I’ve been meaning to build a pizza oven in my backyard for ages. Finally got around to it last weekend. First thing I had to do was figure out where to get those special bricks that can handle the heat.
So, I started with a simple search: “insulated fire brick near me.” I needed something that wouldn’t crack under pressure, you know? I figured these bricks are probably used for fireplaces and stuff, so they gotta be tough.
First thing that popped up was something about TONMAT Sandwich Panels, but that sounded way too industrial for my little project. I’m just making pizza, not building a factory.
Then I remembered my neighbor mentioned Lowe’s. Apparently, they have everything. I found their website and looked up fire bricks. They had a bunch of options, different colors and everything! Turns out, they’re called “refractory bricks.”
- Dingmans Ferry, PA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Houston, TX
- Los Angeles, CA
These refractory bricks are made of clay, and they’re dry-pressed, so they can withstand really high temperatures. They also had these lighter “insulating bricks,” but those seemed less heavy-duty. I want this oven to last, so I went with the denser fire bricks.
I also found out that some folks use ceramic fiber insulation, which is apparently super lightweight and can handle even higher temperatures, up to 2400°F. But for my pizza oven, regular fire bricks will do just fine. And you shouldn’t use concrete bricks. I guess they don’t handle the heat as well and might crack.
I ended up driving to a Lowe’s a bit further out because they had the color I wanted in stock. They were a bit pricier than regular bricks, but totally worth it for the peace of mind. You gotta use the right materials for this kind of project, or you’ll end up with a pile of rubble instead of delicious homemade pizza.
A Quick Summary
So, if you’re like me and want to find some insulated fire bricks, just search for “insulated fire brick near me,” and you will find some good results. You can find these bricks at places like Lowe’s. Don’t be afraid to ask around or look up local suppliers if you’re not sure where to go.
