30" Pompeii in Minneapolis

[gastagg]

78 pizzas today...and 36 loaves of bread of all varieties we cooked up from the leftovers after the guests left. Four family members and friends cranked out the pizzas over 4 hours in near record heat (96 degrees) while I mingled, conducted quality checks, and ate some great tasting pizza. It was also a tough tree and grass allergy day for me...I'm not sure how long I would have lasted at the oven.

I have an account with a local pizza food distributor and bought bulk on ingredients and had 128 frozen Caputo dough balls that were fabulous after three days of proofing.

@JRPizza: color is Matador in their stucco paints (Behr). It is a great color!

[RandyJ]

Good luck with making that many pizzas. That is quite the undertaking. Maybe not so bad if you have some helpers. I normally do most all by myself and that would take forever for me.

Randy

[shanxk8]

Wow, that is quite the undertaking... I can't imagine making that many pizzas. Although with all the neighbours taking interest (& asking "when's the grand opening?") we may end up making many pizzas soon after ours if complete.
I hope the party goes well.

[JRPizza]

George, what color of paint is that? I was looking online and it's hard to tell what color the paint is going to be from the little chips they show.
PS, good luck managing all those pies

[gastagg]

Thanks Mike!

Got the oven heated up for a huge grad party tomorrow. I have 114 dough balls proofing and four people set to make pizzas for four hours. It will more than double our record for pizzas at one time, but I think we can do it. I'll post some pics.

[SableSprings]

Nice work on the caulking and painting of the oven George. The whole setup really looks great! As to putting an enclosed structure over your oven, remember that in addition to keeping the oven area dry, it extends the WFO season considerably and if you screen it, you'll keep those pesky mosquitoes, biting flies, and yellow jackets away from the party (and the pizza ).

[gastagg]

I would have to second Randy's suggestion. I think the best thing to do is get a roof over the whole thing by either housing it in an enclosed structure (like Randy's, which is an awesome build), or by putting some type of cover (awning, etc.) as a part of the whole design, which enables you to keep your igloo design. As Randy said, there are a few builds like that on the forum. Depending on how my fixes work, I may end up doing that in the coming year or so. As you can see, it's been a challenge. But I would say this, if you don't have some type of cover, make the vent out of cast refractory concrete because you will get moisture in your landing and if its brick, you're going to have trouble.

[RandyJ]

I also live in Mn the number one problem is the oven getting wet and then freezing. Then the brick work can be pushed apart. So it might not be a bad idea to have some sort of roof over the whole thing. I know there are several on this site that have done something like that

Randy

[shanxk8]

Hi George, your oven build looks amazing. Enjoyed reading your posts about its progress. Here in Calgary we deal with many freeze thaw cycles per winter.
I am wondering if you have any guidance or suggestions on what should be considered a must for a WFO subjected to winter?

I have yet to pour my hearth, as I am finishing my concrete block structure. I have my design "set" in my mind, which included a brick vent arch & landing, and an igloo style with stucco. I've already purchased 200+ fire bricks based on that plan. Now would probably be the time to change the plan, if needed.

Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated,
David in Calgary

[gastagg]

Well, after two years, I've finally taken care of moisture issues. I have noticed that my floor bricks have been damp after some time of no use. So, I used some concrete caulking to seal the seam between the oven and the slab and put three coats of Behr stucco paint over the whole thing. The caulk was amazing. I was getting a lot of water seeping.

[RandyJ]

I bought a set of polishing disks off Amazon and the worked very well. The set I used went up to 800 grit and left a nice honed look to the concrete. I just used a RO sander and washed the slab off every now and then when it looked like there was some slurry.

I can understand needing to wait till next year to do more. I think I almost got in to the beginning of a divorce when I was trying to finish the oven last year. So make sure to keep the family happy. At least you have a great oven to use till you are ready to do a little more.

Randy

[gastagg]

That's a great pic and setup Randy. I think that if I do anymore this year, my family will not be very happy. They've been extremely patient with me But I'm going to do some solid research and planning for next summer. Decide whether or not I want to go with stone or concrete. I would prefer concrete but I would like a smoother finish than what I've been getting.

[RandyJ]

I agree with gulf. If you want a little more substantial anchor you cod do what I did and use some drop in anchors. I believe they are rated for something like 2800#each. I did 4 for my lip and placed carriage bolts in to them to tie the rebar to it as well.

By the way it is looking great.

Randy

[Gulf]

It looks great! George. I do love the casting. I may have to borrow your recipe for the throat on an outdoor Rumford style fireplace.

wouldn't mind mounting a nicer counter. Think there is enough there to mount a counter to?

I can see several possibilities, depending on what type of counter you want. You could possibly pour a concrete counter. If it was formed to wrap around the entry on the sides that would provide some counterweight. If it were poured in place, drilling some long tapcons down into the wings of the hearth slab (leaving them partially raised for the concrete to set up around) would help give it some more stability.

Forming a couple of concrete corbels on either side of the entry in the same manner would allow you to just place a narrow cut stone counter in front and or a wrap around.

[gastagg]

Unwrapped and ready to go! Got some ideas to make the front more attractive with some black bricks for a decorative arch, but it will take some cutting and a few weeks of work. Also wouldn't mind mounting a nicer counter. Think there is enough there to mount a counter to?