Do you love enjoying barbeque nights with friends and families in your backyard ?
Then, it’s time you add a pizza oven to the backyards to make summer and winter nights more enjoyable. Although setting up an outdoor DIY pizza oven can be slightly challenging, it isn’t impossible. A few years ago, my husband and I decided to set up an outdoor pizza oven.
First off, we prepared a list of all the materials required for building a pizza oven in the backyard. We unpacked them and began assembling the materials step by step. For the next few days, we spent time building a pizza oven in the backyard. After a few unsuccessful attempts, our outdoor pizza oven was ready.
Howdy! I’m Stacy Smith, and today I’ve put together a guide on how to make an outdoor pizza oven to make your Sunday brunches and barbeque nights more enjoyable.
So, let’s get started!
How To Make An Outdoor Pizza Oven
Materials Needed
What do you do after you’ve decided to build an outdoor pizza oven? You need to have the right materials to get started. Before I begin with the steps of building an outdoor pizza oven, I’ve listed all the materials that you’ll need in the process. Take a look.
- Cement slabs
- Red bricks
- Liters of clay
- Sharp sand
- Water
Steps To Make An Outdoor Pizza Oven
Step 1: Lay The Base
First off, you need to decide the size of the pizza oven. After that, you will have to dig the right-sized hole in your backyard. Next, pour cement to fill the hole. Make sure you fill the hole properly. After the cement dries, you can begin building the walls.
Also, you can build the base using small lintels as flagstones. To be honest, I used this method to build my pizza oven because you can have storage space for wood beneath the oven. Simply leave two walls open for proper ventilation.
However, keep in mind the fact that only a strong base will lead to a stronger foundation. Therefore, lay the base properly.
Step 2: Lay The Bricks
After the base is prepared, you’ll have to insulate the bottom by laying bricks. You may use standard red bricks and cement for the walls beneath the oven. After you’ve prepared the outline walls, add an insulating layer.
You can either use professional products or stick to your DIY ways for proper insulation. Get some glass bottles, lay them straight and fill in the spaces with some overnight soaked clay. Also, don’t forget to leave ample space for the thermal expansion of bottles.
Step 3: Preparing The Oven Floor
After completing the base and insulation, you’ll have to construct a proper floor for the pizza oven. Before you lay fire bricks, make sure to prep the surface with a layer of soil mix. This will add strength to your surface without using clay or cement.
Also, one of the tips I learned from my father was to place the best-fitting brick in the middle, and I recommend you do the same.
Step 4: Building The Dome
Next, you’ll have to build the dome on the floor bricks. I suggest you use a marker pen to outline the dome on the floor bricks so that the lines don’t get washed with water. Also, before you begin building the dome, stock up sufficient clay to avoid shortage. Stock up 10 - 13 liters of clay for a small oven and double it in case you’re building a large one.
Along with clay, stock up on sand too. Before you make the sand form, measure the height of the dome using a stick. Next, compress it and shape it into a dome. The key to a perfectly shaped dome is nothing but patience. Therefore, be patient.
To prepare the clay-sand mixture, dump a couple of buckets of sand and clay and mix them using your feet. While preparing the clay-sand mixture, do not add straws, which will lead to air gaps. Air-gaps are a big no-no for the first layer. However, I suggest using a big tarp for the sand-clay mixture because you will be able to flip over the mixture easily.
Also, use as little water as possible to avoid spattering. If you don’t want dry joints to pop up, remember to put together the first layer in one go.
To build the dome, take enough mixture, roll it into a firm ball and place it one by one. It’s better to start from the bottom because that’s what I do. If rough, uneven surfaces bother you, use a plastering trowel.
Step 5: Drying And Emptying
After you’re done with the first layer, let it dry. I suggest covering it with a tarp to avoid elements tampering with it. After it dries, cut out a mouth hole along with a chimney hole to remove the sand from the inside. Also, I recommend you smooth out the inner walls of the dome with a large spoon and a bit of water.
Step 6: Adding Final Touches
Finally, you’ll have to add another 2 layers of the clay-sand mixture. If you want, you can use straws this time. Along with it, you can also add clay to even the surface. Next, add a roof, door along with a chimney, and ta-da! Your pizza oven is ready.
- 5-IN-1 FUNCTIONALITY: The ultimate outdoor sidekick for all your backyard entertainment; pizza, bake, broil, warm & proof.
- 3 MINUTE ARTISAN PIZZA: Restaurant quality 12" pizzas with even leoparding on crusts and gooey cheese ready in 3 minutes* with no turning necessary.
- 5 PIZZA SETTINGS: Choose from 5 different settings to satisfy any craving; Neapolitan, Thin Crust, Pan, New York, and Custom. *cooked at 700°F, excludes 18-minute preheat.
- HOT NEW FEATURES – A custom designed fuel tray that maximises airflow and delivers a powerful blast of searing flame allows the Ooni Karu 12 pizza oven to maintain the ultra-high temperatures – load it up with real wood or charcoal, with no excess ash to clean
- 12 INCH PIZZA IN 60 SECONDS – Fire up the Ooni Karu 12 with wood or charcoal straight out the box, or use with the Ooni Gas Burner attachment (sold separately) to cook with gas. The Karu 12 will be ready to cook in 15 minutes reaching a massive 950°F – Cooking authentic stone baked pizza in just 60 seconds! Giving you more time to sit back and relax in your backyard while enjoying great pizzas
- ULTRA PORTABLE – Weighing only 26.4lbs this outdoor pizza oven can be moved around easily but has all the power and heat of a larger wood fired pizza oven. Fold down the legs and remove the chimney and enjoy the freedom to cook amazing pizza on your next outdoor adventure.
Final Words
This is how I built an outdoor pizza oven in my backyard. Needless to say, we had a great time setting this up.Â
From cooking a pot full of curry to roasting a shoulder of lamb, your outdoor pizza oven will perfectly cook anything and everything you want. Therefore, a brick pizza oven is a perfect addition to your backyard. It will make your Sunday brunches and dinner parties all the more fun and exciting.Â
However, if you find these steps too much, you can always buy DIY kits available on the market. With that, I shall take your leave. I’ll be back soon with more such guides.Â
Until then, happy cooking!