Okay, so I wanted to build one of those cool brick pizza ovens in my backyard, you know, the kind you see in those fancy outdoor kitchens. I did some digging around online, watched a bunch of YouTube videos, and finally felt ready to give it a shot. Let me tell you, it was a bigger project than I first thought, but totally worth it in the end.
Getting Started: Planning and Gathering Supplies
First things first, I had to figure out where to put this thing. I measured out a spot in my yard, making sure it was far enough from the house and any trees. Safety first, right? Then came the fun part – picking a design. There are tons of free plans online, but I ended up sketching out my own, a simple dome shape. I wanted something that wouldn’t be too complicated to build.
Next up, I needed to get all the materials. I went to a few hardware stores and a local brickyard. Here’s what I ended up needing:
- Clay bricks: I got a few hundred of these, the exact number depended on the size of the oven you want, so I just calculated roughly.
- Concrete blocks: Maybe about 20 or so for the foundation.
- Sand and gravel: For the base and making mortar.
- Cement: To mix with the sand and make mortar.
- Firebricks: These are special bricks that can handle high heat. They go on the inside of the oven.
- Wood: I chose some oak and hickory, ’cause I read online that they burn well for pizza ovens.
Building the Foundation
Building the foundation was the first big step. I dug a shallow pit where the oven would go and filled it with gravel and sand. Then, I laid down the concrete blocks, making sure everything was level. This part took some time, gotta make sure it’s solid, you know? Once the blocks were in place, I mixed up some mortar and started laying the first layer of regular bricks on top.
Building the Dome
This was the trickiest part, no doubt. I built a form out of plywood and some scrap wood to support the dome shape while I laid the bricks. It’s kind of like building an igloo, but with bricks and mortar. Each brick had to be carefully placed and the mortar had to be just the right consistency. It took a lot of patience, and I definitely made some mistakes along the way. I had to redo a few sections, but hey, that’s how you learn, right?
Finishing Touches
Once the dome was done, I let it cure for a few days. Then, I carefully removed the form and started working on the chimney and the opening. For the chimney, I just stacked a few bricks on top of each other, and for the opening, I built a little archway. After that, I covered the whole thing with a layer of insulation and then another layer of regular bricks for the outside. It looked pretty good, if I do say so myself!
First Pizza!
Finally, it was time to fire it up! I built a small fire inside and let it burn for a few hours to dry out any remaining moisture. Then, I let it cool down completely. The next day, I built a bigger fire and started making my first pizza. It took some practice to get the temperature right, but eventually, I got it down. The pizza cooked super fast, and the crust was perfectly crispy. It was the best pizza I’d ever tasted!
So that’s the story of how I built my brick pizza oven. It was a lot of work, but totally worth it. Now I can make awesome pizzas anytime I want, and it’s a great conversation starter when I have friends over. If you’re thinking about building one yourself, I say go for it! Just be prepared to put in some time and effort. But trust me, the results are amazing. Good luck and remember to have fun with it.
