Okay, so I’ve been wanting to build a pizza oven in my backyard for ages. You know, the kind that makes those crispy, delicious pizzas you just can’t get from a regular oven? Well, I finally decided to take the plunge and do it. The first big question was, what kind of bricks should I use? I mean, this thing is going to get hot, so regular bricks just weren’t going to cut it.
After digging around online and asking some friends, I found out that the best bricks for the job are called “fire bricks.” Apparently, they’re made specifically to handle super high temperatures. That sounded perfect, so I started looking for where to buy them.
Finding and Choosing the Bricks
I checked out a few local hardware stores, but their selections were pretty limited. Then I hit up some specialty building supply places, and that’s where I struck gold. They had a whole bunch of different fire bricks. I made sure to pick out ones that were smooth and didn’t have any holes or anything in them. I needed at least 20 of these to make the floor of the oven, where the pizza actually sits.
- Checked local hardware stores – limited selection
- Visited specialty building supply stores – found a variety of fire bricks
- Selected smooth, solid fire bricks without holes (at least 20 for the oven floor)
Prepping the Base
Now, before I could start laying bricks, I had to figure out what the oven would sit on. I thought about a few options, like stone or concrete, even tile. I even looked into those metal pizza oven tables, which seemed cool. But I ended up deciding on a solid concrete base. Seemed like the sturdiest and most reliable choice for something that’s going to be holding a super-hot oven.
Building the Oven
With the base ready, it was time to start stacking bricks! It was a bit like a big, heavy puzzle, but way more fun. I followed a guide I found, and it took me some time, and let me tell you, those bricks are heavy, and slowly but surely, the oven started to take shape. It was tough work, but seeing it come together was super satisfying.
The First Pizza
Finally, after all that work, the oven was done! I let it cure for a bit, and then it was time for the moment of truth: the first pizza. I fired it up, slid in a pizza I made from scratch, and waited. A few minutes later, I pulled out the most amazing pizza I’d ever made at home. The crust was perfectly crispy, the cheese was bubbly and golden, and the toppings were cooked just right. All that hard work definitely paid off. Now I use it every weekend!
Building a pizza oven was a big project, but it was so worth it. If you’re thinking about doing it, just make sure you get those fire bricks – they make all the difference!
