Exterior Dome Construction

[Bandrasco]

Re: Exterior Dome Construction

Great Idea Dmun. Although tile is very dear to me I like the brick look. If properly insulated does the outer dome get very warm? If not then I have a waterproofing product that will not allow water to permeate through the brick. Also, if the temp is low enough I could put a vapor barrier of say Tyvek on top of the insulation/vermiculite just in case some moisture was to get through. Again, I absolutely love the look of the brick dome and if I'm going to build this to look as perfect as possible inside I want to take as much time to make it look just as good outside as well.

Thanks again Dmun, I appreciate the input!

[Bandrasco]

Re: Exterior Dome Construction

Thank you Elizabeth! This is exactly what I had seen and want to accomplish. I think you may be correct on the build, insulate, and then build process. It would at least give me the chance to bail out on the second dome if I get too frustrated...lol I don't think I will have any real issues other than time consumption.

Thanks again!

[dmun]

Re: Exterior Dome Construction

The cut-every-brick plan is complicated. The first few courses are pretty straightforward because the vertical joints are close to perpendicular. As you go upward, the joints angle inward, meaning dual angle cuts on every brick side. Also, as you go upward the bottoms of the bricks don't mate very well with the course below, creating eye-shaped mortar joints. I think most people who have done it have done on-the-fly calculations, eyeballing each brick as it fits in. There is no reason, of course, why you couldn't plan every brick in a CAD system, but bricklaying doesn't lend it's self to thousandths of an inch accuracy.

As for the exterior dome, instead of a common brick dome, which would absorb water every time it rained, I'd think about doing it in terra cotta roof tiles, like the dome of City Center:



The tiles are harder than bricks, and overlap to repel water. They are also thinner to cut into fancy shapes.

[egalecki]

Re: Exterior Dome Construction

Here's one. I don't remember whether it had blanket or vermiculite concrete insulation, but it did have insulation. I think it would be easier to build it, insulate it, and then cover it with another dome, rather than try to fill in between two shells. Just be sure to use lots of insulation.

As for the first question, I can't help you. I'm not sure how the people who've done a lot of cutting came up with their plan.

[Bandrasco]

First off I want to say that I thought I was crazy (my wife included) at the thought of constructing a wood fired pizza oven. I've worked with stone and mortar for over 20 yrs so the basics I have down but this is beyond what I have in my brag book. Thanks to all of you that have taken on this task successfully I feel confident and I'm ready to start.

Like all things I build I sometimes get accused of going to extremes that are just not necessary. I think this project will give me more opportunities to do that then ever before. I've reviewed many of your designs, ideas, craftsmanship, and attention to detail to the point of mental overload.

Here are a couple of questions I have and would like the forum's input.

1. I am one of those who will go through great lengths to make a dome with very little mortar. With my stone and tile background I have no issues with multiple cuts on individual bricks, nor am I in a hurry. What/where is the best source to get this information on a 42" dome construction that includes the detail for cutting the brick courses so that the mortar is minimal (like Les') and the bricks are tight?

2. Here is where I go overboard. I think it's a shame to have to cover up all that hard work, craftsmanship, and detail on the dome you just spent months (I'm assuming) to create. I woukd like to have that same reveal on the exterior as well. Is it crazy to build in essence another dome? A dome within a dome. Other than hard work and time I don't see why it wouldn't work. I could still insulate the main dome either by doing it the conventional way and then constructing another dome to cover it up; or, build the second dome leaving a specific space between both domes and then fill it with a loose insulation or like flowable mortar. I've seen a few pictures of these designs and they appear to be old which makes me believe it's a sound idea; just a lot of work.

I'm a newbie in this forum but ready for any suggestions/advice.

Thanks in advance everyone,