Planning my first build

[desward2]

Hello folks,

I'm planning on starting my first build in the next couple of weeks, and here's what I'm wondering...could I cast a 1m diameter oven in-situ on a sand form with a couple of layers of vermicrete and some insulation, followed by a layer of render - would this work or am I walking myself into trouble? Should I use the gym-ball casting method instead?

Has anyone done this, and if so, what are the rookie errors that I'm (Probably) going to make?

I'm thinking of finishing the brickwork for the arch and chimney, then making a sand form to paste the concrete by hand over it, leaving some space for a flexible heat-proof filler in the joints.

Also, I'd like to use an old-fashioned cast Iron Door, and I'm wondering if there's a reason why most of the builds I've seen haven't used a door. 

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

[oblertone]

The door at the outer end of the oven is to stop cats living in your oven, it serves no other purpose but can look cool. In use an oven requires an unhindered access because things are movings so fast there is no time to open and close a door. A pizza in a WFO will cook in 90 seconds and needs turning at least twice in that time; try doing that with a hot door to open and close.

However, a door at the inner end of the flue arch is vital should you like to cook on retained heat the day (or days) after a pizzafest. Such a door is removable to allow access as described above, but when in place will separate the dome from the flue and contain all those hard won therms in the oven where they can be used to bake bread, cook roasts etc.

There is no reason why your dome cannot be cast in situ, however the vermicrete is an insulating layer, and not really much use as a heat store which is why many builders use clay or brick for the inner layer, both of which will store heat for hours.

[desward2]

Thanks for the advice Oblertone - that makes perfect sense. I'll adjust the plans accordingly, and start looking for some clay instead.