DIY Network

Wood-Burning Oven Ahmed Hassan takes homeowners beyond briquets by installing this gourmet-quality outdoor oven. From "Yard Crashers" episode DYCR-113

This outdoor oven is a perfect match for the new kitchen island,

A simple barbecue grill — or even a fancy one — is just too 20th-century. Instead, Ahmed Hassan and the Yard Crashers crew set these homeowners up with a swanky wood-burning oven that's perfect for making gourmet pizza.

Finished off with granite tile and stucco to match their new outdoor kitchen island, this freestanding oven unit includes a built-in shelf to hold a wood supply. A new flagstone patio and furniture finish off this outdoor entertainment area.

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Materials:

wood-burning oven (pre-assembled) pier blocks dry cement forklift framing lumber plywood safety glasses drill with screwdriver head screws

cement board granite tiles tile adhesive wet saw heavy material for weighting tiles metal lath aluminum flashing for weep screed one-coat stucco trowel mixing buckets

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

• Install pier blocks. There's no way the plain dirt of this yard will support a 3,000-pound oven. To give it a sturdy foundation, measure the frame and dig holes with level bottoms where the corners will sit. Add dry cement to each hole and settle a pier block in each hole. Check and double-check the blocks for alignment and level; even a small tilt can lead to disaster with an oven this heavy (figure A).

• Attach the oven to the blocks. Using a forklift, move the oven to the pier blocks and carefully set it in place. Once the oven is in position, check the oven opening for level and make any needed adjustments (figure B). Attach the oven to the pier blocks by drilling through the steel frames on the bottom of the oven into the blocks.

• Build the shelf. Frame out the area below the oven with weather-resistant lumber to cover the steel framework and create support for a countertop around the oven (figure C). Attach the lumber to the steel oven legs, attach a plywood shelf to the frame and line the cavity with plywood (figure D).

  Safety Alert: Always wear eye protection when using a power saw, power drill or any power tool.

• Install cementboard. Cover the outside of the framing with cementboard, attaching it with screws.

• Dry-fit granite tiles. Position one granite tile on the countertop area, with a 1/8-inch overhang, to use as a guide. Snap a chalk line and dry-fit the other tiles, cutting with a wet saw as needed. Glue the tiles directly to the cement board with an adhesive recommended for tiles. Weight the tiles with bricks or other heavy objects while the adhesive dries.

  Safety Alert: Always wear eye protection when working with a wet saw.

  Tips:

  • Maintain the 1/8-inch overhang all the way around the countertop. This will bring the finished stucco sides flush with the edge of the counter.
    
  • Let cut tiles dry completely before installing. Wet tiles won't adhere properly to the cementboard.
    
  • For a finished look, choose tiles with a bullnose (rounded) edge for the outside edges.
    
  • The crew used tiles that were cut to butt up against each other, eliminating the need for grout.

• Prepare the sides for stucco. Use the same method as for the kitchen island: Install a "weep screed" — an L-shaped piece of aluminum — along the bottom edge of the oven to provide a shelf for the stucco and direct water away from the oven. Use screws to attach metal lath, a wire mesh, over all of the exposed cementboard.
  

  Figure E

• Apply stucco. Prepare the stucco mix according to the package directions. The crew used one-coat stucco for this project; it's easy to work with and goes on faster than traditional stucco. Apply the stucco with a trowel, using an upward motion and pushing it into the lath to completely cover it (figure E). Don't overwork the stucco, but instead try to apply each scoop in one motion. Once a large section of stucco is applied, mist the area to keep it from drying too fast and cracking. Covering the stucco with plastic also slows down the drying process.

• Finish stucco. Once the stucco has completely dried, repair any cracks with a compound designed for stucco repair. Paint as desired.