After about a year of planning and prep’ work here in true upstate NY, I have resumed work on my oven, and I have completed the base slab, including a perlite-based insulating layer beneath the cooking surface.
What is the minimum allowable depth for the sand layer on which the cooking surface fire bricks are set? I am building my oven into an existing outdoor kitchen and fireplace, and I am trying my “darndest” to match the existing counter height with the oven height.
Thanks in advance!
Welcome back to your project Bill!
The sand is there to level the bricks in a soft, adjustable way. The hearth design includes the framing bricks set on side so they’re taller than a firebrick laid on its “belly.” You use the sand to make up the difference.
In your design you’ll still use as much or as little sand as you need to come up to the level of your existing surfaces. Be wary of tapping individual firebrick with a mallet if you use a very thin layer of sand. There won’t be enough cushioning underneath to protect the firebrick from cracking or even shattering.
Apart from that one precaution, the sand doesn’t add anything to the oven’s thermal properties. It’s the insulating layer underneath that does that work.
Good luck and good to hear from you again!
Thanks for your help. After all my figuring, drawing, and obsessing, I still didn’t end up with my slab doing everything I was trying to get it to do. I could have just reduced the thickness of my slab by a 1/2" to give me a little more depth for the sand bed. As it is, I have about 3/8" on one side for the bed, with the depth increasing a bit across the width of the oven floor area.
Thanks again… I have a feeling that I will be back with more questions!
As long as you can level the firebrick so you have an even and level cooking surface, you’re okay. Just be careful tapping the firebrick, because even with a thicker layer of sand you can crack one with too much force.
Questions always welcome, and can’t wait to see pictures!