Big Kitchen Appliances

How To Build An Outdoor Pizza Oven Step By Step

Tim Parry

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Pizza is an attractive traditional Italian dish and a favorite of many people. However, to make pizza, it is necessary to have an oven and go through an elaborate kneading process, so many people want to eat it but are afraid to do it. Besides, many of you do not have enough space in your home to make a pizza oven, and building an outdoor pizza oven yourself is not easy either. Therefore, the keyword phrase how to build an outdoor pizza oven step by step is being searched by more and more people.

However, with our detailed instructions below, you can enjoy pizza at any time because you can successfully build an outdoor pizza oven by yourself. Test your design and construction skills with the following instructions!

About Traditional Pizza And Pizza Oven

It’s no coincidence that a dish has its own international day: National Pizza Day – February 9. It’s also no coincidence that pizza has become an intangible cultural heritage. Probably this traditional wood-fired cake must be really special, so it is now available in all lands, cities, and countries, and is eaten by millions of people every day.

Unlike a lot of pizzas filled with toppings today, traditional Italian pizza didn’t need too much stuff to make and didn’t have to have a thick dough that filled your mouth. It was a pizza with a thin dough, and only a few familiar ingredients, but extremely sophisticated in each stage.

Even more special is the “mother dough” recipe with a 300-year-old history of the people of Naples. This is a very special way of fermenting dough; the bread dough is never used up once but is kept for fermentation next time. And so on, the next batch of dough still carries the “DNA” of the previous batch.

A properly Neapolitan pizza will have to be baked at 500 degrees Celsius in just 60 – 90 seconds. The pizza that is baked in this way can have a crispy edge, a delicate aroma but not blackened, and the inside is soft and delicious.

The opportunity to enjoy the “original taste” from the hometown of pizza was not much, but now it will become easier. Although it is not possible to make an original pizza according to the original taste, it is not difficult for you to create a delicious pizza for yourself if you can make an oven that closely resembles a traditional pizza oven.

Necessary Materials

  • Some packs of half-inch thick plywood
  • Drills and driver
  • Wood glue
  • Path saw
  • A pencil
  • Tape measure
  • Straightedge
  • Strip wood (18mm to 28 mm width)
  • Screws and screwdriver
  • Gym ball or aerobic ball
  • Cardboard
  • Tape
  • Scissors
  • A trowel
  • Rubber coated glove
  • A juice carton
  • Fine vermiculite
  • Cement
  • Fine building ballast
  • A small bucket
  • Fire bricks (normal fire bricks and thinner fire bricks)
  • A crayon

How To Build An Outdoor Pizza Oven Step By Step

This kind of brick outdoor pizza oven that we’re going to guide you is an Italian traditional pizza oven. It will comprise the dome, the entrance tunnel sat at the front, and the chimney sat on top of the entrance tunnel.

Building a pizza oven is not easy and it involves a lot of stages. We have detailed instructions for each stage and the steps in each stage to be able to make a pizza oven below.

Stage 1: Making Pizza Oven Dome Template

Step 1: Create A Plank Of The Desired Size

You need to create a wood panel with dimensions of 1m width x 1.2m length.

If you have a larger wood panel, you will need to measure and cut it to the exact size we describe.

If your packs of plywood are smaller in size, you’ll need to glue them with wood glue to create a wood panel like the size above.

After gluing, you need to keep the wood panel overnight so the glue can dry and stick better.

Step 2: Mark A Line In The Center Of The Wood Panel

After you have a satisfactory wood panel, you need to use a tape measure and straightedge to measure and mark some points in the center of the wood panel. Then, you proceed to take a straightedge connecting those points to have a straight line running the length in the center of the wood panel.

Step 3: Mark The Center Of The Circle

After having a centerline running the length, measure from the edge of the board along the centerline to within 45cm. Then mark that point on the centerline.

Drill a small hole at that point. That pilot hole will be 2.5 mm in diameter (using a 2.5 mm drill bit).

Step 4: Create A Tool To Draw Circles

Cut a piece of strip wood of length 50 cm from a long piece of strip wood.

From one end of the strip wood back about 1 cm, drill a small hole through the strip wood.

Use a screw whose length is about 5 mm longer than the thickness of the strip wood. Insert that screw into the hole you just drilled in the strip wood.

Step 5: Take Necessary Measurements Before Drawing

From the screw that you just attached to the strip wood, measure and mark a point 35 cm, 41 cm, and 43 cm away from the drill hole respectively towards the center of that strip wood. Take an 8 mm drill bit and drill 3 holes through the strip wood at the 3 marked points respectively.

Step 6: Draw A Circle

Locate the strip wood by screwing it down to the pilot hole that you drilled in the wood panel.

Note that you have to make sure the strip wood can rotate around the screw hole.

Place the pencil into the hole at 35 cm and go around to make a circle that has a radius of 35 cm.

Place the pencil into the hole at 41 cm and go around to make another circle that has a radius of 41 cm.

Step 7: Cut The Circle

Then, use a 10 mm drill bit to drill through some points on the 35 cm radius circle you drew earlier.

Use the path saw to cut a circle with a radius of 35 cm.

Then you get a piece of wood with a circle cut out.

Step 8: Draw Simulation Entrance Tunnel On Wooden Surface

From the centerline you drew first, mark a few straight points to the right of this line and 16.5 cm from it.

Take a straight ruler to connect these points, you will get a line to the right and parallel to the centerline.

Continue doing the same steps to get a line lying to the left, parallel, and 16.5cm from the centerline.

Step 9: Outline The Entrance Tunnel

From the centerline, mark a few points to the right of this line and 22.5 cm from it.

Take a straight ruler to connect the points just drawn, you will get a line on the right that is parallel and 22.5 cm from the centerline.

Continue doing the same steps to get a line on the left that is parallel and 22.5 cm from the centerline.

Stage 2: Making Pizza Oven Base Template

building-an-outdoor-pizza-oven-stage-2

Step 1: Create A Wood Panel Of The Desired Size

You need to create another wood panel that is 1m in width x 1.2m in length.

If you have a larger wood panel, measure and cut it into a small piece of wood the size described.

If your packs of plywood are smaller, use wood glue and glue them together to create a wood panel like the size above.

Note that after gluing, you must let the wood panel stay overnight so that the glue can dry and stick more firmly.

Step 2: Mark A Line In The Center Of The Wood Panel

Once you have the desired wood panel, use a tape measure and mark some points in the center of the wood panel. Then, take a straightedge connecting those points to get a straight line in the center of the wood panel lengthwise.

Step 3: Drill The Center Of The Circle

After having a centerline running the length, measure from the edge of the wood panel along the line inward for a distance of 45 cm. Then mark that point on the centerline.

Drill a small hole at that point. That pilot hole will be 2.5 mm in diameter (using a 2.5 mm drill bit).

Step 4: Attach The Drawing Tool

Remove that strip of wood from the old wood panel and locate it on the wood panel. You also use a screw to place it on the pilot hole you drilled earlier so that it can rotate easily on this wood panel.

Step 5: Draw A Circle

Place the pencil into the hole at 43 cm and go around to make a circle that has a radius of 43 cm.

Step 6: Draw A Simulation Of The Entrance Tunnel

Measure and mark points that are aligned and about 24.5 cm to the right from the centerline.

Connect these points, you will get a line parallel to the right with the centerline.

Do the same steps above to get a line parallel to the centerline on the left side and 24.5cm away from it.

Step 7: Continue To Complete The Drawing

From the intersection of the circle and one of the two parallel lines you just drew, measure a length of 14 cm along this line and mark that point.

Do the same steps with the remaining line, you also get a point on this line and 14 cm from the circle.

Connect these two points and you will get a simulated pizza oven base.

Step 8: Make The Edge Of The Base

Take the nails to nail according to the drawing you just drew.

Take pieces of cardboard about 5 cm wide and stick them next to the entire nail that you nailed with tape.

Stage 3: Making The Entrance Tunnel Template

building-an-outdoor-pizza-oven-stage-3

Step 1: Draw 2 Sides Of The Entrance Tunnel Template

Take the circular piece of wood that you cut out, dot a few points aligned to the right and 16.5 cm from the centerline.

Connecting these points, we will get a line parallel to the center line and 16.5 cm from it to the right.

Do the same steps to get another line to the left of the center line and 16.5 cm from the centerline.

Step 2: Draw The Bottom Of The Entrance Tunnel

From the edge of the circle, measure along the line you just drew and mark a point 16 cm from the edge.

Do the same steps with the remaining line to have a point also 16 cm from that edge side.

Connect these two points and you will get a drawing simulating one end of the entrance tunnel.

Step 3: Cut Out The Template You Just Drew

Use a 10 mm drill bit to drill the corners of the figure you just drew.

Use the path saw to cut the drawing out.

Step 4: Draw Another Simulation Of The Entrance Tunnel

Using the template you just cut, place it on the remaining wood, and mark around the template with a pencil.

Note that you have to keep the 2nd drawing closest to the wood you just cut so that there is enough wood for the third drawing.

Step 5: Cut Out The Second Entrance Tunnel Template

Use a 10 mm drill bit and drill two holes in the two corners of the figure.

Use a path saw to cut this drawing out, you will get another template like the first template.

Step 6: Draw The Center For The Remaining Wood

Align to draw a straight line through the center point you originally drilled and divide the remaining wood into two equal parts.

Step 7: Draw The Sides Of The Third Entrance Tunnel Template

From the new centerline, measure and mark a few points that are aligned and 22.5 cm to the right.

Connect these points and you will draw a line to the right of the center line and parallel to it.

Do the same steps to get another line parallel to the center line and 22.5 cm to the left.

Step 8: Draw The Bottom Of The Third Template

From the edge of the circle, measure along with one of the two lines just drawn and mark a point 22 cm from the edge.

Do the same steps with the remaining line until there is a point also 22 cm from that edge side.

Connect these 2 points and you will get a simulation of the door.

Step 9: Cut Out The Third Template

Use a 10 mm drill bit and drill two holes in the two corners of the figure.

Use the path saw to cut this drawing out, you will get the third template.

Step 10: Make A Frame Connecting Two Small Templates

Cut 9 pieces of strip wood with a length of 20 cm.

Use a 3mm drill bit to drill 9 points in 9 corners on a small template.

Drill 9 points in the same places for the remaining small template.

Step 11: Assemble All Pieces Of The Entrance Tunnel Template

Use wood screws to connect the woods and two small templates according to the nine points we just drilled to get a pattern as shown in the image.

Attach the large template to a small template so that it is most balanced with 2 wood screws.

Stage 4: Sticking The Dome Template And Entrance Template Together To Create A Complete Pizza Oven Template

building-an-outdoor-pizza-oven-stage-4

Step 1: Put The Wood Panel On A Frame So That It Is Easy To Do The Following Steps

Place the wood panel with a circle cut in the middle on a frame like the one in the image above or whatever so you can easily fix it after you put the aerobic gym on.

Also, you can design and attach strip woods to make the wood panel stand firm.

Step 2: Smooth The Edge Of The Circle

Take a piece of sandpaper and rub the circle edge to make sure it is smooth enough and does not puncture the gym ball.

Step 3: Put Gym Ball In The Circle

Put the gym ball into the circle.

Remember that you must let the valve of the gym ball face down.

Step 4: Put The Entrance Tunnel Template In The Right Position

Place the entrance template along the drawn line and close to the gym ball. Place it down on the wood with 2 wood screws.

Step 5: Cover The Entrance Tunnel Template With Cardboards

Take some cardboard and place it on 9 strips of wood and tape it around it as shown.

Step 6: Create A Frame For The Dome

Cover all the templates with the chicken wire cage, cut it along the edge of the template.

You have to make sure that the frame will fit the template you’ve created. It will be a frame to help your cement mix more firmly after construction.

Step 7: Locate The Chimney On The Frame

Place the juice box on top and cut a hole in the bottom of the juice box on the frame to shape the chimney for it.

Step 8: Wrap The Template With Food Wrap

Take the frame you just made out of the template.

Use food wrap to seal the template.

Remember that you should apply several layers to make sure it doesn’t get punctured as you build.

Stage 5: Covering The Cement Mixture On The Template

building-an-outdoor-pizza-oven-stage-5

Step 1: Create A Cement Mixture

Take 5 parts fine vermiculite, 2 parts cement, and 2.5 parts water mix together to create the required cement mixture.

You should use a bucket for the most accurate measurement.

Step 2: Cover The Entire Template With Cement Mixture

Use a trowel to spread the entire cement mixture onto the template. This layer of cement will be about 2 cm thick.

Step 3: Cover The Frame On The Cement Layer Just Covered

Coat the chicken wire frame over the entire template with the cement mixture you just applied. Adjust it slightly by hand so it can match your template.

Step 4: Leave Room For The Chimney

Clear the cement mixture from the chimney and place the juice box on top of it.

Step 5: Apply Another Layer Of Cement

Use a trowel to cement the entire template.

This layer of cement is about 2cm thick, it must be covered evenly and not revealing any piece of the chicken wire frame.

Step 6: Finish The Cement Layer Just Covered

Use gloves to take more cement mixture to cover the template to make the entire cement on the template smoother and more even.

Step 7: Let It Dry

You let the work dry for seven days to make sure it’s dry enough for the next steps.

Stage 6: Creating A Base Layer

Step 1: Create A Frame For The Base

Using the wooden board with the nails you built, use the chicken wire and cut according to the drawing that you nailed.

Step 2: Put Food Wrap On The Wooden Board

Take the chicken wire you just cut out of the template. Use food wrap to cover the entire board.

Note that you have to cover several layers to prevent it from tearing during the cementing process.

Step 3: Cover The Wood With Cement

Apply a 2 cm thick layer of cement to the inside of the frame that you nailed.

Step 4: Put The Frame In And Continue To Cover With Cement

Place the chicken wireframe you just cut onto the cement and coating mixture.

Continue to apply a 2 cm thick layer of cement over it.

Remember that you should use a piece of strip wood to make sure the cement you have just applied is even and flat.

Step 5: Dry The Built Work

You dry everything you have done above for seven days to make sure it is dry enough to be able to do the next steps.

Stage 7: Removing All Templates From The Work You Have Built After Seven Days

Step 1: Remove All Screws On The Door Template And Remove The Door Template

Remove the 9 screws you attached to connect a small template to the 9 strip wood and remove the small template.

Step 2: Remove The Gym Ball

Open the valve of the gym ball to deflate and remove it.

Step 3: Remove The Other End Of The Entrance Tunnel Template

You go under the dome and remove 9 screws from the remaining small template and take this template out.

Step 4: Remove The Body Of The Entrance Tunnel Template

Remove all 9 strips of wood along with the cardboard you stuck on them.

Step 5: Remove The Food Wrap

Remove all food wrap if possible.

Step 6: Remove The Juice Box

Squeeze the small juice box and take it out.

Step 7: Remove All Edge Frames Of Base

Remove all nails and cardboard from the remaining wooden plank.

Stage 8: Building The Plinth For The Pizza Oven

Step 1: Find The Right Location

You take measurements and find a suitable surface to build pizza in your garden.

Step 2: Mix The Cement Mixture

Take four parts fine building ballast mix with one part cement and add just enough water.

Remember that when you put enough water in, you have to wait for 3 to 5 minutes for the cement to soften, it will be easier to build.

Step 3: Start Building The Plinth

Take bricks and cement mixture to build a plinth with a bottom size of 1.0 x 1.2 m. The height of this plinth can be from 0.9 to 1.2 m whatever you want. You can build a plinth like the image above.

Note that when building the door of the plinth, you can use a small table or a highchair to fix the brick position while you build.

Step 4: Dry The Built Construction

Let the work dry for two days to make sure it is dry enough for the next steps.

Stage 9: Building An Outdoor Pizza Oven Step By Step 

building-an-outdoor-pizza-oven-stage-9

Step 1: Locate The Base On The Plinth

Remove the base from the wood panel and place it on top of the plinth.

Use a crayon to draw along the edge of the base.

Step 2: Cover With Cement To Fix The Base

Make a cement mix by mixing four parts fine building ballast with one part cement and adding just enough water as above.

Take the base out, place it somewhere else and apply a layer of cement mixture to the top of the plinth along the line just drawn.

Step 3: Fix the Base

Place the base on the cement mixture just coated on the top of the plinth. Use a little force to press it down.

Step 4: Fix The Dome

Place the built dome on the base and put a layer of cement around the base of the dome to secure it firmly on the base.

Step 5: Build The Entire Entrance Tunnel And Chimney

You place the large template in front of the entrance tunnel of the building you have built. You take normal brick and cement mixture to build the entire entrance tunnel and chimney area like in the photo above.

Step 6: Cover The Dome

Then, take thin bricks to build around the dome to form a complete pizza oven.

Stage 10: Making A Door For A Pizza Oven

Step 1: Clean The Template

Take out the large template and wipe off any cement on it with sandpaper.

Step 2: Make The Door Handle

Cut 6 small pieces of strip wood and attach them with wood screws to get two handles with size and shape as shown in the image above.

Step 3: Attach The Door Handle To The Door

Attach the two handles to the large template in the correct position as shown in the picture and you have a door you want.

Note that it is necessary to attach the handle close to the bottom so that it can hold the door upright.

Now you have a complete pizza oven already. Note that after completing this entire construction, you must let it dry for a day. After it dries, you can bake the pizza to test the oven’s efficiency.

Conclusion

We have shown you how to build an outdoor pizza oven step by step with only a few tools needed in the construction. Hope that you guys though this article can make yourself the most perfect outdoor pizza oven at home!

If you have any questions, please comment below. We are happy to answer all of your questions. Also, don’t forget to follow our website for more useful information.

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Tim Parry

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