Making the ideal pizza is the sole goal behind the construction of pizza ovens. To get that desired crispy crust and melty cheese, these ovens must be able to achieve extraordinarily high temperatures—often above 800 degrees Fahrenheit.
Breakdown of The Steps to Build a Pizza Oven
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Bricks | 56 Bricks for the structure of the pizza oven. |
| Large Pavers | 2 Large Pavers (used 24″) for the horizontal areas (pizza rack and oven top). |
| Extra Large Paver | 1 Extra Large Paver (Optional) for the bottom to protect the ground. |
| Brick Price | Around 60 cents each at big box supply stores like Lowe’s or Home Depot. |
| Paver Price | About $8 each for the 24″ size pavers. |
| Temperature Goal | Aim for 625° Fahrenheit for cooking pizza. |
| Infrared Thermometer | Used to measure the oven temperature; recommended model available on Amazon. |
| Pizza Peel | Essential for placing and removing pizza from the oven. |
| Cleaning | Pressure wash the bricks if reclaimed and dirty. |
| Leveling the Paver | Ensure the first paver is level before starting the brick structure. |
| First Row of Bricks | Start with an offset course for balance before adding more layers. |
| Layering Bricks | Build alternating layers for structural integrity. |
| Paver Placement | Move the paver forward to leave a gap for heat convection. |
| Gap for Heat Flow | Leave about 1.5″ gap for back venting heat from fire chamber. |
| Venting Design | Current design may need adjustments for improved heat flow. |
| Firewood Placement | Consider using a paver under the firewood to prevent ground scorching. |
| Initial Cook | First cook involved flatbread pizzas due to lack of a pizza peel. |
| Future Improvements | Plans to raise the oven height and improve the venting design. |
| Masonry Consideration | Mortaring could improve heat retention in future builds. |
| Project Cost | Completed DIY brick oven for pizza for under $50. |
What Material Do You Need for Your Oven Wall?
You’re wondering if regular clay bricks will work. Or do I need a specific type of brick to construct my oven’s walls?
The quick answer is that you can construct a pizza oven out of conventional clay bricks. They’ll do the job, and it makes sense to go this route if you’ll just be using it sometimes. Even bricks that have been salvaged or removed from a building you’re demolishing could be used. They might be useful in this way.
However, you should utilize fire bricks if you want to construct an oven that lasts a long time and is also marginally more efficient.
Conclusion
In this piece, you learned about brick and paver requirements, temperature goals and cooking tools, step-by-step construction of a pizza oven, design considerations for heat flow and venting, and recommendations for oven wall materials. For more informative guides, stay connected to Buildersviller.