Sydney Construction Has Started!! Pompeii Oven Construction Discuss Sydney Construction Has Started!! in the Pizza Oven Design and Installation forums; Ok guys I am a serious desk jockey so this is going to be a very trying experience I am ...

[JD07]

Ok guys I am a serious desk jockey so this is going to be a very trying experience I am sure.

I started last week and have already laid the slab so things are going well. The slab is 2m X 3 M so should be enough room for a 1m internal Pompeii from all the reading I have done. I have laid the slab half way up the back yard out of the way and was going to leave it as a dome shape because I like the look but I have read today that leaving a dome open to the elements can cause the oven to crack after rain due to water ingress into the bricks? I know I shouldn't believe everything I read on the internet so I thought I would ask your advise?

[Alter ego]

Congratulations on getting started JD. Your soft hand will soon harden up after laying a few bricks, then soften up during the week while at your desk ready for the next weekend!

My oven in Newcastle is a rendered dome because, like you, I liked the look of that better. The render has a final coat of oxide, cement & waterproofing and my oven is not showing any signs of water penetration in spite of the wet winter we have had so far.

Paul

[JD07]

Thats good new

I had been thinking about it and if it was a problem a mozaic tile over the dome would for sure stop water ingress. But I can't lay bricks let alone start learning how to tile.

[JD07]

Next question is there any right or wrong door arch sizes? I was thinking the wider and higher the door arch the better for access.

Edit ; My apologies if these questions are stupid or have been asked before

[brokencookie]

Originally Posted by JD07

Next question is there any right or wrong door arch sizes?

Yes, Definitely Yes there are many wrong door sizes. You should start here

Brick Oven Plans | Build an Italian Brick Oven

before going any farther. You can download the oven plans for free and they contain a veritable wealth of information..including optimum door size.

In addition, use the search function in the forum. When you search for entry arch, door size, etc you will find that the forum has done all of your research for you. Almost all of the possiblilties have been tried and the current oven plans are the distillation of many experienced builders hands on trials.

Don't hesitate to ask questions however. We would prefer a question and a good oven build to ignorance and a poorly performing oven.

Welcome to the addiction

Bruce

[JD07]

Thanks I tried to download the plans but got lost in the process several times.

Not sure where I went wrong I thought it would download but it told me it was processing? Are they sent out in an e-mail?

[JD07]

OK found the plan link e-mail in my junk folders!! I am reading with rapt attention.

Ok so I have the slab completed and about 1/3 to 1/2 of the base done. I have used a base that is 3m X 2m so that I will have plenty of bench space beside my oven. I must say that once the base started to take shape I am now realizing how big that will actually be. Oh well its half done now so no turning back at least at this stage.

I hope to complete the base and lay the suspended slab this weekend., I have a schedule to keep to and am hoping I can have the oven functioning before the end of September for my daughters first birthday party. Given I am only working on this weekends and have never before laid a brick I think its going to be a long shot for completion.

[JD07]

Well it got even better on the weekend my brother inlaw and father inlaw came over for lunch. I call them the inspectors!! Needless to say they were not impressed with the size of the build and some of my internal brickwork. My thoughts were if its going to be under a slab who's gunna see it right? Wrong!!!

So I have the base built and will be hopefully poring a slab this weekend and then the real fun starts.

Here a couple of photo's

First the slab

[JD07]

So yesterday the construction of the man porch started



The dog was not impressed.

[JD07]

Sweet the form work for the suspended slab and the bench space have been completed I just need to chuck in some reo and pour the tops and I am ready for the construction of the oven to start. The rafters and beams are up for the awning over the deck and hopfully the roof will be complete by the end of the week as well.


I do have one question,,, I have noticed that the pier I built on the right of the hearth slab is serving no real purpose, how would I go about cutting this out of the base? Would I just need to build a pier on the inside in the corner under the slab and then take to it with a diamond blade?