Best enclosure style. Need advice

[Kjskjs]

Trying to decide best enclosure for pizza oven that still looks good and matches our new patio/fireplace. We are in the mid-Atlantic area with rain and freezing temps. I know a full roof where people could stand underneath is the perfect solution but it won’t work for us because of aesthetics. Next best is probably a dog house style like in the first photo (but with more overhang), so we’re thinking of using limestone veneer to match fireplace, and have a metal roof. With mortar and stone being porous, what steps do I need to take to minimize water penetration? The plan is to build the inner igloo fully with stucco covering, and waterproof sealer, and then build the box enclosure around the igloo. But what about the voids between the igloo and box? And should I vent the box like home construction with soffit and ridge vents? Should I use cement board to veneer the stone, or something better? Appreciate any details you can give me!

[NewEnglandNewb]

I think some of the newer standard advice is applicable regardless of enclosure type. Drill drainage holes through the hearth and raise the insulation off the hearth using porcelain tile or something similar. Especially if you are going to have any of that hearth exposed.

Applying stucco over the dome that is then enclosed seems counterproductive. If your insulation somehow gets wet that stucco is only going to hold that moister in. Most of the builds I have seen on this forum just fill the void between the dome and the enclosure with dry perlite or vermiculite. That adds more insulation without trapping in moisture.

I think that providing a path for moisture to escape is just as important as keeping water out in the first place, since as you pointed out, masonry is pores. I would include some form of venting into your enclosure.

[Kjskjs]

Hmm. I’ve been on the fence about whether to simply fill the cavity with perlite, left over blanket, etc or do a full render shell. I’m doing weep holes, mosaic tiles and Foamglas for the bottom layer, and then a couple inches of CalSil board so I think I should be pretty good for water mitigation. It just seems weird to leave the oven with all that “unfinished “ material just sitting there in the doghouse cavity. Seems like it would suck up all the humidity but I’m not sure.

[UtahBeehiver]

IMHO, if you are doing an enclosure, I agree that you do not need to do stucco over your dome insulation. Filling up the encloure cavity with dry perlite or vermiculite is a good option just leave an access point to add more material if it settles. You can block off the corners with some scrap drywall to cut down on the volume.