Starting my foundation questions?

[dmun]

Insulation is a must. If you want a brick dome look, you can build one out of terra cotta tile on the outside of the insulation. Besides, the exterior of the dome has huge gaps between the bricks, and doesn't look like much anyway.

Building inspectors consider freestanding brick ovens to be backyard barbeques, and allow them without inspection in most cases. You should pay attention to common sense precautions: The top of your chimney should be two feet above any structure within ten feet.

[Italfranco1]

Got it. Thanks for the advice and I'll make sure that I have plenty of clearence from surrounding trees, etc.

[dmun]

I dug up a pic of a brick-like covering over the insulation, this by Arevalo (luis) (How hot can it go)



A tile-covered igloo looks better than a stucco one in my book, but it's a bunch more work.

[thebadger]

Italfranco1,

People seem to be split on checking on a permit. I did to be on the safe side but didn't want to know the answer. Luckily the building inspector considers this an "outdoor BBQ" so no need for a permit. I checked zoning as well and it's not even listed so I "technically" could put it in my front yard. The one thing you should "consider" is the chimney stack in relation to your house nearby buildings. I think it's 2 feet taller than any structure within 10 feet. Mine is about 12 feet away from my house but my chimney needs to go 2 feet higher than my pergola.

Re the Foundation - I agree the thicker the better. 2" is cheap insurance. Hey at least you didn't have to dig down 30+ inched due to the frost line like I and your northern builders did.

Good luck.
Dick

[gjbingham]

I concur as well. Just a big O shape under the area of your concrete blocks should be sufficient. Plenty of rebar too.

[Italfranco1]

I will make sure I pay close attention to how my chimney will be in relation to any nearby trees. I don't have a problem whacking a tree out of my backyard because we can use the sun light. I've already measured and the oven will be more than 20 feet away from the house. My main concern will be how close the chimney will be in relation to the top & sides of my redwood arbor. This brick oven is going to be just outside of the arbor area so that would be my only real concern. I'll do some measuring prior to starting the project and I guess if I really had to I could extend the size of the chimney to the height needed to clear the arbor.

And I'm not complaining at all when I read how much dirt you guys had to move.

I'm going to make my form for my arbor foundation and brick oven foundation and have it poured all at once. The arbor will be a 16 x 16 ft slab with rebar around the sides ranging from 4 inches in the center to five inches at the sides. The brick oven area will be a solid six inches.

I have alot of work ahead of me. My goal is to get the foundations for both arbor & oven poured by the end of March and stain the concrete when it's dried properly. Early April will start the building of the redwood arbor. When the arbor is done I'll be putting in roughly 450 - 500 sq. ft of patio. Possibly flag or Colorado blue stone. That puts me at the end of April into May.

I'm hoping to start the brick oven project sometime in late summer or early Fall.

I have seen some amazing photos of the work you guys have done and I'll admit I'm quite the perfectionist. I'm really handy with tools, landscaping & carpentry but this looks like it's going to be a challenge. I'm really hoping I can recruit a friend the excellent mason & carpentry skills. Maybe one of those you help me with mine and help you with yours type of deals. I'd feel much more comfortable with someone with experience. Can't wait start this.

[gjbingham]

No fears. It will all work out. If you're hand with tools, you're golden. You can't do every step by yourself though. Some of these processes take two people to do without killing yourself. Believe me. I like to these things by myself, but I was greatful for my neighbor who helped me out a bunch along the way.