AMAZING Outdoor Pizza Oven (part 8) Built for £70 - about $90

This eighth and final video in the pizza oven build series and goes through the construction of the brick plinth and the assembly and final touches of the pizza oven. This is a detailed step by step video series on how to build this amazing oven, from sourcing the materials right through to heat curing and first Pizza cook !!
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[@seanadams1635]

One of the best I’ve seen thank you so much

[@00martin7able]

Unreal. I'm starting mine today. Thanks again

[@wgrant12000]

Great series. Well done

[@dennis350]

I'm starting mine also. Watched a lot of videos, yours filled some important question I had...thank you Beautiful job well done...enjoy.

[@ranjitpatel496]

Amazing stuff & detail,will help with my build.

[@ZZZ333]

This is unbelievably good, well done!

[@DaMalat]

Thanks for the great comment, really appreciated.

[@braddoyle246]

Great job mate!

[@perseval40]

Wow super boulot bravo!

[@Snakey661]

Thanks for the reply, all sorted 100ltr bag arrived today! Onto the base one done! Thanks again

[@DaMalat]

No problem. Look forward to hearing about the progress of your build.

[@civilwar1234]

Thank you!!!

[@Zuludarkthirty]

Very rustic .. looks good

[@babayaga9875]

Absolutely fantastic build well done mate

[@DaMalat]

Cheers buddy, much appreciated

[@ranjitpatel496]

Brilliant

[@masterree5368]

Awesome buddy👍

[@tanwirkhan78611]

My friend , I'm sure it was said before, what a lovely detailed vlog... i found it really interesting. I am in the process of building one and will use some of ur tips. I plan to build mine with clay lining then cover with perlite.

[@Snakey661]

A long day in the sunshine so had to put up a tent! Got the dome and base done after a lot of hand mixing and 100litre bag of vermiculite- now empty! Left the 2 tent up to keep off the rain for the next few days! Thanks again and you videos have been a huge help!!

[@DaMalat]

Fantastic. Feedback like this makes the effort in putting the videos together well worth it. Keep me posted and let me know if you've managed to tweak/ improve any of the build process. Always keen to learn more !!

[@Snakey661]

Finally made it to the 8th video!😊 Making the pizza oven door and pizza peel! Thanks again for such a great series of tutorial videos! I will send you som photos once the finishing touches are complete!!

[@DaMalat]

Great news !! Definitely need to see the build photos. Would also love to see them on our facebook page (if you're on facebook that is?) facebook.com/groups/damalatspices/

[@Snakey661]

Hi, just wondering if you had seen my fb message? Cheers

[@DaMalat]

@@Snakey661 Sorry pal, can't find any messages on any platforms that I haven't replied to?

[@Snakey661]

Ok no probs, I have noticed a few hairline cracks in the outer dome. Just wondered if fire cement would be a good fix! I’ve seen that you need to work a repair paste into the cracks while at cooking temperature, do you have any advice? Cheers

[@DaMalat]

@@Snakey661 I'm presuming you followed the commissioning video to the letter (waited a full 7 days before starting your first small fire etc.). My advice would be to cover the outer render in the brick tiles using fire cement to fix them and grout. If you cover the cost of postage I'll send you the brick tile mould that I made plus any cement dye I have left over. You can return the mould when you've finished with it (no rush). That will sort the cracks out. Of 6 ovens I've completed, only mine has cracks and that's because I got impatient and didn't wait the full 7 days. Contact me on the company email if you need the brick tile mould: [e-mail]

[@stevelarkin3285]

Great set of vids well done

[@DaMalat]

Thanks Steve, much appreciated

[@dpow888]

Plenty of detail, a future project when I find the time. A follow up video firing up the oven and cooking would be appreciated 👍👍👍

[@DaMalat]

Thank you. There is a plan to do a full video series on cooking with a pizza oven. On the menu will be pizza, bread, BBQ ribs/ Tandoori Chicken/ Steak in red wine etc. all done using cast iron pots and quite a few more recipes.

[@dpow888]

Da Malat Brilliant, just what I wanted to hear!!! 👍👍👍

[@MrTarek1946]

Mr Da Malat ... I can't begin to thank you for that valued protect of yours .... I thank you very much for your efforts ,perseverance and patience.... You're a true genius no doubt!!!! I was glued to the entire series watching each of them with interest ... I admire the easy way you went about explained the construction of that excellent oven ..... The best l have ever seen ....

[@DaMalat]

Thank you so much for the excellent feedback, very much appreciated.

[@deadlytroopers]

Nice work 👍😉 and hi from Sweden 🇸🇪🇦🇱

[@aqzi17]

Just finished mine. Not using the decorative brick, just rendered and paint. I did add a layer of insulation (ceramic matt 2 inches thick) after I started the build, this meant adding the render went over the edge of the base as I didn't plan to add it when I started. Haven't fired it up yet, plan to leave it for 1 week before I paint it. Not sure if I should do the first fire before I paint it.

[@politicianbusters573]

top man dude great job can we see the end pizza

[@dallyuk]

that baking sheet trick tho, i was about to forge one from rebar, i like your way more. thanks sub'd

[@philbrownred6500]

Your very creative and talented and have way more patients than I do.

[@DaMalat]

Ha, thanks Phil

[@billfogg958]

Are you a doctor then?

[@philbrownred6500]

@@billfogg958 Sounds to me like you might need to change Doctors!

[@chadgaliano2779]

Thank you very much for being so detailed. Just made it through the series. I've had the Alan Scott book a few years and having bought a house this spring, I plan to start my build within a year. Much appreciated!!!

[@erdoganevkaya7745]

Exellent job,I've learned lots of things,thanks a lot.

[@DaMalat]

Thanks for the comment, much appreciated

[@maxferzoli]

Well done for a great series of videos and I have watched a fair few on this subject. I love all the detailed description of all the components making and all the hints on how to avoid mistakes, probably from your previous trials. How did you make the plinth? Would you recommend fire bricks for the floor, I know it adds to the expense but is it worth it in your opinion? What about insulation for the dome, is that useful or just a gimmick? Thanks for taking the trouble to do these videos.

[@chairlegchairleg]

So I reach the end, what can I say? Without doubt one of the best how to's on KZbin! I don't care how long it was, that's how long it took to explain every stage of the process properly and concisely. I will be incorporating your design into a summer project I have so I will be rewatching nearer the time, just want you to know how much these will help. Also when I do get to that point, I hope you won't mind but I'll have a few questions to ask you about little variations I'm already planning to make it more suitable for what I'm making. Once again thank you and I've subscribed, please keep making top content. Now to watch part 9, first use. It better not be rubbish after all that lol!

[@DaMalat]

Brilliant feedback, greatly appreciated. Don't hesitate to ask, I'm more than happy to help. Good luck with the build.

[@btexasjbc]

This was very well done, thank you sir for sharing. I learned a ton! 👊

[@johnmeaden5495]

Fantastic set of instruction videos. Really clear and concise. I'm already on it with most things on order. Some more difficult than others to get hold of during the lockdown, but what a great project to do whilst stuck at home. Thanks for putting this together :-)

[@DaMalat]

Thanks John, much appreciated. Don't hesitate to shout if you need any advice. Always glad to help if I can.

[@johnmeaden5495]

@@DaMalat Just a quick question about the casting of the pizza oven floor in Vermiculite. I used a mixture of vermiculite and refractory cement and 6 days after casting it is still soft and damp? I have taken the pins out and emoved the plastic sides on day 5 to help it to dry out more but i can feel it giving if I put pressure on it. It is very green still? It is drying out of the sun in a shed with airflow. Is this normal or have I done something wrong?

[@DaMalat]

@@johnmeaden5495 If the concrete mix is the same as the dome and the dome is drying out as expected, then it's just a case of a lack of airflow due to the base sitting on plastic. Don't attempt to move it, just give it more time. Of the 9 ovens I've built, 2 of the floors took nearly two weeks to dry but the others we de-moulded after a week

[@juanalanis3797]

Great videos! Thank you so much for investing time and effort to share your knowledge and skills, I will be building a wood fire oven following your instructions, I really liked your method and how functional it is, Thank You Again!

[@checkmate5857]

Fantastic “series” absolutely loving it, thanks for your e-mail

[@DaMalat]

Great comment and you're very welcome. Any help or advice at all, you know where I am

[@checkmate5857]

Da Malat , thanks K, I will be in touch, blessings for the weekend

[@naths1229]

Very detailed series. I have a doubt about the "chimney location ". where should it be located, after the door or before the door. I mean from centre of the dome. When you close the door, the chimney will be still open. Please suggest.

[@almath9987]

Thanks did enjoy the series you gave a lot of detail and made a good looking oven for a good price. I would be concerned about the dome mix with portland cement, this is only good for temperature upto 250 / 300 deg C max after that it starts to deteriorate and flake away. Refractory mix is they way to go but expensive, however you can make a cheap homebrew mix using a 3:1:1:1 ratio of sand, cement, lime and fireclay. The theory is that as the portland cement gets destroyed by the heat then the lime is acting as the bonding agent. Sure you will get a good few years out of the oven depending on frequency of use. Would be interested to see how long this last as i have only read about this when reserching my oven build but never seen the long term effects. A follow up video in the future on your first build would be great.

[@DaMalat]

Thanks for the information, much appreciated. I've had 22 fires in my oven up to this point with no signs of deteriation at all. As you day though, only time will tell. I've measured the internal temp of my oven at 490 degrees F over the last few burns using Oak and everything cooked extremely well. I'll make some videos showing different recipe ideas for the oven.

[@almath9987]

@@DaMalat thanks for the reply looking forward to seeing your videos on oven cooking👍 hope your oven lasts a long time.

[@garybutcher7956]

Thanks so much for taking the time to produce these videos. There are many pizza oven build videos on KZbin but none of them match the detail and clarity of the ones you have made. Like many others that have commented I too have been wanting to take on this kind of project for some time and with your guidance I think it's time to get started. I live in Spain, so a poolside pizza oven is the aim. Cheers Gary.

[@paulagli8751]

I watched your entire 8-part series on The Pizza Oven Build. Than you so much for taking out the time to make such an impressive instructional video. I watched many videos on this subject and 'm convinced your is the best. I am going to use your videos to instruct me to build my own, Thanks again

[@alexmorris8619]

Hi I am about to start the brick plinth. What are the dimensions for the semi circle that you use for the brick arch and any other tips would be great. This final bit is lacking the usual amazing detail explanation. Thanks.

[@christopherdixon8644]

What a fantastic set of videos, can I ask do you need to a water to the render mix. Thanks in advance.

[@greggcarter8442]

Do you think I could use a piece of slate from a pool table to go beneath the oven base instead of concrete slabs, was hoping to have it oversized at the sides for putting items on ?

[@DaMalat]

No mate. I've seen a slate bed crack just from some idiot having too much ale and trying to dance on a 12ft table. Total weight of the oven with brick chimney is around 135kg

[@joecrouch7050]

Love this project, I’ll be starting mine soon. Great Vlog series. Quick question, roughly how many bricks did you use to make the brick plinth?

[@DaMalat]

Thanks for the comment. About 150 bricks for the plinth. If you're looking to start this project, it's a great idea to join my Facebook group. Lots of members on there who have either built the oven or in the process of doing so. Some great tips and advice on the build process: facebook.com/groups/damalatspices

[@marconeill9510]

Hi mate, brilliant videos. I’m going to tackle this, do you have a list of all the materials needed at all? Cheers

[@vernonhd1984]

That was in part 1 of season 1 of this series. It was so long ago that you forgot about it. I think in Season 4 part 8 of "AMAZING Outdoor Pizza Oven" he recaps the materials again

[@horserider9578]

Hi can you tell me why you renderd with sand and cement then used expensive fire cement to bed brick slips why not fix bricks with sand and cement cheers.

[@DarrenWiles]

Hi, for the concrete block on top of the plyth, what was the mix ratio for that, and roughly how many bags were used? Thanks

[@harrybunbury7788]

Hi Mr Da Malat, I am planning on using ready mix cement for the base for the plinth to rest on. How many 20kg bags of cement will I need?

[@kenryandub]

Thank you for posting your excellent video's. I have a question re the base, which I think is the cement / perlite base. (ie Pizza is cooked on cement / perlite base, not on fire bricks) Does any of the base chip away with use

[@doncrone8167]

Hello, I have my dome on and my and my arch built. I’m starting on the chimney but I don’t understand the cuts on the first level. Do these two cut bricks fit together? Can you show a picture of how they are installed? Many thanks. Don

[@DaMalat]

Hi Don. Drop me a line at: [e-mail] and I'll forward you an image of the first layer of blocks.

[@KURSED74]

Hi - please could you advise... I plan to place a fire blanket and then render with vermiculite mix - can I just masonry paint the vermiculite render when finished?!? PS these vids are the dogs!! 😊

[@davidross8709]

Thanks very much for posting a very informative description of the entire process of building a pizza oven. My wife has basically been harassing me for ages to build one! Now with no other work on the horizon I think it is time to put this pizza oven into plan. Will follow your instructions throughout the build. Best regards from a keen d.i.y.er

[@DaMalat]

Thank you for the comment, much appreciated. Don't hesitate to ask if you need any advice, I'm more than happy to help if I can.

[@applewoody]

What was the fire cement used to fix the dome to the base ? I’ve bought flomasta but it needs heat to fully cure, so I’m concerned it won’t cure fully at the front of the entrance

[@colemandennis9103]

Superb video series and a gorgeous brick oven! I wish to take on this project. I've been writing everything down in the most organized way I know how but I'm curious if you have a guide sheet you could provide? One that details out the materials and amounts and then the method, much like a recipe. Thanks for the education!

[@DaMalat]

Thanks for the great comment. No info sheet I'm afraid but as there's not much to do at the moment I'll try and get one completed once I've finished building a workshop for our twins (both apprentice service techs with Jaguar Land Rover). They have a Mazda RX8 as a project and need somewhere to strip the engine down. I Have a channel called "Man Cave Projects" and I'm featuring the workshop build on there.

[@connorryanaldersoncoupe7584]

Hi do you have the measurement you used for the semi circle wooden cut out for the arch on the plinth please?

[@jakbroadway8572]

Does the entrance get hot? I am thinking of using normal bricks as the surround but am unsure if it gets too hot for standard bricks and that’s why you used pavers rather than bricks

[@yoyomartines18]

Great informative videos! Just one question. How hot does it get?

[@SD-rq2ob]

Hi, the block paving on the slabs at the front of the oven did you lay them upside down to get a flat Finnish ?

[@DaMalat]

Didn't even consider it (probably should have though). The pointing between the pavers creates a smooth finish but I know where you're coming from, good call !!

[@johnheeley2680]

Was there a reason, apart from cost, why you didn't make the oven floor out of firebricks. Would it be OK to do this using the same fire cement method?

[@GraffitiWontDie1]

Wow amazing video, I have ordered all my parts and will start building next week! Where did you get your paving slabs from? I'm from the UK. Many thanks For you time making these videos!

[@DaMalat]

Thanks for the comment Dillon, much appreciated. I got the paving slabs from Selco but any builders merchant will have them. They are referred to as Council slabs or 3' x 2' flags. Good luck pal and if you need any advice at all, just email me at our website - www.damalat.com

[@graycbr600]

how much ceramic blanket & fire bricks would be needed if I upgraded this fantastic build ??

[@martiganuk147]

Nice series. May I ask why you didn’t insulate it, like most designs seem to do?

[@karlh2778]

Hi you used a xl gym ball would your dimensions be the same for the 85cm ball thanks in advance 👍🏻

[@GustavBasch]

I'm progressing well with my oven, following your build videos, thanks. You mention painting the dome with masonry paint prior to adhering the brick skins, what was the purpose of this if it's not going to be visible?

[@DaMalat]

Great to hear that the build is going well. You have two options for the finish- one is to simply paint the render with masonary paint once applied and dried. The other is to apply the brick tiles, you don't do both. Hope that clears things up. Let me know how you get on.

[@simonbrady9371]

This is unreal!! I've been wanting to do something like this in my garden for ages and these videos show exactly what steps you need to do it! Superb how to guide and the prep videos and the little ideas that went into the planning to support the de construction are things you would never normally think of!! Well done mate and thank you. Just out of interest how much would you normally charge someone for building this fro them?

[@DaMalat]

Thanks for the comments Simon, much appreciated. I've built 9 of these now and not charged a penny (friends and family). They've just paid for the materials. I've seen just the ovens themselves going for £700 without the plinth. I can honestly say that making the oven is easily within the grasp of almost anyone. The brick plinth is a little more difficult but the one in the video is only the second brick DIY project I've ever undertaken. If you're not sure about doing the brickwork, use 4" x 4" timber to build a frame and top with short lengths of railway sleepers. Varnished up, I think that would look impressive.

[@badmandansanchez1823]

Well dang I suppose I'm out of reasons not to build one. Thanks alot😂 I doubt I can touch the $90 mark, but how long from start to first pizza and how many hours do you estimate you put into this amazing project?

[@doncrone8167]

Thank you for the detail. I’m most of the way on building the base and started putting the vermiculite and Portland on the ball this morning. I wondered why you made the legs so short on your platform. I bumped mine up to 38 inches so I would not have to bend over so far. I was loading on the vermiculite and Portland when the ball slipped through the hole in the platform. Now I know why you had the short legs. I have cut the legs off for my next try. Great series, thank you again.

[@DaMalat]

Thanks for the comment Don. The ball will compact down a little bit more with the weight as well. Good luck with the build and keep me posted.

[@lagaced]

Same happened to me!

[@marconeill9510]

If you wanted to extend the chimney up by around 4ft, could the entrance take the weight of the extra bricks? 🤔

[@clewjakgaming9143]

hi been looking at the fine grade vermiculite all i can find is the gardening type the same brand you used i can only see in large kind regards Darren

[@DaMalat]

Horticultural suppliers are the best place to purchase from. Vermiculite is the same whether it's being sold by fireplace suppliers or gardening suppliers.

[@clewjakgaming9143]

@@DaMalat cheers for that i started my build today but with the lock down could only get medium grade will start to apply to the ball and frame work tomorrow again cheers great video

[@krehbein]

1:59 I know it’s the base, but does a pizza oven have to have a dome? Could you have made the walls with brick, and cast a concrete top and bottom? So basically a box?

[@turksandwich7538]

Yes, there are many square ovens.

[@ivowester1576]

Hi! Quick question; Could I also build my base by using (fireproof) cement?

[@Snakey661]

Hi Da Malat, Firstly I just wanted to say that the pizza oven video series you have put together is fantastic. Easy to understand and very informative. I am however trying to source the Fine Vermiculite you have used to create the concrete. I Live near Cardiff , South Wales but Travis Perkins only seem to sell loosefill + mix but I need to know if this is suitable for the build? If not please could you help me locate a local supplier if possible? Thanks, again great videos and I can’t wait to get on with making the Dome now.

[@DaMalat]

Thanks for the comment, much appreciated. You have a couple of options for the vermiculite. You can buy from ebay (supplier is in Cumbria but offers free delivery) - www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HORTICULTURAL-VERMICULITE-1-3mm-2-6mm-GRADE-AVAILABLE/141615358781?hash=item20f8eee33d:m:mifdwnJBYHa6Rb_YElroccw Or contact Dupre and they will tell you the nearest supplier to you: www.dupreminerals.com/contact/ Anything else, do not hesitate to get in touch, more than happy to help.

[@matross9794]

This guy could make a hydro powered space shuttle to colonise mars out of a few pieces of block paving and an old fence panel.

[@XFBO]

Nice fig tree! ;)

[@jokeofalltrades3720]

How is the refractory dome holding up over time? I keep hearing that they can’t handle the expansion and contraction after daily heating and cooling from the fire brick oven crowd.

[@DaMalat]

Please see my latest video : kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWLFkmB5bL-EkLM

[@paulhilton74]

Can you use fire bricks for the oven floor to cook the pizza on instead if the vermiculite/cement mix

[@DaMalat]

Fire bricks are even better. Not used here due to the tight budget of this project.

[@shelts15]

An absolutely brilliant set of videos, so well put together and so informative. I hope that I can get the materials delivered over the next couple of months and use this isolation period productively! Can I ask how much building experience you had prior to this? I am not a complete novice, but no expert - a proficient DIYer I would say! Thanks again for the great videos.

[@DaMalat]

Thanks for the comment Craig, really appreciate it. This is only the second bricklaying project I've undertaken. Had to keep stopping the "how to lay bricks" videos on KZbin so I could understand what was being taught. I'm a plumber by trade but haven't actively worked in the building trade for quite a few years. I left plumbing to join the fire service but still get involved in the odd plumbing job every now and then. Apart from plumbing, I can do most things (bricklaying, joinery, plastering, tiling) to an OK standard, it just takes me longer than a tradesperson would take. The plinth work was easier than I imagined and I think any competent DIYer could easily do this project. Let me know if you need any advice, I'm always happy to help.

[@OntarioLakeside]

It looks like you cook directly on the cast base (no firebricks) how has this worked for you?

[@DaMalat]

Works just fine. The more cooks we do, the harder and more polished the vermiculite base becomes. This build should be seen as what can be achieved on a very tight budget. If you can afford to spend a little extra, then lots of enhancements can be made. I've set over 40 fires in the oven now and we just love it.

[@passenger3]

Quick question? When you cemented the base down and cemented the lid down..what kind of cement? Was it just a standard mix of sand and cement or was it the vermiculite mix ? Anyone will do ??

[@Snakey661]

Build going very well, de-moulded everything today and the base and dome look great! I did have a question though, is it possible to tile the dome with cut down block paving tiles?? Thank you once again for such amazing videos

[@DaMalat]

Glad to hear that everything is going well and thanks for the update. It's possible to tile the dome with most materials including mosaic tiles and cut block paving.

[@DaMalat]

Just to add to this - I did sketch out a design for the dome with cut mosaic tiles which were in the form of flames rising from the bottom of the dome using red, orange and yellow tiles with a blue mosaic tile filling in over the top. Loved the look but as it would take me over the budget, I didn't go for it in the end but might do it for the next one.

[@Snakey661]

@@DaMalat sounds great, but as you said trying to keep to budget is the one factor driving this. i was lucky enough to procure 100 block paving stones for free so thought I would utilise these. once its all complete i will somehow send you some photos! Thanks again

[@DaMalat]

@@Snakey661 Look forward to it. Send to: [e-mail]

[@Snakey661]

Will do! Cheers

[@ashyjsmith]

Hi, great series of videos thanks. I am just starting to source the materials ready for a build. I am looking to construct a bench/table for the oven to sit on out of timber sleepers would you recommend anything addition to the method you’ve used here for the base? Also would you be able to let me know the overall length of the oven when complete. thanks again.

[@DaMalat]

Thanks for the comment. Fire brick tiles for the oven floor if you have a larger budget than the one set for this project. Also a ceramic blanket layer between the oven dome and sand and cement render. The overall length of the oven from the face of the brick entrance arch to the back of the oven is approximately 110cm. The width of the oven is approximately 90cm. Good luck with the build

[@ozcarz-d5130]

Can we just use normal bricks instead of the block pavings?? Im having trouble finding cheap block pavings that match my budget, but I have a lot of old bricks laying around.

[@robloxmeh7404]

Did you get a reply for this?

[@DaMalat]

Hi, yes of course. Use whatever you have. I only used block paving as it was half the price of new bricks (would have used bricks if I had some spare)

[@graycbr600]

could I have a link for the Condensation Cure Silicone you used looked everywhere cant seem to get 2kg less than around £35+ postage not the £20ish you said in the first video .. great work now been looking at your spices for this oven ....

[@stevenmeads]

I used tin cure rubber silicone. Smooth-on Mold Max 30. Worked well for my mold, but cost me about $100 US for the amount I needed for my 9 slots. I forgot to spray with release agent and the bricks still popped right out.

[@johnmoylan8951]

Firstly thanks so much for helping my son Colum and I get through this Lockdown with this fantastic project. We finished, commissioned and had our first pizza last Sunday which was amazing. We found some brick slips this week so decided to continue with this which is now complete. How long would you advise to leave dry before we cook again?? Again many thanks ..btw Colum wants to send you some finished pictures.

[@tomh4742]

Hello. Thank you for your very detailed series. I’m hoping to do something similar. I’ve seen many other versions - several recommend a sub-base made from empty glass bottles embedded in soil/sand. Also I’ve seen people using ceramic fibre matting over the dome before rendering. What made to end up with your design - do you think it could be improved on with these other features, or do you think they are unnecessary steps? Also, what is the purpose of the door and when do you close it? Thanks!

[@DaMalat]

Thanks for the reply. I had a strict budget to keep to on this build to see if it was possible to make a good performing pizza oven for very little money. I could not have been more pleased with the outcome. If money is not a factor then there are lots of improvements you can make. Using refractory cement and dry fire clay in the concrete mix will improve the performance. Adding a blanket layer in between the oven dome and render will also greatly improve the efficiency of the oven (you will have to make your own concrete base for the oven to sit on though as the oven floor will need to made wider and a standard flagstone will not be large enough to create the top of the brick plinth. Setting the oven floor on a vermiculite concrete bed instead of a sand and cement mortar bed will also help. Adding a layer of fire brick tiles on the floor of the oven will also help. There are lots of things you can do but personally, if I wasn't restricted on the budget, I'd go for a proper brick oven design. As far as the door is concerned, you use it to restrict the flow of oxygen to the fire for certain cooking techniques. To do this, you angle the door in relation to the opening so there is a gap at one side of the door. The larger the gap, the more oxygen that can flow to the fire and the hotter the fire will be. Closing the gap will restrict the oxygen and thus restrict the ability for the fuel to burn. The trick is to regulate the fire without stalling the fire which will result in the fire going out (comes with practice). I used this technique to cook a pork shoulder "low and slow" over the weekend to produce pulled pork. I'll make a video demonstrating this technique in a couple of weeks.

[@dragilxcom4176]

Shouldn't that bricks and fire cement be inside to dome for the thermal mass?

[@musakhan4205]

Any other methods to make a door

[@davidlaing3156]

I want to know what size bags you use please. I followed your measurements exactly and got no where near. I would estimate three times the amount of bags to make the base for the plinth. There is no way this can be done totally for less than £70?

[@user-uy4vq2gq2k]

hellow from Greece. could you please give me some more information how you create the cement base for the dome (min 3 of this video) or where if you have allready explaine. thank you. sorry for my english

[@DaMalat]

The base is made using cement paving slabs. The type used to create public pathways.

[@stannerscc]

Did you use any rebar in the base foundation? Cheers

[@DaMalat]

No but that's not to say it isn't a good idea to. With a layer of compacted MOT and then a good layer of concrete, I didn't think rebar was necessary.

[@stevenmeads]

I'm done with my base, but having a hard time finding the flagstone or concrete stone to top it with? Anybody have an idea where I could find two 48 x 12 slabs for the top? as a follow-up, I supposed I could cast my own with rebar, but that this point I'm hoping to not do much more concrete work and find a prefab top? Ideas? And thanks for putting this together, it's been fun, but I now know that I'll never be a mason :)

[@metaz11]

I loved watching your videos. I'm hoping to make mine soon. One question. How heavy did your oven end up being before putting the brick work on?

[@DaMalat]

Thanks for the comment, much appreciated. Once fully dry, the dome weighs about 50kg and the floor about 30 - 35kg. The floor is easily lifted by one person and the dome by two.

[@metaz11]

@@DaMalat I'm thinking about making a mobile stand. I've seen where others have done so, but I like the detail you went into on your video. I think I will go for a smooth white stucco dome with brick accent. How does the floor of the oven hold up? I was looking at fire bricks, but I would prefer going the lighter option if possible. If I built a wooden stand, would the floor provide enough heat insulation to protect the wood, or would I need a stone/tile layer on the table top?

[@DaMalat]

@@metaz11 I've seen some great stand ideas. One that really caught my eye was a stand made from wire mesh filled with decorative stone and topped with short railway sleepers

[@olliepoll]

Hey thanks for the video. I’m currently at this stage of the build ! I was wondering How you let the fire cement that’s attaching the base to the dome dry? Did you light a fire inside at this stage ? Or just let it naturally dry. Also did you use refractory cement / sand for the final render or Portland cement ? Cheers

[@alextree05]

Do you need the concrete base or can I build everything onto of my slabs? They're 60mm x 60mm and about 2 inches thick. Laid on a bed of sand/concrete powder

[@DaMalat]

The pizza oven itself isn't that heavy. I would always build on a concrete base myself but a substantial flagstone base should be adequate.

[@alextree05]

@@DaMalat thanks! Sorry, I have another question. Thinking about another layer of insulation before the render. In your opinion, is it worth it or does the oven stay hot enough as it is?

[@DaMalat]

@@alextree05 oven gets up to temp really well but a layer of insulation would greatly assist the ovens ability to retain a cooking temp for longer. This project has been done to a budget but if that's not an issue then improvements can definitely be made.

[@alliehunter9896]

Was hoping to see it fired up with a made pizza. After all these videos I expected it.

[@DaMalat]

Should have completed the commissioning video last week but we've had storms here for a few days so the video showing the pizza oven in action will be completed today (weather permitting of course)

[@DaMalat]

Video showing the oven being used has been posted today.

[@alliehunter9896]

@@DaMalat oh thanks!

[@johnd8743]

How did you make that flat thing on top of the bricks? It just appeared at 2:37

[@alexwoods7426]

ik the series so far has been amazing but he definitely lost me at that and the brick cutting, like i dont know how to cut or lay bricks and he expects us to be able to do it on our own, a bit frustrating as ive just watched about 3 hours of his videos

[@danny21111978]

Where did you buy your ‘fine’ vermiculite from all I can find is corse. Would it make much difference if I used course. I did find fine but it was from a horticulturalist so that put me off is it the same stuff? Help???? Love you’re videos and would like to try my own but want to get it right.

[@DaMalat]

Horticultural is just fine vermiculite. Exactly the same product as the one used in the building trade

[@zulu2028]

What size pavers did you use for the top? Really good series. I’ll be starting mine when I’m home

[@DaMalat]

Thanks for the comment, much appreciated. The largest size of readiily available flagstones I could find were 900mm x 600mm. If you make the dome bigger than in the video (thicker wall thickness, inclusion of a ceramic blanket layer etc.) then railway sleepers might be a good way forward

[@zulu2028]

Da Malat Ok thanks mate. Think I’ll be going for a wooden base topped with bricks. And then maybe have the oven on top loose so I can move in and out of garage during winter. What do you think?

[@DaMalat]

@@zulu2028 Yes, sounds good. I know one of the subs to the channel has put his oven on top of an old butchers block trolley he picked up off Gumtree.

[@rbstride]

What are the dimensions of your block pavers? I’ve a feeling ours in Canada may be a bit thicker.

[@DaMalat]

@@rbstride The ones in the video are 50mm thick. These are normally what a DIY store would stock. A trade builders centre would have them in 60mm thickness for commercial applications.

[@paulwalker4803]

Excellent advice/demonstration. I am reaching the final stages. What is the reason for the sand/cement render on top of the dome prior to applying the brick slips? I have some k render left over so I was thinking of using that instead of brick slips, but not so sure about applying direct to dome.

[@DaMalat]

Hi Paul. Render is just an extra insulation layer and weatherproofing (Vermiculite is very porous). If you have vermiculite left over (if you've bought more than one 100Lt bag) then this top layer can be vermiculite concrete again but only if you're finishing with the brick tiles. The sand/ cement render is designed as a weatherproofing layer if no brick tiles are being applied (just paint) and to keep the build in budget.

[@ing.michalbaska]

Great work!!! Perfect instructions. I want to build pizza owen for my family. I have Q: Why you dont use Schamott (fireclay) ? ( i dont know excact ENG name, from schamott are made all brick used in big owens f.e. glass owen In my country (slovakia) is much more easy get Schamott then vermiculite Thanks for answer

[@DaMalat]

Thank you. I built this oven to a very tight budget using materials that are readily available in my area. Fireclay is a superior product but would have taken me over my financial budget for this build

[@ing.michalbaska]

@@DaMalat I search on internet in my country and schamott (fireclay) and cost 25kg bag from 8,86€-17€. I don't know how much i need for one oven size like your. How much Vermiculite has used for your oven?

[@DaMalat]

@@ing.michalbaska You will need 2 bags of fireclay and 1 x 100 litre bag of vermiculite

[@willwoodford5612]

Hi I am planning on building a pizza oven as I dont have much to do during lockdown and would like something to keep me busy, I was wondering is the base/stand part of the budget and where would you reccomend getting the materials for it from?. Thanks, Will:)

[@DaMalat]

Hi Will. The budget is for the pizza dome and base only with a paint finish (brick tiles are an additional cost). The brick plinth cost me £16 approx to build. I got the bricks for free. I would have got the 2 flagstones free (to build the top of the plinth) if I'd looked harder on Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace. There are lots of people giving away used bricks, flagstones etc. so you shouldn't buy any. If you haven't got the materials already at home, you won't be able to get them during the lockdown (unless you can get the vermiculite delivered?)

[@willwoodford5612]

@@DaMalat Thanks allot for the reply, I managed to get the vermiculite delivered off ebay and hope to start the build today! As for the bricks I did manage to get my hands on some for free

[@DaMalat]

@@willwoodford5612 Join our facebook goup Will, if you haven't already. Lots of members building their ovens and sharing ideas and tips at the moment in the group: facebook.com/groups/damalatspices/

[@gmanhi5]

If I use refractory cement should I mix vermiculite into it or leave it out?

[@DaMalat]

Mix vermiculite into it Gary. That will give you thermal insulation and help to retain cooking temperatures for longer.

[@gmanhi5]

Da Malat thanks I will do that.

[@nathanrogers8444]

Thanks very much for the instructional videos, really looking forward to my build! Can you recommend a ceramic blanket to go in between the dome and render layer? Also I hope to use fire brick on top of the vermiculite concrete base and then cement the dome on top of the fire brick. Should I cement the fire brick in place or allow kiln dried sand to fall inbetween and secure? Thanks a mill!