Modular Build Bedfordshire

[darby]

I'm a bit of an outdoor cooking fan and originally had a victas oven for a few years but always struggled to get it up to temperature (probably due to me not putting enough wood in). Together with a smoker, BBQ and LaPlancha flat top i love trying different things (mainly american diner themed stuff). The problem i have is that our bungalow has fields behind and in front and wind is a major problem with very few days where outside cooking wasnt a battle.

To this end i decided my 2014 project would be to built an all weather/windproof outside kitchen where i could put everything together and make greater use throughout the year.

Generally i'm a tight bugger and dont like to employ other people if i think i can do it myself...

Other than the base and four corner posts all works to date have been by myself and singlehanded which was fun with the 4mtr timbers 

I'm not finished yet, but confident it will be fully operational by the end of June.

Here's my photo's of build to date



Base/posts and positions marked


First timber up



Roof timers complete


Steel roof in place (again good fun by yourself)


3 free air vents and one for the pizza oven


Blockwork to walls complete


Not looking too shabby


Worktop supports and oven base in place


Scratch coat render and worktop subbases in place


Top coat render finished in the traditional non tradesman 'Rustic' look.

Paint, worktop tiling, and floor tiles to come in the next couple of weeks.




Dean.

[cannyfradock]

Dean

What a mammoth project that you've take on. Great workmanship btw. It looks like it's going to be a "special" outdoor cooking station.

I really like the way you have incorporated those air vents into your roof (never seen those before). A member at the moment is asking advice on venting a double wall s/s pipe through a roof structure.....that looks like the perfect solution?.....I hope he see's this thread.

Are you going to re-locate your original Vitcas oven into your new cooking station?.....Vitcas carries a good name along with the likes of Kilnlings, Dingley Dell, Stonebake etc so maybe the old oven not hitting the right temps was maybe due to a lack of underhearth or overdome insulation?

Your location looks ideal and I'm looking forward to seeing this build progress.(#thanksforsharing)

Terry

[darby]

Cheers Terry - i'm quite pleased with progress to date - looking forward to painting render and tiling work tops this weekend hopefully...

I gave the Victas Casa away to muddy4x4 as it didnt fit in with my plan. This is the actual one - as used in many photo's on amazon and elsewhere now



I have gone for a stonebake primo 60 which i dont intend to cover at the moment as i quite like its original finish.

I shall update with more photo's as i progress.




Dean.

[darby]

More progress this weekend.



All paintwork finished, pizza oven and BBQ in place - electrics wired, retro switches fitted.



Just the tiling and oven flue to do - it will be finished by end of June !!

[undiscoveredben]

Nice work....really nice you're gonna have some good times in there!

Can I ask where you got your BBQ from? I'm putting one into my kitchen and wouldn't mind knowing where you sourced it.

Ben.

[darby]

Hi Ben - the BBQ came from Beds BBQ Centre www.bedsbbq.co.uk/ it was an ex demo one which had never been fired, and is just the right shape for building in.


Dean.

[darby]

A little more progress.

Managed a couple of evening of floor tiling - planning on having them finished this weekend..

Worktop tiles are in place, hope to have them grouted this weekend too so i can put the smoker and flat top grille in place 

[cannyfradock]

Darby.......that looks like the "dogs bollocks" of an outdoor cooking station that you have created. I'm not a jealous man but just a touch of envy has crept in seeing what you have created.

Your WFO oven will create any dish you desire but is not so imposing in it's presence. Great set-up mate.

Please don't be shy in posting pics of the stuff you create from your cooking station.

Terry

[darby]

Well i'm almost finished...

Have used the smoker, flattop and BBQ but still havent fired up the pizza oven.

A few little bits to finish of like catches for doors and winter gazebo sides, but its now in proper use. Plan on finally utilising the oven next week.

[matthewcove]

looking amazing. A dream outdoor cooking area. Can you convert the petrol pump to dispense cold beer?

Hope you get some weather good enough to use it regularly.

Matthew

[mattyb]

Tremendous pictures. With the pool in the background and the 'gas' pump you could easily mistake it for LA.

Well done, you should be so proud! Wished mine looked half as good!

[darby]

Finally used the oven and the weekend and really pleased with the results.

I used O Sole Mio briquettes as i wasn't confident i had the right kind of hardwood, and was very happy how they went. I think in the long run they are going to work out too expensive to use regularly and will need to find a supplier of good hardwood in smaller quantities - i dont want a cubic meter of the things 

Without any real effort i managed 340c on the floor and 500c in the dome.

Pizza's cooked within minutes and got a thumbs up from all members of the family - certainly more successful than any of my previous Vitcas Casa attempts.

Think we're going to get lots of use out of the kitchen - was quit surreal stood out there the other night in the pouring rain grilling chicken.

[jonh]

That pizza looks good! What recipe did you use if you don't mind me asking?


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[darby]

I know i'll get slaughtered for this but we cheated and bought some Northern Dough frozen pizza dough from Waitrose 

We were short on time and someone recommended them - £2.99 for two dough balls that make a 12" pizza each.

They did taste good, and we shall keep a couple of boxes in the freezer in case of emergency.....



Dean.

[jonh]

I can't believe you cheated! (I'm off to get some myself but don't tell anyone!)
Thanks for the tip and great setup by the way...


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