Owning a wood fired oven can be one of the best pieces of equipment you could own because it takes pizza making to the next level. A pizza oven, small or big, becomes a popular focal point in the backyard – you too become a popular person amongst family and friends. Whilst this sounds great, pizza ovens can be relatively expensive depending on your needs and budget. I personally bought a fully dedicated wood pizza oven (you can also get a hybrid oven (both gas/wood) that has the capacity to make 2 large or 3 small pizzas. Personally, I cook one pizza at any time because I am not running a shop. It also removes the risk of burning a pizza if you get distracted or the temperature is too hot. Check out my article on How to control wood fired oven temperatures. In this I talk about managing oven temperatures so that your pizza comes out steaming hot and edible.
BUT, you’re on a budget and want to cook hillbilly style? Then try your luck with building your own outdoor pizza oven. Nice little weekend project that you and a friend can do. The following is not designed to be a detailed process for start to end but a guide. You can search online such as YouTube on different methods and outcomes to suit your needs. If this becomes too much, I would recommend purchasing a well designed and tested oven and having a professional install it which is what I did. It took the guessing game out of something that has the capacity to reach over 500 degrees celsius.
To build an outdoor pizza oven, you will need:
- A brick or masonry base: This can be a simple brick or concrete patio, or a more elaborate structure made of brick or stone. The base should be at least as wide as the oven and deep enough to support the weight of the oven.
- Insulation: To help retain heat and make the oven more efficient, you will need to add insulation to the base. This can be done using refractory concrete or clay, or using a layer of insulating fire brick.
- A refractory dome: The dome of the oven should be made of refractory material, such as fire brick or castable refractory cement. The dome should be built on top of the insulation and should be large enough to accommodate a pizza.
- A chimney: The oven will need a chimney to allow smoke and excess heat to escape. The chimney can be made of brick or metal and should be tall enough to allow smoke to rise above the roof of the oven.
- A door: A door will be needed to access the interior of the oven and to allow you to control the temperature by regulating the airflow. The door can be made of metal or brick and should be inset into the front of the oven.
Once you have all of the materials and tools you need, you can begin building your outdoor pizza oven. Here is a general outline of the process:
- Prepare the base: Clear the area where the oven will be located and lay the bricks or stones to create the base. Make sure the base is level and secure.
- Add insulation: Spread a layer of refractory concrete or clay over the base, or lay insulating fire bricks on top of the base.
- Build the dome: Using fire bricks or castable refractory cement, build the dome of the oven on top of the insulation. The dome should be large enough to accommodate a pizza and should have a slight slope to allow heat and smoke to rise.
- Add the chimney: Build the chimney using brick or metal and attach it to the top of the dome. Make sure the chimney is tall enough to allow smoke to rise above the roof of the oven.
- Install the door: Build or purchase a metal or brick door and inset it into the front of the oven. This will allow you to access the interior of the oven and control the temperature by regulating the airflow.
- Finish the exterior: You can finish the exterior of the oven by adding a layer of brick, stone, or stucco to match the rest of your outdoor space.
With some basic construction skills and the right materials, you can build a beautiful and functional outdoor pizza oven.
