Heilan Pompeii and BBQ

[kinglumma]

Hi All,

My name is Andrew and after tasting a proper stonebaked pizza a few years ago and finding out how the unique flavour was made, i knew I would be building one of these. I am planning a Pompeii oven with a bbq one side and possibly a smoker or a second bbq at the other side. I'm pretty confident this build will drag on until next year with other work going on in the garden but i'll be pushing on with the foundations and base for the moment.

digging out for found, what is there is existing foundations for an old wall, i'll be adding to this in all directions inclusing rebar and dpm where i can



some dpm in, there is a burn behind that wall so want to keep the water out!



you can see where the bbq will go at the side and then gabions until the end of the planter



forgot to take photo of all rebar in but trust me theres plenty in the holes between old foundations and rebar either side.

[kinglumma]

got a question for any experienced brickies: i will be making the stand out of standard concrete blocks on flat but want to clad it with slate stones i have, they vary from 2" to 4" in height but they will all have to be cut to a uniform depth, is it better to cut slim and almost tile on or to cut to a certain thickness and brick up outside and use wall ties?

[kinglumma]

managed to get the stand built at the weekend, decided to leave a gap for a lintel at the front but after bulding and seeing the gap i'm now thinking of cutting a check for a second lintel across the middle.









as you'll see, i decided to go with wall ties and i'll be cutting stones to approx 100mm depth (same as bricks) to brick up the outside



i've started cutting all my stones so that's the next job

[oblertone]

I'm no brickie but what you've done so far looks very good; I particularly like the second lintel idea, after all there's no point in finding out the hard way that you needed one !
As to the tile or brick question, most of the buildings around me have brick outers (over Cob) and they are all laid using the brick method rather than tiles, even the new-build across from me is using stone pieces tied to a block wall.

[kinglumma]

Thanks for advice oblertone, and yes i decided to go deep brick depth with the cladding, back and most of the sides of the stand will be buried so only part of it needs dressed.




you'll see below i've used wall ties, i've also used engineering brick to clad the rear that wont be seen and also used a tanking slurry to waterproof the whole back and sides to try and keep internal dry:
















you can see i used a large single length of stone across top to hide concrete lintels that are behind, I've also got a 1.5mtr linte to span the centre so the hearth should be well supported on all four sides and across the middle






next job on the oven i'm planning is the poured hearth. Got a couple of questions if anyone can help?

planning slight projections (overhang) on sides and front with hearth and also planning thermalite blocks on flat for insulation, with that in mind:
1: what difference will it make casting the thermalites into the hearth versus putting on top, will it make it easier to build oven and hide oven entrance if i sink them in?

2:has anyone any tips or links to any other builds/websites showing any pours with dyes and/or aggregates eg crushed glass - i was thinking of a black dye in hearth with sparkle or glass of some kind. Possibly just easier to tile over the top of plain concrete?

[cobblerdave]

G'day
I would not form the thermolite blocks into the hearth slab as you run the danger of getting the "bathtub" effect. I did it that way and now have a number of holes drilled up through the slab to drain the water that can collect. I've not had a problem for years now as other waterproofing measures like an external entrance door has minimized that. Better not to I say
Regards dave

[kinglumma]

Weather has been surprisingly good for the time of year so got a bit more done, shuttering nearly finished.
Going for a couple of inches overhang at rear and sides, with a 4" curved overhang to the front. Luckily i managed to scrounge most of the wood through my work as i was amazed how much i used! just the front shutter and rebar to put in before the pour which weather dependant could be next weekend.

[kinglumma]

First the good news, started the pour, weather was a bit dodgy and failing light but went for it:








Had the whole thing covered up for 2 days then decided to take just the sides off to avoid damage:






All going well, carefully unscrewing form work and removing gently.
Father in law then happens to show up - one hit of the hammer onto the front face form and:



I just turned and walked away, i got the blame for removing the shuttering too early, 2 weeks minimum he says!! What actually caused it was the underside form and front face form still screwed together so hitting the front pushed the underside one up into the overhang on the front of the slab.

Decided to wait until following weekend for daylight and get it all broken off:



Never got a picture but it's all broken off clean, no damage to the stand blockwork or cladding. It only took a couple of hours. I've covered whole thing with a tarp and will come back to it in the spring.

[chas]

That's a bugger, Andrew - and understandably you're a bit sore... but don't leave it too long to return to the project, it all takes a surprising time and not least in the process is the 'curing' of the oven before full use but after you think you're finished. Do a bit as you feel enthused. Get it ready for the spring baking season!

Chas