Mortar where it shouldn't be Modular Refractory Oven Installation Discuss Mortar where it shouldn't be in the Pizza Oven Design and Installation forums; I wonder if anyone has experience with this. I'm in the middle of a Casa 110 installation and we put ...

[DaveK]

I wonder if anyone has experience with this. I'm in the middle of a Casa 110 installation and we put up the dome yesterday. I just realized that one of my masons literally crawled into the oven and mortared the perimeter of the cooking floor to the inside of the dome. (Very neatly, I might add.) He also mortared the edges of the vent landing to the mouth of the oven.

We all know this is forbidden because of problems that can occur with expansion, but I think it's very unlikely that we could chip out the mortar without doing real damage.

I'd really appreciate any thoughts on this.

Thanks,

Dave

[asudavew]

I can't help you, but I am sure James will weigh in shortly.

Good luck!

Let us know how everything turns out. The mason may have to replace your casa.

[james]

Hi Dave,

Did he mortar the landing piece (the rectangular one with the curve) to the floor and the vent walls?

If that's what he did (and it sounds like that is what you are describing), you are in good shape. The vent landing area and the vent walls don't get as hot as the oven, and you won't have any problems. I've done it that way myself.

Let me know -- and you don't have to worry. :-)
James

[DaveK]

James --

He mortared the entire perimeter of the cooking floor, including the landing piece, to the inside of the dome with Refrax. He didn't slap on a huge layer of mortar, he just filled the gap -- it's flush with the floor.

If it makes any difference, I took your mason Peter's advice and laid the cooking floor and landing piece on sand directly on top of the Super Isol. It's only attached to the Super Isol with a thin bead around the edges.

Thanks,

Dave

[DaveK]

James --

I'm going to e-mail you some pictures of the inside of the oven.

Dave

[Acoma]

Dave, did you finally unload some photos? The gallery has your name all over I am not sure where you are truly at, can you describe?

[DaveK]

Yeah, I finally found the time to upload photos of the whole process. The oven's been done since late September and we're having a blast with it!