Okay, here’s my blog post about building a pizza oven with bricks:
So, I’ve always wanted a pizza oven in my backyard, you know, for that authentic, wood-fired pizza experience. I finally decided to take the plunge and build one myself. I ain’t no expert, but I figured, how hard could it be? Turns out, it’s a bit of a project, but totally doable.
First things first, I needed to get my hands on some bricks. Not just any bricks, though. I learned that you gotta use firebricks, also called refractory bricks. These things are built to handle some serious heat, the kind your regular house bricks can’t deal with. A buddy of mine, who is a mason, told me that soapstone is a good choice. But it was too expensive. Regular bricks can crack or even explode when things get too hot, and nobody wants that, right?
I started by clearing out a space in my backyard, a nice, level spot where the oven would sit. Then, I marked out the area where the oven’s base would be. I used some wooden stakes and string to get the shape right. It was important to make sure it was big enough for the oven and a bit of workspace around it.
Next up, I started laying down the foundation. I dug out the area I’d marked and poured in some gravel for drainage. On top of that, I made a simple concrete slab. Nothing fancy, just a solid, flat surface for the oven to rest on. I mixed the concrete in a wheelbarrow and poured it into the marked area, smoothing it out as best I could.
- Get some firebricks. Regular bricks won’t cut it.
- Find a good spot in your yard and clear it out.
- Make a solid foundation. I used concrete, but you do you.
Once the concrete was dry, which took a couple of days, I began building the oven’s base. I used regular bricks for this part since it wouldn’t be exposed to the crazy heat of the fire. I stacked the bricks in a simple rectangular shape, leaving a space open at the front for wood storage. It’s not rocket science, just stacking bricks and keeping them level.
Now came the tricky part – building the dome. This is where those firebricks came into play. I started by making a sand mold in the shape of the inside of the oven. This would support the bricks while I built the dome. Then, I carefully placed the firebricks around the mold, using refractory mortar to hold them together. This mortar is also heat-resistant, so it’s important to use it instead of regular mortar.
Building the dome took some patience. I had to cut some of the bricks to make them fit properly, especially as the dome started to curve inwards. I used a brick saw for this, which made the job a lot easier. Slow and steady, I worked my way up, brick by brick, until the dome was complete. I left a hole at the top for the chimney and a larger opening at the front for the oven door.
After the dome was finished, I built a simple chimney using more firebricks. I made sure it was tall enough to create a good draft, which is important for getting the oven nice and hot. Then, I added an archway to the front of the oven, just to make it look a bit nicer. I used a mix of firebricks and regular bricks for this part.
Finally, I removed the sand mold from inside the oven and let everything cure for a few days. This is crucial because if you fire up the oven too soon, the mortar can crack, and your hard work goes down the drain.
How I made it
Once the oven was fully cured, it was time for the first test run! I built a small fire inside and let it burn for a while to heat up the oven. The first pizza I made was a bit of a disaster, but hey, it’s a learning process. But after a few more tries, I started to get the hang of it. Now, I can make some pretty darn good pizzas in my homemade oven.
Building a pizza oven from bricks was definitely a challenge, but it was also a lot of fun. It took me a couple of weekends, but the result is totally worth it. There’s nothing like the taste of a pizza cooked in your own wood-fired oven. If you’re thinking about building one yourself, I say go for it! Just be prepared to put in some work and maybe make a few mistakes along the way. It’s all part of the process.
