Brick Oven Build (Pic heavy)
 

I'm currently attempting to build a brick oven in my yard.
Currently 5 weeks in, and would say I'm 75% done with the project.
There's a lot of waiting for things to dry and cure in between steps, and the crazy heat has slowed me down too.
I'm halfway through the oven construction, which I'm hoping to finish this coming weekend, then I'll need to insulate and render the dome, and finish the stand.
Before this project, I never mixed a bag of cement, mortared a block, or laid a brick in my life, and I thought cinder blocks were for smashing storefront windows.
That said, I'm pretty satisfied with how things are coming along.

Here's some photos of the process:

Blank slate
https://i.postimg.cc/wvyfR473/1593642803113.jpg

I had to pour a foundation slab. After talking with some people that know what they're doing I poured a 6 inch slab on 6 inches of crushed and compacted stone. Reinforced the slab with 3/8 inch rebar on 6 inch centers.

https://i.postimg.cc/TwzkVjD0/20200707-070315.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/bvvFpwPx/20200707-115842.jpg

After the slab cured for a week, I mortared and laid the block.

https://i.postimg.cc/8P83MGdG/20200714_144508.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/FF0xSz0x/20200715_225305.jpg

Once the mortar dried, the cores of the block needed to be filled with cement.
I ran 1/2 inch rebar through every other core to tie in to the suspended slab.

https://i.postimg.cc/667JCzDr/20200716-165228.jpg

Next I had to form up and pour the suspended slab.

https://i.postimg.cc/8cxZbRfw/20200719-202337.jpg

Added a second grid of 3/8 rebar to reinforce the slab.

https://i.postimg.cc/cJdXT46q/20200721-113754.jpg

Finished product

https://i.postimg.cc/mrVVnfFP/20200730-131915.jpg

After another week of curing, and roughly 4 weeks total I was finally able to start the oven.

Started with 2 inch calcium silicate board to insulate the floor, then formed up and poured a 1 inch refractory castable base.

https://i.postimg.cc/QMkX5px3/20200731_205014.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/SNzTxvHP/20200803-194544.jpg

Next I mortared and laid the floor tiles.

https://i.postimg.cc/BbdWR6Qp/20200805_070531.jpg

And then, finally started work on the dome!

https://i.postimg.cc/mgLqxzH2/20200809_123004.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/Wb6Kf6tH/20200809_122827.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/qByF6z5k/20200809_082040.jpg

I haven't gotten much done since I took these pictures Sunday morning
Took Sunday to point the mortar joints, and scrub the brickwork clean, and this morning I laid the first of 2 arches across the opening of the oven.

Re: Brick Oven Build (Pic heavy)
 

Wow, Dom, that's a lot of work, but it looks great! I know you said that you had no experience with this, but you must have been a mason in a past life.

Re: Brick Oven Build (Pic heavy)
 

That looks awesome

Re: Brick Oven Build (Pic heavy)
 

Very nice Dom!

Re: Brick Oven Build (Pic heavy)
 

Very cool! :tu

Re: Brick Oven Build (Pic heavy)
 

I can't even hang curtains so this is incredible. Great work, Dom! Can't wait to see it in action :ss

Re: Brick Oven Build (Pic heavy)
 

Fantastic, Dom!

Re: Brick Oven Build (Pic heavy)
 

Quite handy! Well done. Is this for pizza's or just general cooking?

Re: Brick Oven Build (Pic heavy)
 

"Meh...probably going to burn waaaaay too thick pizza anyway"...(posting for a friend..)
:r:r

Nice work my brother!

Re: Brick Oven Build (Pic heavy)
 

Amazing, Dom!

Re: Brick Oven Build (Pic heavy)
 

Real nice work. If all else falls by the wayside, you can always use it as a bomb shelter !! That thing is built stout !!

Re: Brick Oven Build (Pic heavy)
 

Great job so far. Keep the pic's coming

Re: Brick Oven Build (Pic heavy)
 

:cl great work Dom!!!

Re: Brick Oven Build (Pic heavy)
 

That's amazing Dom!!!

Re: Brick Oven Build (Pic heavy)
 

Looking good so far. Can’t wait to see the finished product.

Re: Brick Oven Build (Pic heavy)
 

Pretty damn impressive, Dom. I can see why you decided to ruin your nipples for this.

Re: Brick Oven Build (Pic heavy)
 

Very cool, Dom! I am so impressed with all the thought and effort that you have put into this project! You should be very proud of your accomplishment!

Re: Brick Oven Build (Pic heavy)
 

Awesome work!!:salute:

Re: Brick Oven Build (Pic heavy)
 

Thanks, guys.

Thanks for all your help!!

Little bit of this, little bit of that.
With the thermal mass of the oven it should stay warm enough to cook in for 3 days from a full firing.

Re: Brick Oven Build (Pic heavy)
 

That's incredible, Dom, although little surprises me with your outdoor cooking masterpieces. Can it toast pretzels? :D