How to Repair an Outdoor Pizza Oven | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House mason Mark McCullough shows a homeowner how to breathe new life into their outdoor brick and stone pizza oven.
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Mason Mark McCullough helps a homeowner fix his pizza oven. The pizza oven's constructor, another mason, built the structure from fieldstone, brick, and concrete, and Mark loves the design. However, the weather hasn't been kind to the oven, so Mark lends some expertise.
Difficulty: ⅖
Time: 8 hours
Cost: Under $200
How to Repair an Outdoor Pizza Oven
1. Survey the damage and attempt to find the cause. Many times, the issue is water penetrating around the chimney or flue, freezing, and cracking grout lines or pushing stones loose.
2. Wearing the dust mask, gloves, and eye protection, remove the old chimney (if necessary) by breaking it into small pieces, chipping away any that remain in the top of the oven.
3. Use a grinder with a diamond blade and dust collection attachment to grind the mortar from the damaged joints, going about ¾-inch deep with the blade. Start with the vertical joints and then move to the horizontal joints. If the joints are curved as is often the case with fieldstone ovens, use the sledgehammer and chisel to remove the mortar. Be sure to hook the grinder up to HEPA vac to control dust. Also, clean the joints with water and a masonry brush after grinding.
4. Pour the dry mortar mix into the mixing tub. Add water in small amounts at a time until the mix reaches an oatmeal-like consistency.
5. Use the small pointing trowels to pack mortar into the brick joints. Start with the vertical joints before moving to the horizontal joints. Be sure not to leave any air pockets or gaps. It may be necessary to use different size trowels at different points to ensure there aren’t any empty spaces.
6. For field stone, scoop mortar onto a hawk. Use Margin trowels of different sizes to pack the joints with mortar mix. Mimic the shape and size of the previous pointing to blend the repair in. Go over the wet mortar with a damp sponge to blend the repair in as much as possible and match the rugged look.
7. Finally, place a bed of mortar around the flue’s opening with a masonry trowel. Set the new flue in the bed of mortar and taper the mortar mix away from the flue to promote water shedding. Let the pizza oven cure for 28 days before cooking.
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Materials:
Type N mortar mix [amzn.to/3OSAXLS]
Water
Tools:
Mortar tub [amzn.to/3zubnak]
Grinder with a diamond blade [amzn.to/3oPRK7v]
HEPA vac with dust collection [amzn.to/3zQW7FD]
Dust mask [amzn.to/3oPSwSg]
Safety glasses [amzn.to/3JrAcIv]
Gloves [amzn.to/3QjAd3v]
Small sledgehammer [amzn.to/3boWPRj]
Masonry chisels [amzn.to/3JxdJda]
Masonry brush [amzn.to/3SlpR4V]
Variety of masonry trowels [amzn.to/3boXh1X]
Masonry hawk [amzn.to/3Sm6bxD]
Large sponge [amzn.to/3zs7vGT]
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From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment-your home.
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How to Repair an Outdoor Pizza Oven | Ask This Old House
/ thisoldhouse

[@flaviuskern225]

Benjamin looks like he just got home from robbing an armored truck in Charlestown and TOH was there and was like - hey can we fix your fireplace? Benjamin of course said - OK.

[@jaygee863]

Ok 😂

[@TheChupacabra]

OKAYE

[@acefighterpilot]

O K

[@Shadow_wo1f05]

Later Benjamin used it burn his clothes he used to rob the armor truck lol

[@rachelh2731]

Omg dude. I watched this on TV when it first aired months ago and this guy said OK dozens of times. I kept looking at hubs like, WTF?? I was dying laughing.

[@ld3773]

Who knew Bill Burr is so calm in real life.

[@michelpage4877]

And tall.

[@Nobody71090]

Im glad young Bill Burr got his pizza oven fixed

[@johncharles88888]

This is the first customer I have seen actually come dressed ready to work! Good on him!

[@dylan-nguyen]

that lighthouse was a cool feature though

[@fbimaxtowfor8300]

R.I.P Lighthouse

[@ullgeologist]

Yeah, I was saddened to see it be demolished and replaced with some bland flue. ☹️

[@beastbars]

You could either remake it or repair the cracks

[@fbimaxtowfor8300]

To see the lighthouse being destroyed in front of your eyes, just kinda hurts, and then seeing the new flue

[@garthbutton699]

Needs a rain cap!!maybe later?

[@saulgoodman2018]

His face when he said no pizza for 28 days.

[@texasnurse]

I love watching Mark work. Truly an artist with a trowel!!

[@robertbamford8266]

Always a pleasure to watch Mark analyze, work and teach. A little disappointed in the new flue - replacing the lighthouse. Could a lighthouse have been constructed around the flue?

[@Confoundedjoe]

It would be cool to get a metal one fabricated that could just sit over it and be removed for repairs.

[@Guardducks]

Yeah , he could have used brick and then stucco over it, but cost wise and labor this was cheaper and quicker . I'm sure mark have him sonne options if he wanted the lighthouse flu look again

[@robertbamford8266]

@@Guardducks My thoughts too. Customers. (And budgets)

[@age_of_reason]

Back in the day people had more time. No smartphones, no internet. Good ole days.

[@ericwright1840]

Yes 👍 I agree.

[@sharpshooter012345]

"Wait 28 day's" Him: and i took that personally

[@BIGTINY360]

All of us take a shot of tequila every time the homeowner say's ok!! LOL... Great job.

[@Peter_Schiavo]

My liver is only so strong.

[@BIGTINY360]

@@Peter_Schiavo Haha!! 🤣

[@rachelh2731]

Omg dude we would all be dead! He says OK dozens of times. I watched this on TV when it came out months ago and kept looking at my husband like, WTF?? I was dying laughing.

[@jdawgbrad]

Okay!

[@kenneththomas3558]

Mark is a great craftsman and teacher !

[@leilamonzavi]

"no pizza for 28 days" Him: m'kay..

[@doit9854]

My favorite theme of TOH, through the years, is that is also displays how a `quality` contractor `must` act.

[@johnnybussart4721]

Great job Benjamin and Mark !

[@punchogunter2362]

Beautiful Masonry work! TOH Rocks 🪨 🎸 😎

[@JoeRafferty0]

Okay

[@Btknows75]

OKAY

[@kevinhamblin951]

Mark’s the best !

[@boxbackknitties]

For some reason I found myself saying OK aloud during Mark's voice overs.

[@mortensonaaron]

Did anyone else see the homeowner die a little inside when they said no pizza for 28 days?

[@michaelscionti6164]

"Okay"

[@luckybestwash]

I'd use a masonry mortar bag to get into those stone joints

[@eat_things]

Mark is such a gentleman

[@soukuw9146]

Eninem's backyard oven looks amazing.

[@AStanton1966]

I think a nice stainless steel chimney cap should of been installed on top of that flue.

[@mr.crippy3749]

So now all the water from the rain will go down into the fireplace pizza oven and crack more of the mortar should have put a top on it

[@captainhiltz73]

Been waiting for this video. Have one of these in both my front and back yards…

[@tetkaduda8885]

Looks great! Just wondering why cap was not added on flue to keep water out?

[@LaMaiStyle]

I want a pizza oven so bad‼️I told my boyfriend if he gets me a pizza oven I’ll make him pizza 🍕 every week

[@troyqueen9503]

Putting in one in a few weeks, been watching a lot of pizza dough video, all the best.

[@wildbill23c]

Now you have a huge hole in the top for water issues with that terrible looking replacement flue. The original flue could have been salvaged and resealed to the top of the oven instead of that terrible replacement from the dollar store.

[@HenntuPhotography]

I figured he was going to repair the few cracks and seal around the base. Shame to see that custom flue destroyed.

[@xelanosat1]

Ok

[@danimkn579]

Great work, i know personally these details are so tiring to do.

[@t.texastimmy1022]

I love the way Mark attacks these repair projects, but please tell me that there is something more planed to complete that Chimney besides just balancing a flue liner up there.

[@garylauritzen8403]

Needs to put a cover on the flue

[@flat-earther]

Those paper dust masks don't protect that well because it's hard to get proper fit, I suggest use a half face respirator with particulate cartridges, they are way better. I have one from 3m brand which I like.

[@iceman81179]

Do a full wok. 😆 The accent the best

[@SDS-1]

And don't forget to invite him back for pizza

[@MarcusBrannon]

Joel McHale trying out his Bill Burr costume

[@SirCrest]

OK

[@MrPryor94]

ok

[@blazerr88]

I counted 43 ok's.

[@flat-earther]

Then you are the 44th!

[@2aminitials]

I wonder if 43 OK's beats Christy's total in the replace kitchen sink and faucet video.

[@I-Teee]

Benjamin just collected a weeks worth of protection dues from his Irish neighborhood businesses and realized he needed his oven fixed for…..um….pizza. We’ll go with pizza. Nothing sinister….

[@Dj2006]

i saw your van back in 2016

[@lordgarth1]

Very nice but definitely an outdoor over more than a pizza oven.

[@a_badali]

That's an outdoor fireplace.

[@BradThePitts]

That granite keystone on tawp of the awrch is wicked ahh-some! 👍

[@HAYDER930]

How many times did Benjamin say "okay"?!

[@ImSorryYouFoundThis]

Benjamin: "Ok"

[@karlhungusjr1]

makes sense.

[@DavidJohnson-dk3bf]

awesome

[@allentoyokawa9068]

I pooped myself and threw it down the chimney

[@mikesmith-lr8ec]

grout bag is so much.faster

[@kjac23]

why no cap on the flue?

[@MisterTwister55]

"to cap off the day..." 😂😂😂😂

[@age_of_reason]

@ 10:00 Alex Hannold shows up: 'Hey, don't fill that crack.'

[@Thevwmethod]

Concrete roof slab is probably pulling it over more so with snow and ice

[@tomreidy1237]

I would think a stainless steel cap should have been installed at the top of the chimney like we have on fireplace’s around where I live?

[@tomreidy1237]

@@brooksteer5629 maybe it was a budget thing, but I would think they would want to protect the chimney tile from freeze-thaw and cracking over time. Not to mention keep water out of the fire box area and doing the same. TOH has always been overkill on keeping moisture out of areas it shouldn't be in and it just seemed strange they stopped short of completing the project.

[@cup_and_cone]

Was never addressed whether it was built on a solid foundation. I suspect the real reason for those cracks is thermal expansion. In the cooler months if you have a fire in that pit those bricks could go from near freezing to well over 100 degrees then back to near freezing within 24 hours. That's a huge temp swing when you have such a blend of different materials - concrete, brick, stone, etc - all with their own expansion and contraction rates.

[@TOPOM42]

True a guy who works in the area, is on national tv and has years of experience probably gave a bad assessment

[@2loco]

That flue looks pretty nasty. If I was Benjamin I'd rip the thing down after toh left lol.

[@cattleNhay]

Me: Benjamin Benjamin: okay

[@sg100000000]

🆗

[@iuyozx]

Can you squeeze mortar out of a bag into the joints like decorating a a cake?

[@wildbill23c]

Yes, some masons actually use that method in some of their work.

[@zezoka]

HO KAY

[@nkwarts7966]

IMHO the mortor was way to thin. I live in the Netherlands where almost everything is build with bricks so I know how to build a wall and to repoint a wall. We use here a much thicker mix. It is a dry enough to make balls to trough 😅. With this wet mix you need a lot of extra work to clean.

[@marvndave]

Whatever happened to showing common house hold repairs. Who the hell else on the planet has an outdoor pizza oven??

[@willsalaz]

The guy in the episode apparently

[@mikeskiba4725]

What are you talking about? All of my friends, family, and clergy have outdoor pizza ovens. It’s the first thing I look for when moving to a new area. This one time, the new accountant at work invited a few of us over to watch the game… and guess what, no outdoor pizza oven. Needless to say he became a laughing stock and didn’t last much longer at the company.

[@ElectricGears]

This is a common household repair. The techniques shown are applicable to repairing small cracks in any brick structures.

[@mr.g937]

They gotta get Mark some screen time somehow

[@AStanton1966]

From this video you are given lessons on how to improvise, adapt, and overcome masonry problems.

[@eddievenuto1862]

Benjamin says okay more than anybody I know. He says okay so much I have to mute out the Audio I can't take that anymore

[@tested123]

like fred dibnah takin down a chimney

[@ericwright1840]

It needs a better looking chimney than that chimney flue.Its kind of ugly.I would put a sloped roof on it.With a brick 🧱 coming up the middle.With the chimney flue on the inside.He should have brought Tom and Norm to do that part.Other than that good 👍 job.

[@steve--o]

Rumor has It he threw a party that evening.

[@studinthemaking]

How long does that to take to warm up?

[@troyqueen9503]

A typical pizza oven that is wood burning takes about 1 1/2 hours of that style , hope this of help.👍🇨🇦

[@vodiak]

28 days

[@Stjonnypopo]

Okay.

[@moosecrossing]

“Okay”

[@cypeman8037]

Outdoor pizza oven!!!! it’s bigger than my grannies flat and probably cost more.

[@ro63rto]

Very nice but definitely NOT a pizza oven but a std outdoor oven.

[@licustoms]

Didn't Bosch used to be a sponsor of This Old House?

[@bobwhelk2117]

Good god! The carbon footprint on that huge behemoth of a wood fired oven just to cook a pizza!

[@bobwhelk2117]

@@brooksteer5629 yes and there’s 9,000,000,000 of them 365 days a year

[@ericwright1840]

Jealous!

[@mikev.1034]

🤙🤘👍

[@cdf719990]

You don’t have to say “oh ok” every five seconds

[@andrewwood8072]

The homeowner's name is Benjamin in case you didn't know

[@flat-earther]

5:25 Dust mask using chisel and hammer? I don't think that's necessary since you're not grinding.

[@aquaticnstuff7666]

lol who cares they can wear one whenever they want

[@flat-earther]

@@aquaticnstuff7666 Sure no problem I agree they can do whatever

[@tested123]

thats an outdoor fireplace not a pizza oven. its probably not that great to cook on if theres a hint of wind.

[@jayhitek]

I think his name might be Benjamin..

[@flat-earther]

5:17 _very important these days_ What do you mean these days? Is grinding dust only dangerous on specific days??!

[@dustinschmelzle7326]

ok ok ok

[@bullpolizei]

oHkAy..

[@tested123]

looks good but he could have been a little more creative with the chimney

[@Bills_Bicycle_Rides]

Ugly flew, C'mon help the guy make it look original like This Old House traditionally does.....

[@wildbill23c]

Must have been a lot of budget cuts at TOH LOL.

[@flat-earther]

Where did Ugly fly to?

[@TheGreatEscape77]

Water is going to get in there 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@tested123]

watch your comments.....they will delete what they dont like

[@halsti99]

Ok.

[@PeterPerez.]

I like the accent

[@yeeaahBUDDY]

Oh good, now I know how to repair an outdoor pizza oven. Because that's what all us homeowners have been wondering 😅

[@barrymccaulkiner7092]

You can tell that grinder is a makita. It's a shame they have to cover up the brand labels on the tools the pros use.

[@1wadup]

Looks like a Bosch.

[@matchstickdesignco]

It's Bosch, actually.

[@allentoyokawa9068]

Makita is better

[@moonlightfordf1005]

This guy thinks he invented mortar!

[@rayg3583]

This is such a bad set up video. It's not like the homeowner had a problem. It's more like that TOH created the problem. The HO is oblivious to everything being talked about by TOH.

[@BamBamBigelow.]

Is this a joke?

[@up2finn]

this is fake

[@brookekathryn1980]

First Let the comments from snowflake's begin!

[@brookekathryn1980]

@Daniel R YUP! Your comment appeared 2 seconds after I posted! You were so close!

[@johnlebzelter4208]

Oh wow! So cool! I bet your family will be SO proud of you! Go ahead…tell us all how excited you are to get your big trophy!!!

[@brookekathryn1980]

@Daniel R YUP!

[@brookekathryn1980]

@Daniel R Yep

[@2loco]

Ok

[@Matt_76]

Idk which one was worse "how to extend a patio" or this one. He's definitely my least favorite on this channel.

[@PJJ196]

Okay

[@spacecowboy2k]

Okay.

[@DavidJohnson-dk3bf]

Ok