Starting 42" NW Pensylvania

[hodgey1]

Re: Starting 42" NW Pensylvania

Russell, Gulf and all 5,400+ viewers

Thanks for your continued interest in my build, this form has been invaluable to me. I would be WFO-less without it. Sorry it's been a slow go but hopefully I'll get it finished by the end of July.

One thing that has made me drag my feet on putting stone on the enclosure is how to properly cap my entrance to my oven. I see most people pour a counter to match the height of the entrance. Because I cantilevered my base over my retaining wall it would have made my counter 10" thick and I didn't like the look of such mass.

Can I build a form and pour just a decorative cap to entrance? One that has a cool look? Colored? Curved? Exposed aggregate? Cool edge? IDK? I've got no experience at all but any suggestion/techniques would be appreciated. I'm going to attach a picture of the area of concern, I had a friend bend me a stainless cap but I hate the look....... Then I thought maybe copper would help but not sure?

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: Starting 42" NW Pensylvania

Hod,

IMHO, the SS cap looks fine to me, your friend did a nice job fitting and bending. It covers the CaSi and nice entry transition but that's up to you. I do think you will not achieve a good bond between the granite and a poured deck and might be a issue for problems later but I will defer to others on this, maybe StoneCutter or Tscar or Gulf. Not sure you really need something even with your oven floor with all that granite adjacent to your oven.

[stonecutter]

Re: Starting 42" NW Pensylvania

I'm with Russ on this, I think less is more. The height transition looks right where it is now...if you pour on top of the granite you will have to deal with finishing the edge. I don't think a counter top looks good with a layered effect, especially with two different materials. And, you won't achieve a bond...not that you want to anyway.

[hubert_s]

Re: Starting 42" NW Pensylvania

Another vote for keeping the stainless. It looks great to me.

[jeeppiper]

Re: Starting 42" NW Pensylvania

I have to agree...Keep it as is; looks great!

I was originally thinking you might put a half-circle "landing" (the thickness of your step) in front of your entranceway. However, I think you would just lose valuable work-space.

and I think pouring concrete on top of granite is a bad idea...

[hodgey1]

Re: Starting 42" NW Pensylvania

Thanks for all the input so far, I should have added to my earlier post that the granite has not been permanently fix to the concrete slab and is easily removed. If pouring a concrete cap would look good and be feasible for me to do, I could cut the counter top to go around what ever configuration of a cap I would build. The idea of a stone landing I like also but what I've priced around where I live has been very expensive because of the thickness 4". They are quoting me $300 USD for limestone cap with a chiseled edge, I said to myself it was not terrible but my wife said Huh! Are other materials other than limestone that can be cut 4" thick?

Also, the concern of taking up work space has been eliminated with the addition of the penninsula I added last week.
Thanks again all.

[hodgey1]

Re: Starting 42" NW Pensylvania

Here is what I came up with to make the stainless entrance cap more eye appealing . Both my wife and I are happy how it turned out especially when it was on hand and only took an hour or so to complete.

I just started last night putting up lath for veneer stone application that I hope to get started on this weekend.

[hodgey1]

Re: Starting 42" NW Pensylvania

I've finished the scratch coat of mortar and will begin to set veneer stone this week. It was a little time consuming due to only mixing in a 5 gallon pail so it seemed like I spent more time mixing mortar than amplifying it.

I also finished up wiring the soffit lights seen in the picture below. I was very happy how it looked all lit up, my wife's comment was that I should have waited to turn them on until I was 100% complete and I told her that may have been too long a wait!. A forum member "Boylanta" gave me the lighting idea which I loved on his WFO, thanks Todd!

This coming weekend we have out of town company coming in so it maybe a slow progress weekend.

[NCMan]

Re: Starting 42" NW Pensylvania

Chris......looking good!! I really like the lights and plan to use some on my WFO when done. I'm going to look into some solar powered ones to see if they are a viable option. Have a good time w/your company this weekend.

[hodgey1]

Re: Starting 42" NW Pensylvania

Thanks NC man, I appreciate the props. The lighting really sets the oven off at night time and gives it a whole new look, I highly recommend installing permanent lighting if it is a option for you.

For my guests this weekend I am going to make a version of a calzone that I found and have been messing with for a few weeks. I wish it had been my idea "Via Tribunali of Seattle" you take and stretch your dough as normal for pizza with the exception of forming the outer crust. Lay it flat and put sauce and whatever fillings you want "i've been adding ricotta" in a cross pattern on top the dough. Once filled you bring edges together and seal where they meet. It ends up looking like a huge star fish, kinda.

Cook in your WFO at pizza temps, turn like normal and pull out once good and browned the cut into four wedges. The beauty of it is, you end up with four beautiful pockets of goodness that you serve four guests at once. I serve it with our pizza sauce on the side to dip in and it is amazing! My fav is- sauce, ricotta, sausage, onions, banana peppers and cheese.

I'm going to repost this calzone concept in the appropriate part of the forum.

[Yannick]

Re: Starting 42" NW Pensylvania

Very nice built.

[hodgey1]

Re: Starting 42" NW Pensylvania

Very nice build.

Thanks Yannick!

[Giodazip]

Re: Starting 42" NW Pensylvania

The slate together with the copper flashing looks better then awesome!

[hodgey1]

Re: Starting 42" NW Pensylvania

The slate together with the copper flashing looks better then awesome!

Very nice comment, thanks!

I'm just finishing up putting stone on the exterior. Hope to have that done soon. I will post pictures when I have a chance.

[hodgey1]

Re: Starting 42" NW Pensylvania

I'm getting closer to seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. My dear wife/mortar mixer and I finished putting veneer stone on three of the four side of our WFO this holiday weekend. She asked me at least once "is this what normal people do on holiday?" I lied and told her yes and to keep mixing.

There is one side left to put stone on and then do some grout clean-up and also put a sealer on all the stones. So all I have left after that is the empty gable that you see in the photo to be completely finish.

We are contemplating one of the following in order of preference to fill that space, slate roofing tiles, cedar shakes and possibly the veneer stone that we've been useing. We still have to think on it but I'm sure any of those would look ok but suggestion are welcomed especially if they include photo's.