Michigan WFO Brick Oven Photos Discuss Michigan WFO in the Good Background Information forums; You can always build a plastic tent and use a space heater........

[ThisOldGarageNJ]

You can always build a plastic tent and use a space heater.....

[Spunkoid]

Patience, it will warm up. We are freezing our butts off here in southern Alberta, no one remembers it to have been this cold this early. I am still trying to get my forno framed in, not stucco for me this year though.

[mfiore]

Well, If I could offer some advice, it's to follow other people's advice!

I searched hard to find the answers I wanted to hear. The Quickrete 1800 number said the temps needed to be above 50 for 24 hours after using. The mix I'm using, though, is Pakmix Stone Veneer mortar. This mix said to use only if temps are greater than 40 and rising.

On Saturday, as soon as it hit 40, I started to put up some stone. I thought if I had a nice warm fire that could radiate some heat, then cover at night with a tarp, the walls might stay toasty. Too much damn insulation! The walls never get warm. I quit mid afternoon when the temps started dropping again. I definitely noticed a difference. The mortar did not stick well. That evening, two stone dropped (temps went into the 20's!!). I think it was a mistake. I hope to have a few nice days yet to wrap up the stone work. I'll focus on the roof until then.

[mfiore]

I put some decorative brick down (Old Detroit Brick) as an entrance to the oven. Thanks for the ideas, Daren. I'm a total hack!

[jmhepworth]

The stone work looks really nice. That's what we're hoping to do with ours.

Joe

[dbhansen]

Looks great, Mike! We're bound to get some warmer weather eventually (it's supposed to be 58 degrees here on Saturday). We may get our roofs done yet!

[mfiore]

It's the stone I need to get done. I think I can do the roof in the cold.

[stonylake]

Godd Morning Mike. I talked to a mason/customer of mine yesterday, and he said that he will do stone in this weather..adding anti-freeze to his mortar. Get it at the brickyard. it's a lot like RV anti-freeze, but the formulations are much more consistant. he will do stonework with out tenting until it is in the 20's at night.

[jmhepworth]

That makes me wonder if I should try to finish mine in the next month or so. I had resigned myself to waiting unitl spring.

Joe

[mfiore]

Joe, for whatever it's worth, the stone seems to stick better in the warmer weather (> 50 degrees)