High Heat Loss

[RCLake]

Sorry about your problem, it sounds like the experts on this forum are giviing you options to address it.
I was wondering if you could tell me more about the right side of the structure. It looks like you added a smoker. What is the slot below it for?

[jcampo]

The right side is actually a bbq but you could use it as a smoker as well. The bottom is just for wood storage.

[Archena]

Question from peanut gallery: What about adding a stone floor over the firebrick? I realize you'd lose interior space but would a second floor with even minimal insulation keep the slab from wicking so badly?

Also, it the dome itself is embedded in uninsulated concrete isn't that wicking off heat the same way the slab is?

[jcampo]

I am going to try installing some insulation underneath the oven floor.

What would be better to use Insulfrax, SuperIsol or anything else?
Also anyone know where I can purchase SuperIsol in Canada?

[CanuckJim]

JC,

Look under the Vermiculite Prices thread for a supplier of calcium aluminate board (similar to SuperIsol) in Concord, Ont. (Keele St. north of Hwy 7). The name of the company is Alphatherm, and all the details are in that thread.

Jim

[jcampo]

Would you recomend SuperIso over Insulfrax for insulating under my oven floor?

[CanuckJim]

JC,

They are similar products in that they are calcium silicate based. However, I'd say you wanted a rigid cal sil board; SuperIsol is just one name for it. The boards would be easier to retrofit and glue to the underside of your oven. Insulfrax is calcium silicate batt material used to insulate the oven dome, and it's flexible for that reason.

Jim

[Dutchoven]

Just had a thought...was the floor constructed inside the oven or did you rest the walls on the floor bricks. If the floor was constructed inside you might be able to remove the floor bricks and cut a sheet of superisol or calsil to fit inside the floor and then reset the bricks. It might affect the door height to dome ratio but perhaps you could reset the floor using splits in which case your thermal mass in the floor would be reduced but...the benefit of the insulated floor might be worth more in the long run?
Best
Dutch