Do you think this will work

[bodman]

Hi All, This is my first build, and while I have done a lot of DIY over the years I have never built a Oven before. I am planning to build a Pompeii style oven using the Forno Bravo 36" plans. I have excavated an area of the garden and put down a 4" layer of dolomite (Crushed rock) and laid a Patio (35mm concrete flags) on a 2" bed of 5:1 (Cement/Sharp Sand).

My Plan is to build the base out of Concrete block, with concrete lintels for support, lay more patio flags on top of that, then aerated blocks on their side, followed by 63mm thick firebricks for the hearth. Ive made a roughish picture to try and explain better. Do you think this will work

[kstronach]

yep that'll work just fine, thats pretty much exactly how i built my oven! dont forget the insulation over the dome, ceramic fiber is good or vermicrete or both, and the 63% rule, door height in relation to dome height, and when you build your oven entrance don't forget to leave a reveal all around your internal arch about and inch or so to allow a door to butt up to for a good seal.

keith

[bodman]

Lovely thank you

[nordberg]

Hi,

I have a question related to this as I'm about to start my build and my structure is very similar to yours...

I was going to dig footings and pour concrete rather than one large slab base. Is this OK?

[kstronach]

yes nordberg this will be fine if that's how you want to do it after all its how you go about building a house! make sure you dig down to some solid ground and have about 150 to 200mm of spread on either side of you walls. so for example if your wall is 200mm wide your footing will want to be 600mm wide. leave your footing below finished ground level so when you landscape around the oven you won't see the concrete, and run a damp proof membrane on top of the first block above ground level, this will stop any moisture rising up the base blockwork.

keith