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Hi! I usually spell my name without the underscore on the end, but alas, the forum doesn't allow two-character usernames, so Ed_ it is. 
I've been a periodic victim of the obsession you all know so well for several years, but until last summer I never had a yard. We finally bought our first house last summer, though, and the back yard is a blank slate for us to work on. We may not be in the house for many many years, but how could an oven in the back yard not make the house more appealing to anyone who might buy it?
Honestly, I'd been thinking of building a half-barrel dome until I started reading these forums. Having now considered both possibilities, I think you may have won me over. My baking interests include both pizza and bread, but I've seen plenty of people say here that they make more bread on a single firing than they and their neighbors can eat.
As for exterior style, I had pictured something very similar to the one lfrances posted an image of (can't link due to low post count) but we will probably allow ourselves to be guided somewhat by what we can find for reclaimed materials (especially exterior brick).
Unlike many of you who seem to have had to overcome spousal resistance, I receive only encouragement and assurances of assistance--so this is really a two-person project.
EDIT: I'm interested in feedback on all these ideas, but I'd be especially interested to hear from people who have built in a similar climate (our coldest overnight temperature this year was about -20F/-29C) on how they built the foundation. A local builder told me that 2" extruded polystyrene under the slab, extending two feet, would in fact prevent frost heave. I'm curious what others have done.
-Ed
I've been a periodic victim of the obsession you all know so well for several years, but until last summer I never had a yard. We finally bought our first house last summer, though, and the back yard is a blank slate for us to work on. We may not be in the house for many many years, but how could an oven in the back yard not make the house more appealing to anyone who might buy it?
Honestly, I'd been thinking of building a half-barrel dome until I started reading these forums. Having now considered both possibilities, I think you may have won me over. My baking interests include both pizza and bread, but I've seen plenty of people say here that they make more bread on a single firing than they and their neighbors can eat.
As for exterior style, I had pictured something very similar to the one lfrances posted an image of (can't link due to low post count) but we will probably allow ourselves to be guided somewhat by what we can find for reclaimed materials (especially exterior brick).
Unlike many of you who seem to have had to overcome spousal resistance, I receive only encouragement and assurances of assistance--so this is really a two-person project.
EDIT: I'm interested in feedback on all these ideas, but I'd be especially interested to hear from people who have built in a similar climate (our coldest overnight temperature this year was about -20F/-29C) on how they built the foundation. A local builder told me that 2" extruded polystyrene under the slab, extending two feet, would in fact prevent frost heave. I'm curious what others have done.
-Ed
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