Okay, so, I’ve always wanted a proper brick oven in my backyard. You know, the kind you see in those fancy Italian restaurants? Well, I finally decided to just go for it and build one myself. Let me tell you, it was quite the adventure, but totally worth it in the end.
Getting Started: Planning and Digging
First things first, I spent a good chunk of time figuring out where to put this thing. You gotta think about space, you know? It needs to be away from anything flammable and have enough room around it to work. Once I picked the perfect spot, I got to digging. Yep, good old-fashioned shovel work. I dug out a decent-sized area for the foundation and made it level. It was a bit of a workout, but hey, who needs a gym membership when you have a backyard project?
Next, I built a wooden form for the concrete pad. Think of it like a mold for the concrete. Used some 2x10s for that, made sure it was square and level cause you don’t want a wonky foundation, right?
Laying the Foundation: Concrete Time
With the form in place, it was time to mix and pour the concrete. Let me tell you, concrete is heavy! I mixed it up, poured it into the form, and then smoothed it out. This part is crucial because it’s the base of the whole oven. It needs to be solid and level, or you’re gonna have problems later on. Let the concrete sit there for a few days.
Building the Base: Block by Block
Once the concrete was set, I started building the base. I used concrete blocks for this, stacking them up like giant Lego bricks. Mortar in between each block, of course, to hold them all together. I built it up to about waist height, leaving a space in the front for wood storage. Gotta have a place to keep the firewood dry, right?
The Oven Floor: Fire Bricks and Insulation
Now for the actual oven floor. This is where the magic happens, where the pizzas will bake. You can’t just use any bricks for this; you need fire bricks. They can handle the insane heat without cracking. So, I laid down a layer of insulation board on top of the concrete base, then carefully placed the fire bricks on top, fitting them together nice and tight. This is the cooking surface, so you want it smooth and even.
Building the Dome: The Tricky Part
This is where things got a bit challenging. Building a dome shape out of bricks takes some patience and a bit of trial and error. I started by making a sand form in the shape of the dome I wanted. Then, I started laying the fire bricks around it, using refractory mortar, which is made for high-heat situations. It was slow going, making sure each brick was angled just right. It’s like building an igloo, but way hotter.
The Doorway and Chimney: Letting the Smoke Out
Of course, you need an opening to get the pizzas in and out, and a way for the smoke to escape. For the doorway, I left a gap while building the dome and used an arch form to support the bricks above it. Looks pretty cool, if I do say so myself. And for the chimney, I built a small one out of more fire bricks right at the front of the dome, just above the doorway. You gotta let that smoke out somewhere!
Finishing Touches: Making It Look Nice
After the dome was done, I took out the sand form from inside. Then, I covered the whole thing with a layer of chicken wire and then a few layers of refractory cement. This helps with insulation and makes the oven look more like one solid piece. I also added a little landing area in front of the doorway with some leftover fire bricks, just to make it easier to get pizzas in and out.
Cooking
I used oak and ash and baked pizza, it is really a good exprience!
So, yeah, that’s how I built my brick bread oven. It was a lot of work, but man, the first time I fired it up and baked a pizza in there, it was all worth it. The taste is just something else. If you’re thinking about doing something like this, I say go for it. Just be prepared to get your hands dirty!
