Okay, so I’ve always wanted a proper outdoor cooking setup. I’m talking about a real, solid, brick BBQ and pizza oven. You know, the kind you see in those fancy backyard makeover shows? I finally decided to stop dreaming and just build the darn thing myself.
First, I spent ages looking at pictures online and sketching out ideas. I wanted something that wasn’t too huge, but big enough to handle a decent-sized pizza and a good amount of BBQ. I ended up with a kind of combined unit – the BBQ grill on one side, and the pizza oven opening on the other, sharing a common chimney.
The Foundation
This was the least fun part, but super important. I dug out a rectangular area in my backyard, making sure it was level. Then I poured a concrete slab. I used some wooden planks to create a formwork for the concrete, just to keep it all contained while it dried. It took a whole weekend just to get this part done, and my back was killing me!
Building the Walls
Once the concrete was solid (I waited a full week, just to be sure), I started laying the bricks. I got a bunch of firebricks for the inside of the oven and regular bricks for the outside. Let me tell you, laying bricks is harder than it looks! I watched a few YouTube videos on how to mix mortar and how to keep the rows straight. My first few rows were definitely a bit wonky, but I got the hang of it eventually. I used a spirit level constantly to make sure everything was, well, level.
- Mixing the mortar: This was messy! I used a big plastic tub and a shovel. Getting the right consistency was tricky – not too wet, not too dry.
- Laying the bricks: I learned to tap them gently into place with the handle of my trowel. I also used little spacers to keep the gaps between the bricks even.
The Pizza Oven Dome
This was the most challenging part. I built a temporary wooden frame in the shape of the dome to support the bricks while the mortar dried. It was like building a 3D puzzle! I had to cut some of the firebricks at angles to make them fit properly. It took a lot of patience, and I definitely made a few mistakes along the way, but I eventually got it done.
The BBQ Grill Area
This was much simpler than the oven. I just built a rectangular box shape with the bricks, leaving a space at the front for the grill itself. I found a metal grill grate at a hardware store that fit perfectly.
The Chimney
I built the chimney up from the back of both the oven and the BBQ. It was basically just a continuation of the brick walls, narrowing slightly as it went up. I made sure to leave enough space inside for the smoke to escape.
Finishing Touches
Once all the brickwork was done, I let the mortar dry for a few days. Then I cleaned up any excess mortar and added a little stone facing to the front of the oven, just to make it look a bit nicer.
And I added small table on BBQ side to make a place put some food.
The first pizza I cooked in it was amazing! It was so satisfying to eat something I’d cooked in an oven I’d built myself. And the BBQ? Perfect smoky flavor. It was a lot of work, but totally worth it. Now, I can invite my friends and neibourhoods enjoy the food. It’s great!
