Starting my WFO in N. Carolina

[NCMan]

Re: Starting my WFO in N. Carolina

I poured my hearth slab today. Here are some photos of before I poured.

[stonecutter]

Re: Starting my WFO in N. Carolina

Got the uncoupling membrane in there...good man. You're on your way......

[NCMan]

Re: Starting my WFO in N. Carolina

Yeah, I thought that'd be the way to go w/it. Having poly under it makes all the water rise to the top, so it takes a bit longer to dry, but it's for sure the way to go w/it. Have it all covered w/another layer of poly and some cardboard for awhile. Nice slow cure, always the best way to go w/concrete, when you can. I imagine I can uncover it in a week and it'd still be green. That's my plan right now. Give it a week or so, then uncover it. Only because I want to move on.

[NCMan]

Re: Starting my WFO in N. Carolina

Photos of the slab after it was poured. I covered it the same day w/a layer of plastic and a couple layers of cardboard to hold the heat in, then weighted down the cardboard w/some lumber. I plan to leave it covered for a week or two. Next step is to set more forms and pour a layer of Perlite for insulation.

[Greenman]

Re: Starting my WFO in N. Carolina

Looking good. Keeping it moist one way or another makes for the best results. You are on the way!

[NCMan]

Re: Starting my WFO in N. Carolina

Looking good. Keeping it moist one way or another makes for the best results. You are on the way!

Hi Steve and thanks for the compliment. Yes, covering concrete (w/a sheet of plastic and something to insulate it) for a period of time is perhaps one of the best ways to alter the strength of a slab. There are a number of ways, as you know, but the curing process is one of the easiest and most effective ways to help concrete be as strong as possible. Trouble is, most of us don't want to wait that much longer for some pizza!! I would wait anyway, but I have plenty else to do around here, so giving it some time is ok for me. Hope all is well Down Under. I know you had a storm coming.

[Greenman]

Re: Starting my WFO in N. Carolina

Hey NCMan - The storm (cyclone) has come and gone now. It caused a lot of grief where it crossed the coast. It also dumped huge amounts of rain along the way before moving out to sea nearly 1000 km from where it landed. Some places are still flooded in but it will all pass. There were no deaths attributed to the storm and what survives will heal or be repaired.

The oven will produce in its own time. Patience has its own rewards.

[NCMan]

Re: Starting my WFO in N. Carolina

That's good news w/the cyclone. I am glad it did not cost any lives. I am in no hurry w/the oven, as I have plenty to do w/other duties and projects. I may go ahead, as my time allows, and form up the next step, which is the Perlcrete layer. I have found out (w/the help of other Builders on here) that I can go ahead and pour the next layer, just be sure and keep a moisture barrier in between the layers. It's very helpful to have all of you experienced builders on here to ask questions. This is my first oven build, so from here on out, it's going to be all new to me, as least w/the oven building. I have lots of eager eyes around here watching my progress. They too will have to have patience. I really just think they want some pizza.

[NCMan]

Re: Starting my WFO in N. Carolina

After pouring my hearth slab, I left it covered w/plastic and cardboard for two weeks. I did this to give it a nice, slow cure. Next, I added a layer of plastic and formed up the next layer, the Perlcrete. Got it all mixed up at a 8:1 ratio, leveled it all good then covered it the same way (w/plastic and cardboard). Hope to start on the oven floor real soon.

[stonecutter]

Re: Starting my WFO in N. Carolina

Looks like you went a 2x4" width...is it about 3.5"-4" or did you raise it a bit? Looking good, good to see a proper slab curing pride cure documented.

[Novaslo]

Re: Starting my WFO in N. Carolina

your concrete stamps look great....

[NCMan]

Re: Starting my WFO in N. Carolina

Looks like you went a 2x4" width...is it about 3.5"-4" or did you raise it a bit? Looking good, good to see a proper slab curing pride cure documented.

I just left it at 3 1/2". I figured going 1:8 would help w/the insulating value, at least a bit. For our intended use, I think it will be ok. My slab was approx. 55"x55" @ 3 1/2" thick and it took almost (2) 4 cu. ft. bags of Perlite and almost one 94 lb. bag of Portland, using the 1:8 mix ratio. The bags of Perlite were about $16 each and the Portland was around $11.

[NCMan]

Re: Starting my WFO in N. Carolina

your concrete stamps look great....

Thanks. I plan to do the front edge of the base slab soon, to match. Hope to get to it this weekend, while I let the Perlcrete cure a bit. After that, at a later time, I plan to pour a step in front. That will look the same.

[stonecutter]

Re: Starting my WFO in N. Carolina

I just left it at 3 1/2". I figured going 8:1 would help w/the insulating value, at least a bit. For our intended use, I think it will be ok. My slab was approx. 55"x55" @ 3 1/2" thick and it took almost (2) 4 cu. ft. bags of Perlite and almost one 94 lb. bag of Portland, using the 8:1 mix ratio. The bags of Perlite were about $16 each and the Portland was around $11.

That'll do nicely.

[NCMan]

Re: Starting my WFO in N. Carolina

Thanks, Stonecutter. I seem to remember reading somewhere that the cement part in ratios should be used first. Is that correct? For example, should I call what I did 1:8 instead, since I used one part Portland Cement to eight parts of Perlite? I just wanted to use the right terminology and hopefully not to confuse others (or myself).