Build a Pizza Oven in Your Backyard for Summer

| March 11, 2021

Summer will be here in just a few short months, and that means plenty of time spent outdoors. Have you considered building a pizza oven in your backyard? Not only is it a fun (and delicious) way to cook outdoors, but it can double as an outdoor fireplace throughout the year. Maximize your livable outdoor space by building a pizza oven in Western NY. Here are a few tips and some of the benefits you can expect.

Concrete mix is a great insulation choice

When you work with concrete contractors in Western NY, you’ll have a few options for pizza oven insulation. You need to mix in other materials, like perlite or vermiculite, to prevent the heat from seeping out underneath the hearth slab. Both perlite and vermiculite are minerals. They’re readily available and inexpensive, and can help retain the high heat necessary for delicious wood-fired pizza.

Make sure your concrete contractor uses masonry-quality perlite and vermiculite. There’s little point in buying your own at a home improvement store or plant nursery. Not only do you need a specific grade, but the types you get at a big box store come in smaller bags. Unless you want to purchase around 200 eight-quart bags for one project, it’s best to let the professionals handle the sourcing and concrete mixing.

Speaking of mixing, your concrete contractor will be able to properly mix and shape the pizza oven for you. Since your oven will be subjected to temperatures as hot as 900 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s best to let the professionals handle construction. The last thing you want is injury and property damage while you’re trying to impress your guests and put food on the table.

Benefits of a backyard pizza oven

Not sure if a pizza oven is right for you? Here are just a few of the benefits you can expect:

  • Uniquely delicious pizza: Wood-fired pizza cooked in a concrete pizza oven is simply better than anything you can make in a traditional oven. Change the wood type to vary the slightly smoky flavor.
  • Versatile cooking: You’re not limited to pizza in your backyard pizza oven—they’re also great for roasting meats and vegetables and baking bread. The wood smoke will enhance your meal’s flavors in a way traditional roasting or baking cannot.
  • Get dinner on the table faster: Did you know it only takes about two minutes to cook pizza in a wood-fired oven? You’ll get perfectly blistered crusts and crisp toppings, faster than ever.
  • Use your oven as an outdoor fireplace: Finally, your pizza oven doesn’t have to be relegated to cooking only—it’s also a great feature for staying warm outdoors at any time of year. Your family and friends will enjoy the opportunity to experience the outdoors, no matter how warm or cold it is.

If you’re ready to build a pizza oven in your backyard, call Bri-Mic Construction, Inc. today. We’re concrete contractors located in Western NY, and will be happy to help you build your oven before summer comes.