Okay, so I’ve always wanted a pizza oven, you know, the real deal, wood-fired kind. But man, those pre-built ones are expensive! Then I stumbled upon these brick kits, and I thought, “I can totally do this myself!” Spoiler alert: it was harder than I thought, but totally worth it.
The Prep Work
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First, I cleared a good spot in my backyard. It needed to be level and away from anything that could catch fire. I laid down a concrete slab as a base. Let me tell you, mixing and pouring concrete is a workout in itself!
Building the Base
Once the concrete cured, I started building the base for the oven. I used cinder blocks because they’re cheap and sturdy. I stacked them up, making sure they were level and square. This part was pretty straightforward, like giant Lego bricks, and make sure to level them.
Assembling the Kit
Now for the fun part – the brick kit! It arrived on a pallet, and there were so many bricks! The kit I got had these interlocking bricks, which made it a little easier.I follow the instruction from kit.
I started laying the bricks, using refractory mortar (that’s special heat-resistant stuff) to stick them together. It was slow going, making sure each brick was level and aligned. The dome shape was the trickiest part. I had to use these wooden supports to hold the bricks in place while the mortar dried. It was a bit nerve-wracking, hoping it wouldn’t all collapse!
The Dome and the Chimney
Building the dome was like solving a 3D puzzle. Each brick had to be placed just right. I took my time, double-checking everything. Once the dome was done, I built the chimney. This was important for letting the smoke out.
Curing and First Fire
After all the bricks were in place, I had to let the mortar cure for a few days. Then came the moment of truth – the first firing! I started with a small fire and gradually increased the heat over a few hours. This helps the oven dry out completely and prevents cracks.
Pizza Time!
Finally, it was pizza time! I got the oven nice and hot, slid in my first pizza, and waited. And man, the taste! That smoky, wood-fired flavor is something you just can’t get from a regular oven. It was amazing!
It was a lot of work, but I built a pizza oven with my own two hands! And now, I can have awesome pizza whenever I want. Plus, it’s a great conversation starter when people come over.
