A brick oven is not only a great addition to your backyard or outdoor kitchen, but it’s also a fantastic way to cook delicious homemade pizzas, breads, and even roast meats. Building a brick oven may seem like a daunting task, but with the right tools, materials, and some patience, you can create a beautiful and functional wood-fired oven.

Here are the steps on how to make a brick oven:

1. Choose the location: Select a flat area in your backyard that’s away from flammable materials and has ample space for the oven as well as your outdoor cooking setup.

2. Plan the design: Sketch out the desired size and shape of your brick oven. It can be simple or more elaborate, depending on your preferences. Make sure to consider details such as insulation, chimney placement, and door size.

3. Gather materials: For constructing a brick oven, you’ll need bricks (firebricks for the cooking surface and regular bricks for the outer structure), mortar mix, concrete blocks, rebar, insulation material (such as vermiculite or perlite), steel mesh, metal door, and chimney components.

4. Build a foundation: Lay out concrete blocks in the shape of your oven base on the chosen location. Fill them with gravel or crushed stone for added stability. Use rebar to reinforce the structure before pouring concrete into the blocks.

5. Create an insulating layer: Once the foundation has set (allow at least 24 hours), apply an insulating layer of vermiculite or perlite mixed with water on top of the foundation so that it’s at least 4 inches thick.

6. Construct the base: On top of the insulation, build a layer of bricks which will serve as your oven floor (make sure to use firebricks). Before setting each brick in place, spread some mortar mix onto its side that will be in contact with the adjacent brick.

7. Build the oven walls: Construct the oven chamber by carefully stacking bricks around your base, applying mortar between each layer for stability. The inside of the chamber should have a domed shape to ensure even heat distribution. Don’t forget to leave an opening for the oven door and cut a hole for the chimney.

8. Add insulation: To improve heat retention, add an insulating layer around the oven chamber. This can be done by creating a 2-inch-thick layer of vermiculite or perlite mixed with water.

9. Construct the outer shell: Create an attractive exterior using regular bricks, stone, or other masonry materials to enclose the entire oven structure.

10. Install the chimney and door: Assemble your chimney components according to the manufacturer’s guidelines and attach them to your oven with heat-resistant mortar. Attach your metal door as well, providing a tight seal when closed.

11. Cure your brick oven: Allow your oven to dry and cure for at least three weeks before attempting to use it.

12. Fire up your new brick oven: After curing, you can gradually increase the temperature in your brick oven by starting small fires and letting them burn out, slowly increasing the size of the fire over a few days.

With a little time and effort, you’ve created your very own brick oven perfect for cooking pizzas or roasting meats! Don’t hesitate to experiment with other recipes, as well; a wood-fired brick oven adds an unparalleled depth of flavor that can elevate even simple dishes.