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

[downunderdave]

If that were my oven I’d be leaving it open at the top for a few months. Because you have bricked over the insulation layers the drying will be slower.Think of it like trying to boil a saucepan of water dry. It’s much faster with the lid off, but with the lid on it takes ages with the only escape being the little steam pressure release hole in the lid. To test for water elimination, throw some sheet plastic over the hole at the top to see if steam condenses on the underside. Keep the plastic in place to keep out the rain when the oven is not in use.
Take the drying fires slow to avoid damaging the oven.

[truckcab79]

Fantastic build. You must be thrilled with it.

If you have any remaining staining or rough joints after cleaning and pointing then grab yourself some brick cleaner. It will dissolve away anything still left or ingrained in the brick surface. I used a garden sprayer and worked my way around spraying and sponging down to remove it. Just check which way the wind is blowing as it’s not nice when you breathe it in. It will also damage your clothing.

[markmckenzie]

Hi everyone,

Bit more progress today.
Laid the bricks ready to receive the slate capping. I've put an air brick in this to allow some venting of the vermicrete dome. The void will be filled with dry vermiculite. First 3 photos are pre-pointing!





After a while I could point the mortar and then I cut a template for the slate slab..















With this I could cut the slate blank to size and rough edge it. Hopefully I can clean up the edges more on Sunday morning and then (with the help of a friend) lift it into position.








Further update on Sunday....
Mark

[markmckenzie]

Managed to get the slate capping on today along with a first course of brick just to use up the mortar. The void beneath was filled with dry vermiculite.
Cut a drainage lip under the slate before it went on and sanded the edges.
By my count, just 18 whole bricks to go!
Mark

[simonh]

looks amazing

[markmckenzie]

Thanks Simon
Had a few hours today to lay the last of the chimney bricks. Bricks were wet with the latest downpour so mortar went everywhere - cleaned up OK though. Really awkward working under the gazebo.
Flaunching around the flue pipe on Friday then sealant to the expansion gap and fit the cowl on Saturday. Silvery bubble-wrap is there to create an expansion gap and will be removed once the flaunching cement has gone off.
Tidy up on Sunday, take down the gazebo and cut/fit the slate work surfaces.



Once it's all been cleaned I'll be adding a breathable, water-resistant finish to the brickwork.
Next update on Friday.
Mark

[markmckenzie]

Spent the day cleaning some of the brickwork, adding the flaunching and generally having a tidy-up.
Tomorrow will be spent removing the spacer around the flue and sealing the gap with high-temp silicone.
Had to cover the flaunching today as cold in Cheshire tonight. Flaunching was smoothed out a bit more after photos taken.
Could be finished tomorrow.

[simonh]

now we just need pictures of Pizzas!

[markmckenzie]

Haha - patience Simon.
My schedule for the oven looks something like this...
1. Seal around the flue pipe.
2. Clean the brickwork, allow to dry and then seal.
3. Order slate blank for oven landing area. (But still not sure it really needs this).
4. Fit landing slate, cut new outer rain door.
5. Start fires - very low and slow. These will continue for 8 weeks or so. Probably 1 every weekend while I potter around the garden.
6. Make pizza/other tools - peels, tuscan grill, brush etc
7. Make internal door. (Probably out of aluminium with ceramic blanket insulation/temp gauge).
8. Pizza time around end of Feb/early March.
That gives me a total start-finish time of about 6 months which is about what I expected.
I have about 80+ firebricks, 18 arch bricks and 1 1/2 tubs of firebrick cement, half a bag of high temp fine castable, clay flue liners, imperial bullnose and fusilier arch bricks and nearly 2 bags of vermiculite which are now surplus to requirements. These would be a good start for anyone considering building an oven - I'll take some photos and list everything in the appropriate part of the forum. Free to a forum member (about £250 worth of materials by my reckoning). If no-one wants it within a few weeks I'll put it on EBay and give the proceeds to charity. To go as one lot.
Should be a sunny day tomorrow so time for some decent photos.
Mark

[markmckenzie]

Removed the bubble wrap spacer and sealed around the flue with high temp silicone. Also tidied up the flaunching.
Kept the mortar just about warm enough overnight by covering the chimney/mortar with a sheet and having 4 lit candles in the oven.
Slate work surfaces being fitted tomorrow - I'll post photos of the completed project.

[oblertone]

Amazing build, very well done !

[markmckenzie]

Today I cut the slate blanks for the work surfaces and lifted them into position with the help of some friends.
All the brickwork still needs cleaning but I'll have to wait until my hosepipe is thawed and I can use my jet-washer.
I'm pretty pleased with how it all looks.
Mark

[truckcab79]

Looks fantastic. Really impressive.
Is the slate all work surface or do you have grills or something going there?

[markmckenzie]

Thank you.
The slate work surfaces will stay just as they are for the moment. I don't expect to add grills etc as I hope to do everything in the oven.
I just thought that, once you add in drinks and food as well as having a prep area, more work surface was better than not enough.
If the weather warms up enough I'll be outside jet-washing the brickwork today - then it can dry and I can put on a coat of brick sealer.
On Saturday I'll cut a spare piece of slate to make a landing flush with the firebricks.
Regards,
Mark

[downunderdave]

Dec 3, 2019 11:31:31 GMT markmckenzie said:

Thank you.
The slate work surfaces will stay just as they are for the moment. I don't expect to add grills etc as I hope to do everything in the oven.
I just thought that, once you add in drinks and food as well as having a prep area, more work surface was better than not enough.
If the weather warms up enough I'll be outside jet-washing the brickwork today - then it can dry and I can put on a coat of brick sealer.
On Saturday I'll cut a spare piece of slate to make a landing flush with the firebricks.
Regards,
Mark

It is better to dry the oven out completely before adding any sealers to the outside as sealing will reduce the flow of moisture both going in and going out. As you’ve already bricked in the inner dome it’s going to be a slow process drying it out as it is. Sealing will only make it more difficult.