Optimal hearth height

[pluscwc]

What is the ideal height for the hearth? I'm trying to decide whether to build it to 36.5 inches or 44 inches off of ground level.

Any guidelines for what is comfortable? Elbow level? Slightly above waist level? Does anyone wish they had a higher or lower floor?

It's a personal use oven, so I probably won't cause any ergonomic issues if I pick wrong, but would like the best experience I can get, of course.

Thanks for your help.

[azatty]

Re: Optimal hearth height

At 6'4", I set four courses of 8x8x16 block and one course of 4x8x16 block, plus four inches of structural slab, plus four inches of vermicrete, plus 1.5 inches of ceramic fiber board. Brick goes on top of the fiber board. So that's about 48 inches to the hearth floor, give or take. It works out to be just about even with my elbows.

[lwood]

Re: Optimal hearth height

Elbow height or a little higher is pretty much the consensus. You want to be able to see the fire & pizza easily (w/o bending over too much).