THE BUILD
Step 1: Create a Foundation Slab
Clear and level the soil. Build a frame for the concrete foundation, complete with rebar for support. Mix the concrete and pour it into the form, ensuring the proper slope for water runoff.
Step 2: Build the Capstone
Separately, frame in and support the proper size of capstone (countertop) for your structure. Mix and pour your concrete into the frame. For similar results, Niemela advises, “A concrete block base with a 50 mm cement screed and a castable refractory facing that weighs 120 to 150 kg works great. A lot of forums suggest you need an entire firebrick structure to get good results, but that’s not true. You can get excellent results without one, especially if you install 50 mm ceramic wool boards under the floor and 75 mm of vermiculite- cement mix around the dome. The up-front savings can be substantial (up to $450 in materials over full firebrick builds), and the thermal lag is the same for 5 to 6 hours of cooking. If you overbuy high-density refractory, your oven will take 3 to 4 hours to heat up instead of the 90 minutes it would take with the balanced materials above.”
Step 3: Allow Cement to Dry
Thoroughly cure both the slab and the capstone for at least 24 hours. For planning purposes, consider creating your foundation and capstone as a weekend project. Then continue the build on the next weekend.
11
March 2026
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