Okay, so I’ve always wanted a brick oven in my backyard. I mean, who doesn’t love the idea of homemade pizza, fresh bread, and that amazing smoky flavor? I finally decided to take the plunge and build one myself. It was a bigger project than I initially thought, but totally worth it!
Planning and Prep
First things first, I spent a ton of time just looking at different designs online. There are so many variations! I ultimately decided on a simple dome shape – seemed like the most classic and, hopefully, the easiest for a beginner like me.
I drew up some rough plans, mostly just to get an idea of the size and how much material I’d need. I wanted it big enough to cook a decent-sized pizza, but not so huge that it would take over the whole yard.
Gathering Materials
This was a bit of a scavenger hunt. I managed to find some used firebricks from a local building supplier – saved a bunch of money there! Regular bricks would crack under the intense heat, so firebricks were a must.
- Firebricks (lots of them!)
- Regular bricks for the base
- Mortar (the heat-resistant kind)
- Sand
- Clay
- Some old buckets and shovels
Building the Base
I started by clearing a level spot in the yard. Then, I built a simple rectangular base out of regular bricks and mortar. This was just to get the oven off the ground and provide a solid foundation. I made sure it was super level, because any mistakes here would mess up the whole thing.
Creating the Dome
This was the tricky part. I made a sand form in the shape of the dome I wanted. The idea is you build the brick dome over the sand, and then once the mortar is dry, you scoop out the sand. Sounds simple, right? It took a few tries to get the sand form just right.
Then, I slowly started laying the firebricks around the sand form, using a mixture of clay and sand as mortar. This was seriously time-consuming. Each brick had to be carefully placed and angled to create the curve of the dome. I used a level and a lot of patience!
I add to keep the sand form wet so I am able to dig out the sand.
The Archway
I left an opening at the front for the oven door. I built a small archway using some extra firebricks. This took some figuring out, but I eventually got it to look pretty good.
Finishing Touches
Once the dome was complete and the mortar was dry, I carefully scooped out all the sand. It was pretty amazing to see the dome standing there on its own!
I added a few layers of clay and sand mixture over the outside of the dome for extra insulation. And that was pretty much it!
First Fire!
After letting everything dry for a few days, I built a small fire inside the oven to test it out. It worked! The heat built up really well, and the oven held its temperature beautifully. My first pizza was a little…charred…but hey, practice makes perfect, right?
Overall, I’m super proud of my DIY brick oven. It was a challenging but rewarding project, and now I can enjoy amazing wood-fired food whenever I want!
