Fireclay in the hearth floor? Getting Started Discuss Fireclay in the hearth floor? in the Pizza Oven Design and Installation forums; By way of intrduction: I am an Optometrist in the Jacksonville area, and have started a project at my "fishing ...

[IDOC]

By way of intrduction:
I am an Optometrist in the Jacksonville area, and have started a project at my "fishing place" in Crescent Beach. A friend recently renovated a 1950 vintage house on Little Pottsburg Creek, and found nearly two pallets of firebrick under the old porch, apparently used as fill.
I have decided to build an Alan Scott style oven out of these firebrick.

I have poured a slab, and completed the oven stand, now ready to pour the hearth floor.

My question is this-- Should I incorporated fireclay into the concrete layer
of the hearh floor? And if so, at what proportion?

I would appreciate any insight on this subject.

[dmun]

Welcome, We have some alan scott style bread oven builders here. The fireclay layer under the hearth floor mostly dates from the time when builders used vermiculite concrete for their under-floor insulation, and were left with a rough surface that needed to be leveled before laying down the floor. This is less important if you use modern refractory insulation blocks under the floor which leave a smooth surface. I just laid my bricks down on top of my insblock19 insulation.

Re-reading your question, it's about fireclay in the support slab. The answer is no - you want regular portland-sand-gravel concrete for maximum strength. This slab holds up a lot of weight, and under the insulation it won't get hot anyway, just warm to the touch.

[IDOC]

appreciate your response
Thanks!