Back in October, HHjr and I started talking about building an outdoor fireplace…
He has a residential remodeling business, and even though his talented crew can do just about anything, they mainly do kitchen and bath makeovers, and tile installations. The fireplace was not something he was interested in doing, so I contacted a local hardscape company. Even though we met with them right away and discussed what we wanted, it took several weeks of calls and emails before we got a bid. We decided to get several other landscapers to bid for comparison but had no luck, no action…
Finally in December HHjr declared, “I’m just going to build it myself!”
“Yay!” I was shouting in my head, as I really wanted him to do it all along
“This way, we can design it as we go, and get exactly what we want” he said, “plus business slows down in December as no one wants their home torn up during the holidays, so it will keep my guys busy.”
“Perfect!”
And to us, it is!
It started with an idea, and a couple of rough sketches
Digging the foundation
Pouring cement
Building the foundation
Assembling the fireplace kit
Rain delays actually gave things time to set and cure
Next came the foundation for the pizza oven
The fireplace and the littles got dressed for Christmas
The day after Christmas the cement slab base for the pizza oven went in
Assembling the pizza oven kit
The oven kit and the fireplace kit were like large cement legos,
the kits are designed to ensure the finished structure will be safe,
they have curved stones that guide the smoke up the chimneys
and not out into the patio
A box was built to enclose oven so that it could be covered in stone
Pizza oven chimney foundation
Time for the stone,
it was fascinating watching them figure things out
The Big Green Egg is surrounded by a stone counter with plenty of space to set platters, tools or the chef’s beverage 😂
Some days were pretty miserable, either wet or cold
Mantels were cut from leftover stone, cemented in place, with wood supports until cement dried
Now it was ready for finishing the hearth and grouting the stone
All done!
Close up of the fireplace
Close up of the pizza oven
Big Green Egg station
First fires to break it in slowly
We are hoping to have pizzas any day now!
Juicy Details
fireplace kit/Firerock
pizza oven kit/Cuore Wood Fired Ovens
🔥 🍕 🔥
I will be joining these fabulous parties and blogs:
Meal Plan Monday Dishing it & Digging it, Between Naps on the Porch,
Merry Monday Make it Pretty Monday Celebrate and Decorate,
Delicious Dishes Recipe Party Oh My Heartsie Girl Full Plate Thursday