 Re: Newbie looking for basic masonry advice
Hey Smokey, welcome!
I'm like you. I never picked up a brick before I started my oven. My father-in-law is a retired mason. He offered to help, but I figured I would try to go it alone until I got into trouble. I made it all the way through.
Are you a do-it-yourselfer with some basic skills around the workshop? Do you like to play with power tools? If so, you'll be fine.
For my "practice" I built the brick arch for my wood storage. I built the left side two or three times, tearing it down while wet and rebuilding until I was satisfied (standard brick mortar is cheap). My first attempt was really sorry looking!
I found that the refractory mortar and firebrick was actually easier to work with than the standard house bricks and mortar. The HeatStop is smooth, peanut buttery and easy to handle.
Don't worry about taking a class. Just read everything you can here, ask questions, then jump in. After a few courses of brick, you'll start to get the hang of it.
Good luck; we're here to help! |