countertop, but that quickly got complicated. Load-bearing walls, ventilation… it was a mess.
The Actual Plan (that worked…sort of)
The breakthrough came when I was staring at my rarely-used fireplace. Bingo! I could convert that into a brick oven. I felt like a genius. Briefly.
- Step 1: Demolition (and Dust): I cleared out the fireplace, removing the old gas insert and any loose debris. This was messier than I anticipated. Dust. Everywhere. I highly recommend a good mask and eye protection. Trust me on this.
- Step 2: Building the Base: I laid down a layer of firebricks on the floor of the fireplace, creating a solid, level base for the oven floor. Getting this perfectly level was crucial, and it took a lot of fiddling.
- Step 3: The Dome (Oh Boy): This was the scary part. I used a cardboard form as a guide and started laying the firebricks, working my way up in a dome shape. Mortar everywhere. Bricks slipping. It was… challenging. Let’s just say there were a few “redo” moments.
- Step 4: Insulation is Key: I wanted this thing to retain heat, I added a thick layer of ceramic fiber blanket around the dome, followed by another layer of firebricks. I look like a big, brick igloo inside my fireplace.
- Step 5: The Chimney Connection: This was tricky. I had to make sure the oven smoke would vent properly through the existing chimney. I ended up using a combination of metal flashing and high-temperature sealant. Fingers crossed it works!
It is not fully tested, because I need some time to let all fully dry. But the structure is ready!
The first firing is planned next weekend…I’ll keep you updated!