San Clemente, CA Build

[Mongo]

Little tile work.
Added some shims cut from a block wall cap to make the face of the hearth slab thicker.
Was going to inlay the tile on the chimney but thought better of it. Constructed a little frame instead.

[NCMan]

Lookin' good!!

[GreenViews]

Your brick work is amazing. Love your entrance and flue. Also really like the tile around your table

[Mongo]

Render over dome question:
My oven has been operational for some time now and in use weekly.
I have 3 inches of blanked over the entire dome and another 1/2 in over the top two thirds of the dome. The dome is wrapped in stucco lath.
Not going to enclose the oven but will build a roof over the whole thing.
Baking is a consideration for me and the oven has been performing well at heat retention.
I see just about all the builders putting vermicrete over blanket but I'm not sure if it's for the additional insulation or if there is another motivation. From the Forno Bravo videos I see they stucco over blanket.

• My plan was to put about 1 inch of stucco directly over the blanket but now I'm wondering if I should do an inch of 8 or 10:1 vermicrete, then 1/2 inch or so of stucco.
• I'll be installing a vent, but want to put it at the bottom of the dome in the back of the oven. Seems it would still perform but would it be less effective NOT at the apex of the dome?
  • I hate to put a nipple on the top of my beautiful dome. Although I do live a few miles from the San Onofre nuclear plant. So Cal residents will get this.

I think I know the answer to my own question but If anyone has an opinion or suggestion I would love to hear it.

Thanks!

-George

[UtahBeehiver]

With 3.5" ceramic blanket you are probably good since you wire mesh appears to be in the final shape of the oven. Many times v/pcrete is used not only for additional insulation but to give the dome its final shape before rendering. The main reason for the vent at the apex is hot air/steam rises so it is a natural place to have the vent there but it is your choice as well. I have seen a few placed right behind the chimney as well.

[Mongo]

Stucco complete with simple vent made from a brass nipple and ell. Will install a small brass screen for a bug blocker.
Two 1/2 inch applications. Free hand with a 6 inch steel drywall knife. Kind of 'lumpy' but I'm pretty happy with it.
After it cures I'll be applying a tinted acrylic finish coat for color and to smooth it out.

[Mongo]

Applied the finish coat to the dome this past weekend.
This is an acrylic product with a fine aggregate and color added.
By the time I finished 2 applications, I finally had the technique down to achieve a smooth finish. Stuccoing a sphere is not easy.
Fighting 'the crazy' within that wants to apply yet a third coat to get a super smooth finish over the entire dome.
I am done!

A patio cover that incorporates a roof over the oven is next along with a 3 foot extension to my pipe.

[joemyself]

Last bit of work before this week long rain delay.
My arch forms are more "guidelines" than actual rules.

Hey Mongo. What is your offset from the inner arch to outer?

[Mongo]

Hey Mongo. What is your offset from the inner arch to outer?

Sorry about the delayed response. Here you go.

Tapered door arch is 6 inches deep. Then a 12 inch deep flu gallery.
Second photo is the flu.The inner arch is really 4.5 inches but 3.5 inches of that ride over the door arch. The flu depth is 7.5 inches. Drafts really well. Outer arch is 3.5 inches.
Third photo is the L shaped brick that only shows as 1 inch in the flu photo. The rest of that brick (3.5 inches) is "floating" above the door arch.

[Tikibrewer]

Pretty amazing build, well done!