After years of dreaming I've finally started - now finished

[markmckenzie]

Hmm, 2 steps forward and 1 back.
Wasn't happy with the front arch and have taken it down (not enough of an expansion gap between it and the firebrick) - I'll fettle the bricks and cut a better form.
Aiming to have another go tomorrow.
Arches are tough.

[simonh]

still a good looking build

[markmckenzie]

Thanks Simon.
OK - here we go with take 2...


Slightly more rounded curve on the former and whole brick layer started a little higher than before.






I'm happier with it this time - seems a more natural curve somehow - hard to explain. Keying of the mortared surfaces may have helped?? Possibly makes the bricks less likely to slip....

The arch is only loosely placed with the former - it has no solidity and I found that the former has to be removed quite soon to allow the joints to compress and final positioning be carried out. Just hope it dries without any major cracking.
Hoping to do some gentle pointing tonight with vermicrete of the dome on Saturday or Sunday.

[truckcab79]

Looks great. I would have been perfectly happy with version one but good that you took it down. It would have always bugged you if you hadn’t.

[markmckenzie]

Thanks.
Spent this morning lifting up the gazebo.
This meant there was room for the flue pipe..

Finished cutting and fitting the layers of insulating blanket once I had siliconed the flue down.










Then it was onto securing the chickenwire


Two and a half bags of vermiculite later...














Off for a week now so it can dry a little and I'll see how the dome is shaped on my return.

[markmckenzie]

Back off holiday and the vermicrete has set like a dull drum when I tap it.
Grotty weather (that's my excuse) so not got much done today - cut and laid the upper arch bricks - pointed in the dark as usual. Laying arch bricks with large cement fillets is tough going - especially if your bricks are wet.
Got there in the end. Will let all this set and, when we have some dry days, will start some curing fires (obv have to move the gazebo for this).

[simonh]

The gazebo will be fine with some small curing fires

[truckcab79]

Looking great. Funnily enough on my build I found that I needed to keep bricks wet, and sometimes spray them during setting aloe to avoid them sucking all the moisture out of the mortar. My ‘technique’ if you can call it that, for all mortar joints was to lay the bricks and take off most of the excess, then while the mortar was set but still soft I’d scrape out about 10mm, clean up the bricks and then go back and point when it was all dry. Mortar gun is invaluable if you’ve got loads to do too. They’re only about £15.

[markmckenzie]

Thanks everyone.
Back on the bricks today after yesterday's deluge. I think I've killed one diamond blade on my Stihl saw now - those blues are hard.
Have laid the arch covering and another 3 layers of the dome. Pointed in the dark as usual. Racing to get it done today as frost forecast tonight but I think I'll be OK.
Next job is more dome layers and then I can work on the "capping" etc. Aiming to complete this by the end of November.....
Regards, Mark

[oblertone]

While you're waiting for the deluge to subside I'd make a removeable outer door to protect your inner hearth bricks from driven rain; because when it's finally finished you'll be surprised how much water will get blown in. Also serves to keep out cats.

Top work though !

[markmckenzie]

Hi,
Good point - I'd planned on making one out of yet more insulation board - and a proper inner one for baking.
Have a list of tools to make over the winter too.
Just want to push on and get all the brickwork done by December.
Hats off to everyone who has completed a build - they are big projects.
Mark

[oblertone]

Save the insulation board as its not going to be used for heat retention, unlike your inner door.

[markmckenzie]

The insulation board is free as I kept the useable bits leftover from my house extension last year.
It works really well as it has a bit of give in it so fits snugly in the opening.
Spent the morning cutting bricks for the next 3 layers of the dome and generally having a bit of a tidy-up.
Next bricklaying session on Friday.

[markmckenzie]

3 more layers of the dome today - I guess I have about 6 more to go.
Will spend tomorrow morning cutting bricks and, hopefully, be able to complete the dome brickwork on Sunday.

[markmckenzie]

Hooray - dome bricks finished today. Realised that domes get harder as you go higher.
All pointed up now.
I've left a gap at the top to allow for water vapour to escape.
Next session on Friday. 2 more bricklaying sessions should see it done.