Pompeii Oven in Switzerland: the Saga Continues...

[Frances]

Re: Pompeii Oven in Switzerland: the Saga Continues...

This is a picture of my oven this morning...

So much for Spring, eh?

[RCLake]

Re: Pompeii Oven in Switzerland: the Saga Continues...

We had a touch of that white stuff in Dallas Monday, brrr. Looks like you're taking care of the oven, something to pamper..

[CanuckJim]

Re: Pompeii Oven in Switzerland: the Saga Continues...

Frances, RC,

On Monday here it was + 8 C, everything melting, almost saw the ground for the first time since November. Last night it started, now -6 with twenty centimeters of new snow on the ground, more expected before it stops this aft. Oh yeah, oh joy, another storm is headed our way for Friday. I hasten to add that this is not normal for Ontario, more like Rochester or Albany, NY, this time of year. I'd take a pic, but I can't get out the door. Helllppp!

Jim

[RCLake]

Re: Pompeii Oven in Switzerland: the Saga Continues...

Just heard on the news that a cold front is coming thru tomorrow and we could get measurable snow. Frances, keep the snow there send rain.

Today has been great about 70F now and the winds have abated. Seems like I have my head inside the arch most of the time.

[gjbingham]

Re: Pompeii Oven in Switzerland: the Saga Continues...

Sad, sad Frances. You did a nice job wrapping up the oven. Way mre than I ever do. A few weeks and you're back in biz.

60's F here in the NW USA. Rain's a comin' this weekend.

[Acoma]

Re: Pompeii Oven in Switzerland: the Saga Continues...

RC, better your head in the WFO then the sand....

[Frances]

Re: Pompeii Oven in Switzerland: the Saga Continues...

Today's sunny again...

Woah Jim, sounds like you're having a real winter up there! Ours has been pretty wimpy so far, but below freezing most nights, so no cement work... I'd prefer some proper snow to weeks of rain though, why on earth do you want rain Lake?

I've been pretty paraniod about wrapping up the oven so far, because neither the insulation nor the mortar could stand getting wet - well, I don't know about the mortar, the heat should have hardend it by now... but I'm not going to try soaking it to find out!

Its really nice to have the first coat of cement over the dome finished though, makes me feel a lot safer... which is a good thing, because of course nowadays I have to share all the pampering between the oven and my new sourdough culture.

[Frances]

Re: Pompeii Oven in Switzerland: the Saga Continues...

A short break between storms let me wrap the oven in wire netting and some more rebar. Bit chaotic, but it'll certainly be stronger than without.

To cover this lot I'll probably have to add between two and three inches of render/mortar/stuff to the outside. Then some kind of waterproofing or impregnating before the real work begins...

Does anyone have an idea how thick the render over the wire netting and rebar has to be? Or would it be ok if the rebar was pretty close to the surface?

[gjbingham]

Re: Pompeii Oven in Switzerland: the Saga Continues...

I'm not familiar with your materials Frances. I think I would ask them at the store where you purchased the material. Perhaps shoot a PM to Canuk Jim. He will probably give you good guidance.

[CanuckJim]

Re: Pompeii Oven in Switzerland: the Saga Continues...

Frances,

Bit difficult to tell from the pics, and I don't know how large a diameter the rebar has. However, generally you want the rebar to float at about the middle level of your coating. Having it too close to the surface risks rust over time. You'll probably need a good three inches of thickness, therefore. If it were my job, I'd fill with a resin bond stucco base coat, and then a thin coat of exterior stucco for waterproofing. You could just use Type N cement and brick sand, but you would have to paint it with something waterproof.

Helpful?

Jim

[Frances]

Re: Pompeii Oven in Switzerland: the Saga Continues...

Thanks Jim! Not sure though, I'll mull it over.

One of the most difficult aspects of this whole project has been translating and finding the various materials. Mortar mixes here (and render and stucco, all called the same apparently) do not come with a list of the components (unlike flour for instance, which is clearly labeled... ). And DIY stores are chronically understaffed, and even if you do find someone to ask I doubt they really know what they're talking about...

People who do know what they're talking about look at me aghast and say "you can't build something like that yourself!" Well, apart from you guys.

I'll probably just go with a lime and cement-based mortar, make sure the rebar is covered as thickly as possible (its 8 mm btw, quite thin)... waterproof it, and there'll be a layer of mosaic over the top which will give added protection as well.

[gjbingham]

Re: Pompeii Oven in Switzerland: the Saga Continues...

Frances,
At least inquire if they have an acrylic or other additive that will make it waterproof. It would be nice to get a solid waterproof layer behind you, huh?

[Frances]

Re: Pompeii Oven in Switzerland: the Saga Continues...

Whoooo, today lends a new meaning to the work knackered...!

My long-suffering husband went to buy ten 40 kg bags of cement based stuff (can be used for outside walls and bathrooms, thought it should therefore be fairly waterproof...) and now, after hours and hours of hard work.... my oven looks just the same as it did before!!

I covered all the metal bits thoroughly, so I think it'll be ok. it feels ok, if that's anything to go by

And now of course the cement will have to cure (right Jim?), so no lighting the oven for a week or more. But weeeee, soon it'll be mosaic time!!! I can see light at the end of the tunnel! (that'll probably be the light shining down from the top of the chimney on the second picture...)

[RCLake]

Re: Pompeii Oven in Switzerland: the Saga Continues...

This is looking good, what type of mosaic are you planning. I've seen the mosaic on 'kill da wabbit' oven, looks like a lot of work.
One of my wife's project during was the mosiac shown below. She states she do a mosaic on the front of my hearth, don't know type yet.

[gjbingham]

Re: Pompeii Oven in Switzerland: the Saga Continues...

Looks good Frances. I can hardly wait to see what you come up with for a mosaic. Probably dragons breathing fire