Building a DIY outdoor pizza oven is a fantastic way to elevate your backyard gatherings and enjoy delicious, homemade pizzas with a wood-fired flavor. While a pizza oven may seem like a complex project, with the right materials and planning, it’s a fun and rewarding build that will last for years. Whether you’re aiming for a traditional wood-fired oven or a more modern design, these DIY pizza oven ideas will help you create the perfect outdoor cooking space.
Here’s a guide on how to build your own outdoor pizza oven.
1. Decide on the Type of Pizza Oven
There are several styles of pizza ovens you can build, depending on your available space, budget, and level of experience. Here are a few options:
- Brick Oven: A classic option, a brick pizza oven is durable, efficient, and provides that authentic wood-fired flavor. This style can be constructed with firebricks, clay, or cement and is ideal for those who want a permanent structure.
- Clay or Cob Oven: Made from a mixture of clay, sand, straw, and water, cob ovens are an eco-friendly and budget-conscious choice. These ovens have a rustic look and provide excellent heat retention for baking pizzas, bread, and more.
- Portable or Pre-fabricated Oven: If you prefer a less permanent solution, you can build a portable pizza oven using a metal drum or a pre-fabricated oven kit. This is a quicker, easier option that still delivers wood-fired pizzas.
2. Choose a Location
Your pizza oven should be built in a safe, outdoor area with good ventilation. Choose a flat, stable location in your backyard, patio, or garden where you’ll have enough space for the oven and seating for guests. Ensure the spot is far enough from flammable materials like wooden fences or overhanging branches.
3. Materials Needed
For a Brick Pizza Oven:
- Firebricks (for the oven floor and dome)
- Regular bricks (for the outer walls)
- Fireclay or refractory cement
- Sand and gravel (for the foundation)
- Concrete blocks (optional, for the base)
- Steel rebar (for reinforcement)
- Insulation (ceramic fiber blanket or vermiculite)
- Chimney pipe (for ventilation)
- Mortar and trowel
- Level
For a Clay or Cob Oven:
- Clay
- Sand
- Straw
- Firebricks (for the oven floor)
- Wooden form or dome (to shape the oven)
- Shovel and wheelbarrow (for mixing)
- Water
- Insulating materials (straw or vermiculite)
4. Build the Base
Brick Oven Base:
- Lay the foundation: Start by digging a shallow trench where the base will sit. Pour a concrete foundation to ensure the oven is level and stable. Use steel rebar for reinforcement.
- Build the base: Use concrete blocks or bricks to build a solid base for your pizza oven. This will elevate the oven to a comfortable height for cooking. Leave an opening for wood storage if desired.
- Create the hearth: On top of the base, lay a layer of sand or insulation material to help retain heat. Then, arrange firebricks in a flat, even pattern to create the cooking floor, ensuring the surface is level.
Clay or Cob Oven Base:
- Build the foundation: Similar to the brick oven, you’ll need a sturdy base. Lay concrete or stone to form the base of the oven. You can also use a circular stone or brick platform.
- Prepare the firebrick floor: Lay firebricks on top of a layer of sand to form the floor where pizzas will cook.
5. Construct the Oven Dome
Brick Oven Dome:
- Create a sand dome mold: To shape the dome, create a mold by piling damp sand on the oven floor in the desired shape and size of the dome.
- Lay the firebricks: Start laying firebricks around the sand mold, using mortar or refractory cement to secure them in place. Build up the layers gradually, angling the bricks inward to form the dome. Leave a small opening at the front for the oven door.
- Install the chimney: Position the chimney pipe at the top of the dome, just above the door opening, to allow proper ventilation and airflow.
- Insulate the oven: Once the dome is built, cover it with an insulating layer of vermiculite or ceramic fiber blanket to help retain heat.
Clay or Cob Oven Dome:
- Build the sand dome mold: As with the brick oven, use wet sand to create a dome-shaped mold on the oven floor.
- Mix the cob: In a wheelbarrow or tarp, mix clay, sand, water, and straw until you have a thick, malleable material. The straw adds strength and insulation to the mixture.
- Apply the cob: Begin covering the sand mold with the cob mixture, pressing it firmly into place. Continue layering the cob until the dome is about 4-6 inches thick.
- Let it dry: Allow the dome to dry for several days. Once dry, remove the sand mold from inside the dome.
6. Create the Oven Door
The oven door controls the flow of air and heat inside the oven. You can create a simple door from wood, metal, or clay, making sure it fits snugly in the oven’s entrance.
For a brick oven, you might also consider adding a metal or brick archway around the opening to give it a more polished look.
7. Fire Up the Oven
After construction is complete, it’s essential to “cure” your pizza oven by slowly building up the heat over several days to prevent cracks from forming due to sudden heat exposure.
- Day 1-2: Light small fires inside the oven and let them burn for a few hours. Keep the temperature low to help the dome dry slowly.
- Day 3-5: Gradually increase the size and intensity of the fires each day, allowing the oven to reach a higher temperature.
Once the curing process is complete, your oven is ready for use!
8. Cooking in Your Pizza Oven
- Preheat the oven: It can take 1-2 hours to fully preheat a wood-fired pizza oven. Aim for temperatures between 700°F and 900°F (370°C to 480°C) for authentic, crispy pizzas.
- Push the fire to the side: Once the oven is hot, use a pizza peel or rake to push the coals and fire to one side of the oven.
- Cook your pizza: Slide your pizza onto the hot firebrick floor and let it cook for 2-5 minutes, turning it occasionally for even cooking.
Final Thoughts:
Building a DIY outdoor pizza oven is an exciting and fulfilling project that will provide years of fun and delicious meals. Whether you opt for a classic brick oven, a rustic cob design, or a modern portable option, your new outdoor pizza oven will become the heart of backyard gatherings. With a little patience and creativity, you’ll be making wood-fired pizzas, bread, and more in no time, all from the comfort of your own yard.