Well, I heard some folks talking ’bout making their own BBQ and pizza oven, right in their backyard! Sounds like a hoot, don’t it? I reckon it’s a right smart idea, having one of them homemade brick bbq and pizza oven. You can cook up a storm out there, rain or shine.
Get the Right Stuff
First things first, you gotta get yourself some bricks. Not just any old bricks, mind you. You need them firebricks, the kind that can stand the heat. Regular bricks might just crack under pressure, and ain’t nobody got time for that. Then there’s the mortar, that’s the sticky stuff that holds it all together. You need the kind that can handle high temperatures too. Fireclay mortar, they call it. Don’t go cheap on this, or your oven might just fall apart like a house of cards.
- Firebricks – gotta have ’em!
- Fireclay mortar – stick ’em good!
- Some sand, and gravel for the base.
- A good strong base, concrete is the best.
- Some wood, to make the pizza.
You wanna make sure you got a good, solid base for your oven. I reckon concrete is best, but some folks use gravel and sand. Just make sure it’s level and sturdy, or your oven might end up looking like the Leaning Tower of Pisa!
Building the Thing
Now, I ain’t no expert on building these things, but I’ve seen a few in my time. This homemade brick bbq and pizza oven is not that hard to build. You start by laying out your bricks in a circle, like you’re building a little igloo. Leave a hole in the front for the door, of course. Then you start stacking them up, using that fireclay mortar to keep ’em in place. It ain’t rocket science, but it does take some elbow grease. I will tell ya, building this is easier than catching a greased pig at the county fair!
The Dome
The tricky part is making the dome. That’s the round part on top that traps the heat. Some folks use a form, like a big metal bowl, to help them shape it. Others just eyeball it, stacking the bricks carefully so they curve inward. I reckon it’s like making a big, round pie crust, only with bricks instead of dough. My homemade brick bbq and pizza oven has a nice dome. I did it!
Let it Dry
Once you’ve got it all built, you gotta let it dry. That mortar needs time to set, or your oven might just crumble like a stale cookie. They say it takes a few days, maybe even a week, depending on the weather. Just be patient, and don’t try to rush it. Good things come to those who wait, as they say.
If you’re building one of them fancy ovens with a chimney, you gotta make sure it draws properly. That means the smoke goes up and out, not back into your face. Ain’t nobody wants to eat smoky pizza, unless you like that sort of thing. This homemade brick bbq and pizza oven got a good chimney, so no problem with smoke.
Cooking Time!
After it’s all dry, you can finally fire it up! Start with a small fire and gradually build it up. You don’t want to shock the bricks with too much heat all at once. Once it’s good and hot, you can start cooking. Pizzas, bread, roast chicken, you name it! Just be careful not to burn yourself. Them ovens get hotter than a July afternoon in Texas! It’s so funny to use this homemade brick bbq and pizza oven!
The best thing about having one of these homemade brick bbq and pizza oven is you can cook all year round. In the winter time you can bake some bread and it will warm your whole house. In the summer time, you can have a pizza party and all the neighbor kids will come running. My grandson loves the pizza I make in my homemade brick bbq and pizza oven. He says it tastes better than the pizza from town.
Cheap and Good
Some folks say it costs a lot of money to build one of these. It is not true. My neighbor, he spent a fortune on one of them fancy store-bought ovens. I built mine for way less, and it works just as good. You just need some bricks, some mortar, and a little bit of know-how. It is just like the old days, when we used to build everything ourselves. We didn’t need no fancy tools or no internet. We just used our hands and our heads. My homemade brick bbq and pizza oven only spent me a little money. So happy with it.
I reckon a homemade brick bbq and pizza oven is a mighty fine addition to any backyard. It’s a place to gather with family and friends, to share good food and good times. And it’s a reminder of the old days, when we used to make things with our own two hands. So if you’re looking for a project to keep you busy, and you ain’t afraid of a little hard work, why not give it a try? You might just surprise yourself with what you can do. Building a homemade brick bbq and pizza oven is a good idea, trust me.
Just remember to be careful, and don’t try to cut corners. Use good quality materials, and take your time. And if you get stuck, don’t be afraid to ask for help. There’s plenty of folks out there who’ve built these things before, and they’re usually happy to share their knowledge. Good luck, and happy cooking!