My Barrel Vault Oven Build - Durham

[moonhead]

Hi yes I'm really pleased with how its turned out. Even my wife is impressed so can't be too bad.
The front has a 30mm up-stand which is bonded to the underside, basically a 30mm slice to the front and sides, you can just see where the front and side piece come together underneath at the sides like a fireplace hearth.
We've only used it the once so no scratches yet. Also had a couple of strips cut to run down the side to finish off.

Also applied the final coat of render over the weekend so that needs to dry out before a coat of masonry paint. I've also left a gap to fill with heat resistant silicon to act as an expansion joint between the chimney and the render. Almost there.







Not so neat at the back lucky no one should see that to often!!

Cheers
Rick

[streetdj]

Looking good Rick, I've been following yours with interest, mine's taking a bit longer but I've got plenty of tips from yours

[moonhead]

Time for a little update as we had a couple of weeks down in St. Ives planned for early July, I needed to get the render painted so I could pack away the gazebo. After scouring through the Leyland Paints colour chart I decided to go for an off white to complement against the black granite. First coat watered down with 10% water, then the next at full strength. I was pleasingly surprised how well the first coat covered and nearly left it as was before heading away, but as I needed to get the heat silicone gasket sorted as well thought better of it. So far the silicon seems to be doing the job. I made sure that the brickwork where the silicone would sit was also given a coat of the paint to seal it. The instructions said not to apply to a porous surface.







Since returning the second arch under the table has been finished, so just needs to have the finishing touches to complete, but work has taken its toll on my free time at the moment so progress is a bit slow.



But that's not to say that I'm letting it stand idle!
This was a six hour slow cooked Pulled Pork shoulder on the bone, given a dry spice rub the night before. Complemented with oven roast tatties. Spot On.




Then time to return the favour for the help from my brother. It could only mean lighting up the beast, time for....

You guessed it... TOAST?


Yes you can also make toast. I may post the recipe for this later.

So after toast came Pizza of course





WE had some left over dough balls so with my nephews help in they went



And finally a sour dough loaf





Cheers - Rick

[barney]

Wow that all looks yummy, not only a beautiful oven, but it works too! Particularly like the look of the sourdough loaf, was that cooked on retained heat or straight after the pizzas with the fire inside?

Congratulations on a stunning build, hope you get some time to finish off your work surface soon.

[cannyfradock]

Now then Rick...

What a stunning set of pictures!! Your oven has turned out really good. I love that design. It always gives me a buzz when I see what dishes come out of these ovens and the bread and pizzas look like they come from a masterclass Artisan.

I'm afraid that the picture of your nephew with that piece of toast and radiant smile takes the biscuit......brilliant!!

Terry

[rivergirl]

Fab build and fab food!

[streetdj]

I've been watching with interest, the final build looks really good. It's what comes out of it that matters though and that sour dough loaf looks brilliant.

[moonhead]

Thanks everyone. Fraser's is a real character, he always wears a big smile, thought it was his dads idea for the toast. He'd been looking forward to the day since he came early in the build to help out.
The rest of the family are booked in for the bank holiday weekend. 20 of us, that will be a challenge.

The Sour dough was cooked on residual heat. I'd scraped out the embers and let the oven cool. Not as long as I had intended as Fraser was keen to bake before he went home, but the loaf didn't seem to suffer.

I've always had trouble with the dough releasing from the bowl after the second rise and the loaf collapsing. Even with the bowl heavily floured with a flour/semolina mix. But this loaf had the second rise with the dough sitting on a floured tea towel in the bowl. From what I've read this draws out moisture from the surface of the dough, helping it release and improving the crust. Seems to have worked. I have two more to bake later so we'll see if it was a fluke.

Prepping up a Greek style leg of lamb to slow cook in the oven to have with the bread, a Greek salad and some salted roast new potatoes a bit later. Hopefully outside in the sun

Rick

[rivergirl]

Sounds stunning

[barney]

Thanks for the extra info, great tip.

[davebeasley]

Excellent work there Rick, I particularly like the ash trap, wish I'd built one of the into mine now

www.gardenoven.com

[moonhead]

Cheers Dave, I have to say that I had allot of inspiration from your oven build, a really nice piece of work.

[cobblerdave]

G'day
Time to bump a great build, not bad for a first time bricklayer
Regards dave

[bigkevt]

Excellent wfo just starting on mine getting loads of ideas of the forum where abouts in Durham are you I'm just outside of Sunderland would love a proper look

[moonhead]

Hi that will be no problem. I'm near Chester-le-Street I'll PM you my number to arrange