oven insulation?

[plug2000]

question?
I'm building a 34''x 38'' Barrel oven. just poured 3" of insulcast for under the cooking floor, build is all Fire brick. my question is how necessary is it to insulate the barrel oven? I'm really only going to cook pizza and cook steak and other things occasionally. so keeping temp for a few days isn't necessary. thanks in advance.

[UtahBeehiver]

Is it cost issue, aesthetics issue or what? Based on your cooking needs, probably not but the extra step of insulation greatly broadens the ovens potential and you have already done most of the work. The insulation does help in minimizing thermal differential between inside and out reducing cracking potential.

Not sure what insulcast is, is it a insulating refractory cement?

[plug2000]

yes, insul cast is a insulating refractory castable by the makers of heat stop. I'm short on room on the sides of the oven, what if I put 2" of insulation on top of the dome and then a stucco covering?

[UtahBeehiver]

What are the thermal properties of the insulcasst? ie K value.