How to Build a Pizza Oven

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build a pizza oven

How to Build a Pizza Oven

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Step 1 of 13

Cover the base with a layer of fibre blanket (or sand if the top of the base is stone or concrete.

Step 2 of 13
Place the fire tiles on top of the blanket.

Place the fire tiles on top of the blanket.

Step 3 of 13
Place a styrofoam box on top of the tiles (=substitute for sand) where the centre of the oven will be.

Place a styrofoam box on top of the tiles (=substitute for sand) where the centre of the oven will be.

Step 4 of 13
Cover the box with sand building it up to form the inside shape of the oven. Place a board where the entrance to the oven will be. If you already have a door place that against the sand first.

Cover the box with sand building it up to form the inside shape of the oven. Place a board where the entrance to the oven will be. If you already have a door place that against the sand first.

Step 5 of 13
Hold the door and the board in place with a few bricks or the like whilst finalizing the shape.

Hold the door and the board in place with a few bricks or the like whilst finalizing the shape.

Step 6 of 13
Mix the castable with enough water to make a  mix that is not too runny and apply this over the sand, approximately 50 mm thick. Mix another batch and apply this over the first layer.

Mix the castable with enough water to make a mix that is not too runny and apply this over the sand, approximately 50 mm thick. Mix another batch and apply this over the first layer.

Step 7 of 13
Leave to dry for 24 hours.

Leave to dry for 24 hours.

Step 8 of 13
Remove the sand and the styrofoam box. Use a brush to brush most of the sand off the wall.

Remove the sand and the styrofoam box. Use a brush to brush most of the sand off the wall.

Step 9 of 13
Cover the oven with a layer of ceramic fibre blanket (25mm), then cover the blanket with aluminium, hold temporarily in place with some heavy objects.

Cover the oven with a layer of ceramic fibre blanket (25mm), then cover the blanket with aluminium, hold temporarily in place with some heavy objects.

Step 10 of 13
Ensure that the blanket is completely covered with the foil to prevent it getting wet from the render. Then cover the foil with chicken wire as a base for the render.

Ensure that the blanket is completely covered with the foil to prevent it getting wet from the render. Then cover the foil with chicken wire as a base for the render.

Step 11 of 13
Cover the oven with render made by mixing one part of vermiculite, three parts of dirt and one and a half part of cement, mixed with enough water to make it into a thick sludge. Apply a second layer.

Cover the oven with render made by mixing one part of vermiculite, three parts of dirt and one and a half part of cement, mixed with enough water to make it into a thick sludge. Apply a second layer.

Step 12 of 13
Clean it up and place the door in front or inside the entrance.

Clean it up and place the door in front or inside the entrance.

Step 13 of 13
A week after starting the process, gently fire up the oven. Slow fire until the outside feels dry. When using the oven the outside wall will feel warm. Enjoy cooking!

A week after starting the process, gently fire up the oven. Slow fire until the outside feels dry. When using the oven the outside wall will feel warm. Enjoy cooking!

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28 Comments
Supplies

3 Bags of castable

3 Meters Ceramic fibre blanket

9 Fire tiles

2 Meters Chicken wire

4 Meters Aluminium foil

40 Liters Dirt/sand

1 Cement

40 Liters Vermiculite

Water

Aya Arsan

I'm so impressed!

Aya Arsan 2 months ago

Radishgirl Thymes

Wow! Thanks for this awesome guide. I shared it on my FB page 😃

Radishgirl Thymes 4 months ago

Charlie S-A

Where can you buy the doors

Charlie S-A 9 months ago

Dan Parry

I'm doing this! Thanks for the tech!

Dan Parry 10 months ago

Norma Neri

I'm just about to do my back yard, and something like this has always been on my mind. Thank you so much for sharing this!

Norma Neri 12 months ago

Erin D

Great job. You are very talented. Thanks for sharing!

Erin D 12 months ago

Christian Irizarry

I like it I wish I can do that but I can't do it

Christian Irizarry 12 months ago

Christian Irizarry

Woow

Christian Irizarry 12 months ago

Adriana Buonporto

A very beautiful work!

Adriana Buonporto 12 months ago

Megan L

:D*_

Megan L 12 months ago

Megan L

@Marian thanks :S

Megan L 12 months ago

Shahid Islam

Nice job Marian! Can you take a video , how it is work please ?

Shahid Islam 12 months ago

Abang Kanong

Awesome!!!

Abang Kanong 12 months ago

Nikket Pokharrna

Will surely make it. Awesome idea.

Nikket Pokharrna 12 months ago

Marian Staudt

We use the oven to not only make pizza but also roast pork neck or any other piece of meat. My favourite is tandoori chicken and fresh home made chapatis.

(author) 12 months ago

Marian Staudt

People who asked for recipes: I make the basic pizza dough and then top with whatever anyone would like on it. The favourite seems to be the dessert pizza which is spread/drizzled with sweetened condensed milk, covered with slices of banana or pear and then once it's cooked I sprinkle cholate melts/chips over it, slide it back into the oven for a few seconds and you have the most delicious sweet pizza.

(author) 12 months ago

Marian Staudt

Some people put a chimney in but that then means that you have to make sure that you get exact proportions to ensure that the heat is spread evenly, plus you have to regulate the heat then and use the door to control the airflow. No chimney means easier control. When it's hot you can feel it, the heat can only escape through the front and you can regulate that by putting the door in front of it.

(author) 12 months ago

Marian Staudt

Someone asked for the size of the tiles: they are 300x300mm.

(author) 12 months ago

Marian Staudt

@Megan: When the oven has the desired temperature, you spread the coals to the back (around the inside) and put your pizza on the fire tiles. A few minutes is all it needs for a pizza to cook.

(author) 12 months ago

Marian Staudt

Thanks for all your comments. @ Marc Unfortunately, outside Australia it would be a bit difficult for us to build it for you : )

(author) 12 months ago

Christian Irizarry

Goooood👌👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👏👏👏🙏👀👀

Christian Irizarry 12 months ago

Karl Gyllenmåne

No need of à chimney?

Karl Gyllenmåne 12 months ago

Randy Pargman

It would be nice to have a guide on how to cook a pizza in this type of oven.

Randy Pargman 12 months ago

Megan L

Where does your pizza go?

Megan L 12 months ago

Marc Slater

Great! How soon can you be over to build me one?

Marc Slater 12 months ago

Cerulean Apple

Don't we all?! That would be awesome!

Cerulean Apple 12 months ago

Carolyn Murphy

Oh man, this is awesome. I wish I had the space for this!

Carolyn Murphy 12 months ago

Lisa D

Pretty cool

Lisa D 12 months ago

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Kris Suminski

Thanks a bunch!! I love the look of wood and wasn't too keen on building one entirely out of concrete :) I just bought my first house and there is a perfect spot for this in the back yard! Thanks again!!

Kris Suminski 11 months ago

Marian Staudt

Yes, Kris, it's just the ceramic fibre blanket on top of the base. The wood is ironbark, we live in ironbark country. The fibre blanket is enough insulation for the heat. If you're worried you can put a layer of sand in between the blanket and the surface of the top, which will give you more insulation. Ironbark moves constantly so that's why I chose to not put sand in between, it would just run away.

(author) 11 months ago

Kris Suminski

Can you please tell me what kind of wood you used for the base? And it's just the blanket on top of your wood base correct? Nothing else in between?

Kris Suminski 11 months ago

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