Mark's WFO Pompeii Oven Construction Discuss Mark's WFO in the Pizza Oven Design and Installation forums; Hi all, Had a little time after work the last couple days so I got the steel done and some ...

[exceloven]

Hi all,
Had a little time after work the last couple days so I got the steel done and some of the forming. Might be able to pour this weekend if things work out.

Mark

[Justin]

Hi Mark, looks great so far. Are you planning on pouring concrete right up to the top of the board, or will that be your insulation layer?

Looks like a very tidy job, looking forward to more photos

[exceloven]

Thanks Justin, I have a plan for the pour but I am not sure it will work as it does in my mind. I want the regular concrete to be a monolithic 8" slab, so I am going to form up the area under the oven for the insulation portion. Then I wil pour the regular concrete first and after it sets fill in the area inside with the insulated concrete.
I'm not sure if that makes any sense but I will post pix and it might be clearer.
Mark

[Justin]

Wow, thats a thick slab! mine is about half of that. Now im wondering if mine is thick enough?

[dmun]

Now im wondering if mine is thick enough?

A lot of support slabs are the thickness of a two-by-four, three and a half inches. With rebar reinforcement, that's plenty thick.

[exceloven]

Most people pour a 4" slab top with a 4" insulation layer under the oven. I just wanted the rest of the counter to be closer to the height of the oven. It's basically 4 extra inches around the base of the oven. It will double as a bomb shelter.

[amber]

You'll have the last thing in the neighborhood standing, just like the rest of us!

[exceloven]

I finished forming the hearth top today and am shooting to pour it Saturday. Many things could get it the way but I'm going to try. You guys are right, it gets addicting once you start!

Mark

[christo]

Looks cool! Do you worry about the center trying to float on the concrete when you pour it or do you have other means to control like weights or support? Not that I doubt your engineering!!! I've been playing with concrete a lot in the last year and I've been amazed at how much force it can exert in a form.

I like the Iron ring. Where'd ya get it? Or how'd ya form it?

Christo

[exceloven]

Christo,
Regarding the form, all week I have been trying to wet and bend plywood and failed miserably. Radius was too tight. Today I was at one of my jobs and there was a piece of vinyl covered bender board laying in the dirt. I asked someone and they said they were done with it and I could have it. It worked absolutely perfect. Problem solved.
As regards the center floating, I'm not too worried. I plan on pouring the area underneath first to 4" and then setting the form back in. I might put another 2x4 across the middle before I pour. I have been following all your work and it looks fantastic!

Mark