Have you ever dreamed of making your own pizza at home with a crispy crust, melted cheese, and smoky flavor? If so, you might want to consider building an outdoor pizza oven in your backyard.
An outdoor pizza oven is a great way to enjoy the pleasures of wood-fired pizza, as well as other dishes, in your own garden. You can also impress your family and friends with your culinary skills and create a cozy and inviting outdoor space.
But how do you build an outdoor pizza oven? Is it difficult or expensive? What do you need to know before you start? In this article, we will answer these questions and guide you through the process of building your own outdoor pizza oven step by step. We will also give you some tips on how to use and maintain your oven, as well as some delicious pizza recipes to try.
Why build an outdoor pizza oven?
You might be wondering why you should build an outdoor pizza oven instead of just using your kitchen oven or buying a ready-made one. There are several reasons why building your own outdoor pizza oven can be a rewarding and worthwhile project.
How to Choose a Location for Your Pizza Oven
One of the most important decisions that you need to make before building your outdoor pizza oven is where to place it. The location of your oven will affect its safety, convenience, and aesthetics. Here are some factors that you need to consider when choosing a location for your oven:
Safety Considerations
- You need to keep your oven away from any flammable materials or structures, such as trees, bushes, fences, or wooden decks. You also need to avoid placing it under any overhead wires or branches that might catch fire or interfere with the smoke.
- You need to provide enough clearance around your oven for ventilation and access. You should have at least three feet of space on all sides of your oven and at least six feet of space above it. You also need to make sure that you can easily reach your oven with a hose or a fire extinguisher in case of an emergency.
- You need to comply with any local codes or regulations regarding outdoor fireplaces or ovens. You might need to obtain a permit or approval from your local authorities before building your oven. You also need to follow any rules or guidelines regarding the size, height, or location of your oven.
Convenience and aesthetics
- You need to consider how often and how easily you will use your oven. You might want to place it close to your house or your outdoor kitchen for convenience and accessibility. You also might want to place it near a water source or a power outlet for cleaning and lighting purposes.
- You need to consider how your oven will fit into your outdoor space and style. You might want to match the color and texture of your oven with the surrounding landscape or architecture. You also might want to add some decorative elements, such as tiles, stones, or plants, to enhance the appearance of your oven.
How to Design Your Pizza Oven
Once you have chosen a location for your outdoor pizza oven, you need to decide on the design and size of your oven. There are many ways to build a pizza oven, from simple and rustic to elaborate and sophisticated. The design and size of your oven will depend on your personal preference, budget, and skill level.
However, regardless of the design and size, most pizza ovens have some basic components that you need to include:
- A base. This is the foundation of your oven that supports the weight and heat of the oven. It can be made of concrete, stone, brick, or metal. It should be level, sturdy, and fireproof.
- A floor. This is the surface where you place the pizza dough and cook the pizza. It can be made of firebricks, clay tiles, or refractory cement. It should be flat, smooth, and heat-resistant.
- A dome. This is the curved structure that covers the floor and creates the baking chamber of the oven. It can be made of bricks, clay, concrete, or metal. It should be thick, strong, and well-insulated.
- A door. This is the opening that allows you to insert and remove the pizza and control the airflow and temperature of the oven. It can be made of wood, metal, or ceramic. It should be tight-fitting, easy to handle, and heat-proof.
- A chimney. This is the vent that allows the smoke and excess heat to escape from the oven. It can be made of metal, clay, or brick. It should be tall, wide, and clear.
Materials and tools you will need
The materials and tools that you will need to build your outdoor pizza oven will vary depending on the design and size of your oven. However, some common materials and tools that you will likely need are:
- Quick-set concrete
- Steel rebar mesh
- Melamine-faced medium-density fiberboard (MDF) panel
- Drywall screws
- Silicone caulk
- Release agent: mineral oil or paste wax
- Decorative bricks
- Mortar
- Firebricks
- High-heat mortar mix
- Scrap cardboard
- Scrap pieces of MDF, OSB, or plywood
- Sand
- Plastic sheeting
- Metal duct pipe
- Circular saw
- Cordless drill
- Tape measure
- Rubber mallet
- Tub for mixing concrete
- Spray bottles filled with water
- Metal snips or hacksaws
- Jigsaw
- Carpenter’s pencil
- Mason’s trowel
- Hammer
- Masonry chisel
How to Build Your Pizza Oven Step-by-Step
Now that you have chosen a location, designed your oven, and gathered your materials and tools, you are ready to start building your outdoor pizza oven. The following steps will guide you through the process of building a dome-shaped wood-burning oven with space for firewood storage in the base.
Step 1: Build the Base of the Oven
The first step is to build the base of the oven that will support the weight and heat of the oven.
- Prepare 8 by 8 by 16 blocks on the ground to make a 32 by 54-inch base.
- Place cap blocks on top of them and layer them with firebricks on top.
- Cut a barrel in half and fix it on top of firebricks.
Alternatively, you can build a mold out of melamine-faced MDF by first cutting a large piece for the bottom of the mold, then four side pieces.
- Cut the bottom piece to any size of your choice, or 36 inches by 36 inches.
- With the snips or hacksaw, cut the mesh to 35 inches by 35 inches.
- Cut the four side pieces to 36 inches by 4 inches.
- Drill pilot holes and screw the side pieces to the bottom piece with drywall screws, creating a box shape.
- Apply silicone caulk to the seams of the box to prevent concrete from leaking out.
- Apply a release agent to the inside of the box to prevent concrete from sticking to the mold.
- Pour quick-set concrete into the box and spread it evenly with a trowel, making sure that it covers the mesh completely.
- Tap the sides of the box with a rubber mallet to remove any air bubbles and level the surface of the concrete.
- Spray water on the concrete periodically to keep it moist and prevent cracking.
- Let the concrete cure for at least 24 hours or according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Remove the screws and carefully take apart the mold, releasing the concrete slab.
- Flip over the slab and place it on a level surface, such as a wooden pallet or a metal frame. This will be the base of your oven.
Step 2: Lay the bricks for the oven floor.
The next step is to lay the bricks for the oven floor that will form the surface where you will cook your pizza.
- Measure and mark the center of the concrete slab with a carpenter’s pencil.
- Arrange firebricks around the center point in a circular pattern, leaving a small gap between each brick for expansion and contraction. You can use a compass or a string to help you create a perfect circle. The diameter of your circle will depend on how large you want your oven to be, but it should be at least 24 inches.
- Cut any bricks that need to fit into the gaps with a hammer and a masonry chisel, or use a circular saw with a masonry blade if you have one.
- Mix high-heat mortar according to the manufacturer’s instructions in a tub.
- Apply a thin layer of mortar on top of each brick with a trowel and press it firmly into place on the concrete slab, making sure that it is level and aligned with the other bricks.
- Repeat this process until you have covered the entire circle with bricks, creating a flat and smooth oven floor.
Step 3: Create an Oven Dome Support
The next step is to create an oven dome support that will help you shape and build the brick dome that will cover the oven floor.
- Cut a piece of scrap cardboard into a half-circle shape that matches the size and shape of your oven floor.
- Cut several pieces of scrap MDF, OSB, or plywood into strips that are about 4 inches wide and as long as your cardboard half-circle’s radius.
- Arrange the strips on top of the cardboard half-circle in a radial pattern, leaving some space between each strip for ventilation and mortar application.
- Screw or nail the strips to the cardboard half-circle, creating a ribbed structure that resembles a fan or an umbrella.
- Place sand on top of your oven floor, covering it completely and creating a mound that is about 12 inches high at its peak.
- Cover the sand mound with plastic sheeting, tucking it under the edges of your oven floor bricks.
- Place your cardboard-and-wood structure on top of the plastic sheeting, aligning it with your oven floor circle.
- Adjust the height and angle of your structure until you are satisfied with its shape and size. This will be your oven dome support.
Step 4: Build the Brick Dome
The next step is to build the brick dome that will form the baking chamber of your oven.
- Cut more firebricks into wedge-shaped pieces that will fit snugly together on your dome support structure. You can use a template or a protractor to help you cut them accurately.
- Mix more high-heat mortar in another tub.
- Apply some mortar on one side of each brick wedge with a trowel and press it firmly onto your dome support structure, starting from the bottom edge and working your way up in rows, leaving some gaps between each brick for expansion and contraction.
- Repeat this process until you have covered your entire dome support structure with bricks, creating a solid and sturdy brick dome.
Step 5: Remove the Dome Support
The next step is to remove the dome support that you used to shape and build your brick dome.
- Let the mortar cure for at least 24 hours or according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Carefully unscrew or pull out the nails that hold your cardboard-and-wood structure together and remove them from your brick dome.
- Peel off the plastic sheeting from your sand mound and scoop out the sand from your brick dome using a shovel or bucket.
- Dispose of the sand, plastic sheeting, cardboard, and wood scraps properly.
- You should now have a hollow brick dome that is ready for the next steps.
Step 6: Cut Out the Door and the Chimney
The next step is to cut out the door and the chimney openings that will allow you to insert and remove the pizza and vent the smoke and heat from your oven.
- Measure and mark the size and shape of your door opening on your brick dome with a carpenter’s pencil. The door opening should be about 63% of the height of your dome and about 18 inches wide. You can use a compass or a string to help you create a perfect arch.
- Cut out the bricks along your marked lines with a hammer and a masonry chisel, or use a circular saw with a masonry blade if you have one. Be careful not to damage the surrounding bricks or injure yourself.
- Measure and mark the size and shape of your chimney opening on your brick dome with a carpenter’s pencil. The chimney opening should be about 6 inches in diameter and located at the front edge of your dome, above your door opening.
- Cut out the bricks along your marked lines with a hammer and a masonry chisel, or use a circular saw with a masonry blade if you have one. Be careful not to damage the surrounding bricks or injure yourself.
Step 7: Install the Door and the Chimney
The final step is to install the door and the chimney that will complete your outdoor pizza oven.
- Cut a piece of wood or metal into a door shape that matches the size and shape of your door opening. You can use a jigsaw or a hacksaw to do this.
- Attach a handle to your door with screws or nails, making sure that it is heat-proof and easy to grip.
- Place your door in front of your door opening and secure it with hinges or hooks, depending on your preference.
- Cut a piece of metal duct pipe into a chimney that matches the size and shape of your chimney opening. You can use metal snips or a hacksaw to do this.
- Insert one end of your pipe into your chimney opening and secure it with mortar or screws, depending on your preference.
- Extend the other end of your pipe above your brick dome, making sure that it is clear of any obstacles or fire hazards.
Conclusion
Building an outdoor pizza oven is a rewarding and enjoyable project that can enhance your outdoor living space and culinary experience. By following the steps in this article, you can create a wood-fired oven that cooks delicious pizza and other dishes quickly. Customizing the oven design and size is possible. However, the project requires planning, preparation, and proper maintenance to ensure safety and performance.
