Disassembling my brick oven.

[aus404]

Decided that the time had come to remove my Pompei brick oven. Had lots of fun building it and have cooking all sorts of things ( Breads, roasts, deserts as well as pizza) I just didn't use it enough.

Essentially I followd the forno Bravo plans ( which were really good) but my base was a U shape of breeze blocks with 10 concrete lintels lying across the top ( much , easier than trying to build a reinforced slab on top, probably cheaper as well.

Interestingly the "Homebrew mortar" is still slightly soft 5 years after I built this so I was able to take it down rather than knock it down, and then its been possible to knock of the mortar and end up with a load of bricks.

I'm now left with some boxes of insulation blanket, a load of firebricks ( already cut to form arches, dome entrances etc, internal cooking floor) as well as the various other bits, door, thermometer probe, peel.

[aus404]

Found a few more pictures of building the arch and chimney.

[aus404]

Taking down the soldier course.





Down to the ovenfloor and deck.

[aus404]

Can see the two layers of ceramic fibre board now, double layer under the actual hearth.

[aus404]

All reduced to a pile of bricks..



Concrete lintels for the deck of the base was definitely a good way to go, as easy taking it down and putting it up.

You can see how the back of the arch is angled to allow it fit into the dome.


The floor bricks had been resting on a bed of fireclay on top of the fibreboard so were easy to take out cleanly. The fibreboard itself mostly fell apart.

Just need to remove the rest of the base and fill in with blocks and no one will ever know it was there.