Brick ovens are quickly becoming a popular addition to the outdoor living area throughout North America. They compliment outdoor kitchens and can produce such things as delicious wood fired bread, pizza, chicken and a variety of other foods.

Building a backyard pizza oven is an involved task that, for many, turns into a hobby over time. Basic ovens are constructed from simple materials and often added to or rebuilt to refine them. The biggest mistake people often make is building their first oven too large. Build your first oven thinking that you will likely build a second.

What You Will Need:

Concrete Mix, Water, Wheelbarrow
Concrete blocks
Concrete block wire wraps, spacers and support
Good quality fire bricks
Trowel, shovel, string
High heat mortar
Steel window support beam
Vermiculite based insulating concrete

1. Measure and mark your foundation.
2. Pour a concrete slab with a thickness of about 6"
3. Allow to dry and set according to the instructions that accompanied the concrete mix.

1. Purchase concrete blocks, support straps and block stack spacers
2. Assemble the block stack on top of the concrete slab
3. When complete, the stand should look similar to the foundation of a house. A large "door" should be present at the front while the rest of the square structure should be enclosed
4. The top of the stand should be approximately 40 inches or a comfortable height for you to insert and remove items from the finished oven.

1. It is preferable to use a 2" steel slab cut the same size as the top of your stand.
2. Lay the slab on top of the stand and secure it by flush drilling 4 bolts through the slab into the block stand.
3. Cover the steel slab with high quality firebricks

1. Using either a wood or cardboard frame, assemble the support on top of the oven floor
2. Working quickly, layer the bricks and high heat mortar against the support
3. Lay a steel window brick support beam across the top of the door.
4. Lay a smaller section of window support beam to create a vent on either the right of left side of the oven.

1. The easiest way to install a chimney is to use a standard steel fireplace chimney
2. Some people prefer to build a chimney out of fire bricks to match the dome
3. Either install the chimney or construct the chimney.

1. Ensure that you are wearing a mask and eye protection
2. Cover the structure with at least 4" of vermiculate insulating concrete
3. 4" of insulation is the minimum amount that you should use, there is not a maximum amount. Apply the insulation liberally and evenly. The more you use, the higher heat your oven will sustain.

The last step is to apply brick, stone, marble, granite, stucco, etc to the outside of the oven. This is done for aesthetic value only.

• http://lifehacker.com/5296731/build-your-own-pizza-oven
• http://gizmodo.com/5346279/how-to-build-a-wood+fired-pizza-oven-in-your-backyard
• http://www.instructables.com/id/No-Knead-Brick-Oven-style-Pizza/
• http://www.fornobravo.com/store/Residential-Pizza-Ovens-p-1-c-251.html
• http://heatkit.com/html/bakeoven.htm
• http://www.hgtv.com/landscaping/a-pizza-oven/index.html
• http://mha-net.org/docs/v8n2/wildac06b.htm