Okay, so I’ve always wanted one of those fancy brick pizza ovens in my backyard. You know, the kind you see in those Italian cooking shows? Well, I finally decided to just go for it and build one myself. It sounded like a fun project, plus I figured I could save some cash by doing it myself rather than buying one of those pre-made things.
First things first, I had to pick a spot. I found a nice corner in my backyard that was far enough from the house but still convenient. Then came the not-so-fun part – digging. I had to dig out a big square for the foundation. It was a workout, let me tell you. Once the hole was dug, I built a wooden frame for the concrete pad. My pad is eight something, I forgot.
Next, I mixed up a whole bunch of concrete and poured it into the frame. I made sure to level it out as best I could. After letting it dry for a couple of days, I started on the base. I used cinder blocks for this part, stacking them up to create a solid platform for the oven. This was actually kind of fun – felt like playing with giant LEGOs.
Now for the exciting part – the actual oven! I used firebricks for this, since they can handle super high temperatures. I also picked up some ceramic fiber blanket for insulation, and some refractory mortar to hold the whole thing together. Oh, and I got some steel parts for the oven door and frame, ’cause I wanted it to look legit.
Building the dome shape was definitely the trickiest part. I had to cut some of the bricks at angles to make them fit just right. It was like putting together a 3D puzzle, but with heavy bricks and messy mortar. There were a few moments where I thought the whole thing was going to collapse, but I kept at it, one brick at a time.
After many weekends of hard work, the oven was finally finished! I let it cure for a while, following some instructions I found online, and then it was time for the first firing. I built a small fire inside to test it out, and let me tell you, the feeling of seeing that fire burning in the oven I built with my own hands was just awesome.
- Choosing a location: I had to find the perfect spot in my backyard.
- Digging and prepping: Oh boy, the digging was a real workout.
- Building the base: Stacking cinder blocks like giant LEGOs.
- Getting the materials: Firebricks, insulation, mortar – the whole shebang.
- Constructing the dome: Like a heavy, messy 3D puzzle.
- First firing: The feeling of success was just incredible.
And of course, the first thing I cooked was a pizza. It came out pretty darn good, if I do say so myself! The crust was crispy, the cheese was bubbly, and the whole thing had that amazing smoky flavor you can only get from a wood-fired oven. I think the cost is about $800 to $4000.
Building this pizza oven was definitely a challenging project, but it was so worth it. Not only do I have an awesome oven in my backyard, but I also have the satisfaction of knowing I built it myself. If you’re thinking about doing something like this, I say go for it! Just be prepared for some hard work, and make sure you do your research beforehand. You’ll need some specialty tools and equipment.
A rewarding experience
It’s a pretty cool feeling to make your own food in something you built with your own two hands. I’m already dreaming up all the other things I can cook in my new oven – bread, roasted meats, maybe even some desserts. The possibilities are endless!
