Pizza is one of the few foods that almost everyone loves. It’s hard to nail down exactly what makes it so great, but everyone has their reasons. One thing that many people agree on is nothing beats a wood-fired pizza. The only problem is you usually have to go to a restaurant to enjoy a wood-fired slice.
However, that doesn’t have to be the case. You can build a wood-burning oven in your own backyard. Whether you want to start making authentic, homemade pizzas or simply want to spice up your frozen ones, a backyard oven is just the thing you need. This article will go over everything you’ll need to build your own outdoor pizza oven with ease.
A Project Plan
Unlike some other backyard projects, a pizza oven is quite intricate. You will need to do a lot of planning before you lay the first stone. There are a few different oven designs that you can build, so you can start by figuring out which one will suit your yard best. Once you’ve picked out a design, you’ll need to find detailed instructions on constructing it.
Before you get your heart set on a particular type of pizza oven, you’ll also need to make a budget. These projects can become quite expensive, so figuring out your limit beforehand will help you know what you can and can’t afford. Once your general plan is in place, you can move on to find out where you want to put your new oven.
The Perfect Spot
Finding the perfect spot for your pizza oven can be tricky. It needs to be on a perfectly flat surface away from your house and overgrown vegetation. While a thick layer of stone and brick will protect exterior elements from the flames, you won’t want to risk a fire.
If you don’t have a large flat area to build your stove, you might need to flatten out a section of your yard. While some pizza oven designs are on the smaller side, professionals typically recommend setting aside a 26- by 13-foot area to build it in. This will ensure that there is plenty of room for the oven and for you to work and move around while cooking.
A Strong Foundation
While it’s possible to build a strong, individual foundation for your new pizza oven during its construction, it’s typically safer to use a larger one that will better support it. If you already have a stone patio or deck, this will work perfectly, but you can always build one before adding your oven. This will help ensure that your pizza oven has a solid foundation. A patio will also make cooking and entertaining guests much more manageable. Plus, the oven will look more natural if you use the same bricks and pavers you used for your patio.
Materials
Obviously, before the building process can begin, you need to buy all the materials you’ll need to construct the oven. If you planned out your blueprints well enough, you should know precisely how many supplies you’ll need. As a rule of thumb, it’s best to underbuy than to order too much. You can always buy more materials if you run out, but making returns isn’t always possible.
Regardless of which type of pizza oven you decide to make, there are some materials you’ll need. Here’s a list of the most common supplies:
- Concrete pavers
- Clay blocks
- Fire bricks
- Natural stones
- Concrete mix
- Exterior-grade plywood
- Oven-grade insulation
If you’re unsure where to get some of these supplies, look no further than Lowcountry Paver. We are a hardscape supplier that can offer you all kinds of bricks and pavers for your oven-building needs. Be sure to check out our entire catalog to determine which materials will be the best fit for your brand-new pizza oven.
Tools and Equipment
Of course, these materials are useless if you don’t have the right tools and equipment to put them together. Tools and equipment are the most important things you’ll need to build your own outdoor pizza oven, so make sure you don’t skip out on any of the gear listed here.
Measurement Tools
Before you begin laying any bricks, you need to plan out where they will go. Items such as a tape measure, ground spikes, straight edges, and chalk line reels will help you better visualize where you’ll start building. These tools will also assist you during construction to ensure that everything lines up correctly. The last thing you want is a crooked oven because you decided to eyeball it.
Brick Laying Equipment
Whether you use a concrete mix to lay your bricks or something else, you’ll need the proper gear to lay it properly. Trowels are perfect for this. You can use them to scoop out the mixture from its container and spread it evenly across the stones you have already laid out. If your materials risk drying out quickly, you’ll need a cement mixer to make sure that doesn’t happen.
Cutting and Drilling Equipment
Unfortunately, your bricks and pavers won’t be the perfect size for every nook and cranny that your pizza oven will have. That means you’ll need to shape them accordingly with drills and saws. Just make sure the ones you get are strong enough to cut through the type of rock you plan to use. You don’t want to ruin either the stones or equipment by being careless.
Protective Gear
While most of this equipment is specifically for the pizza oven, you also need to make sure you have the gear to protect yourself during this project. Safety glasses and hearing protection are musts to protect your eyes and ears from flying debris and loud noises.
If the airborne debris is fine enough, it could cause dust to linger in the air. This could be bad for you to breathe in, so a face mask would also be a good idea. Finally, a strong pair of work gloves will protect your hands from cuts and harsh chemicals you might need to use during your project. With these essential tools and gear, you’ll be all set to build the perfect pizza oven in your own backyard.
