Post by dabwood on Feb 14, 2012 0:52:28 GMT
Finally got round to posting my progress from last years efforts.
The proposed plan - with Oven playing the central starring role, with BBQ area to left and seating and fire pit on the right
The proposed Site - decked area not getting much use
Initial Site Clearance - lifting all the decking
Leveling the site - which seemed to take forever
Existing wall - needed some re-pointing, prior to starting the build, just when you think your progressing another job appears! Was trying to avoid it, but it kept shouting at me !!!
Finally starting the prep for the ground slab, soon be starting some real building work after the boring prep.
Rebar and formwork in place
Hand mixing concrete - Lost count of number of hand mixes we had to do, but if I can give some advice it would be to hire/buy a mixer - as this took most of the day to pour slab. (even with the help of the good wife)
The completed slab
Blockwork started - quite therapeutic in comparison to concrete work
Finished the internal blockwork
Preparing for the oven slab - more rebar and formwork - which meant more hand mixing, joy of joys!
A well earned break after all that mixing
The finished oven slab
Checking the location, with the help of the cat
Slab insulation and leveling bed done for modular slab to sit upon
Jointing slab
Positioning the dome - these were heavy beasts and not the easiest to move around far less get on top of the slab carefully, hence this took at lot longer than envisaged
All joints done, hope for the best
External facing stonework progressing, now in position to start arch work since part sits on external wall
Arch complete and chimney progressing
Insulation and chicken wire in place, ready for the next challenge
Vermicrete done, not the most enjoyable part of the process, certainly was fun getting this stuff to stay in place
Chimney progressing and first small firing - nice to finish the day with a reward. (Daughter refused to go to bed until she saw it)
Ready for render, beads all in place
First scratch coat in place, rendering not as bad as I thought it would be (that is until I tried the second coat on the chimney - just wanted to slide!)
Another firing of oven, and fire pit complete
Render painted, lets see how long that white lasts!
That's it for now folks, apologies for the amount of photos.
I hope to start/finish the remainder of works once the weather changes and temps start rising which will likely be March if were lucky.
The proposed plan - with Oven playing the central starring role, with BBQ area to left and seating and fire pit on the right
The proposed Site - decked area not getting much use
Initial Site Clearance - lifting all the decking
Leveling the site - which seemed to take forever
Existing wall - needed some re-pointing, prior to starting the build, just when you think your progressing another job appears! Was trying to avoid it, but it kept shouting at me !!!
Finally starting the prep for the ground slab, soon be starting some real building work after the boring prep.
Rebar and formwork in place
Hand mixing concrete - Lost count of number of hand mixes we had to do, but if I can give some advice it would be to hire/buy a mixer - as this took most of the day to pour slab. (even with the help of the good wife)
The completed slab
Blockwork started - quite therapeutic in comparison to concrete work
Finished the internal blockwork
Preparing for the oven slab - more rebar and formwork - which meant more hand mixing, joy of joys!
A well earned break after all that mixing
The finished oven slab
Checking the location, with the help of the cat
Slab insulation and leveling bed done for modular slab to sit upon
Jointing slab
Positioning the dome - these were heavy beasts and not the easiest to move around far less get on top of the slab carefully, hence this took at lot longer than envisaged
All joints done, hope for the best
External facing stonework progressing, now in position to start arch work since part sits on external wall
Arch complete and chimney progressing
Insulation and chicken wire in place, ready for the next challenge
Vermicrete done, not the most enjoyable part of the process, certainly was fun getting this stuff to stay in place
Chimney progressing and first small firing - nice to finish the day with a reward. (Daughter refused to go to bed until she saw it)
Ready for render, beads all in place
First scratch coat in place, rendering not as bad as I thought it would be (that is until I tried the second coat on the chimney - just wanted to slide!)
Another firing of oven, and fire pit complete
Render painted, lets see how long that white lasts!
That's it for now folks, apologies for the amount of photos.
I hope to start/finish the remainder of works once the weather changes and temps start rising which will likely be March if were lucky.