Installation guide

Pompeii Oven Instructions
© Forno Bravo, LLC 2007. All Rights Served. Ver. 1.2 25
4. Pouring the Hearth
Overview
If you are using insulating concrete, your hearth is poured
in two parts: a 3 1/2" layer of structural, rebar reinforced
standard concrete, followed by a 4" layer of insulating
concrete.
If you are using SuperIsol, you simply pour a rebar
reinforced 3 ½” pad.
Instructions
For the two-layer hearth, draw a line 4” down from the top
of the frame to mark the top of the structural concrete
layer.
Lay a grid of 1/2" rebar slightly shorter than the external
dimension of the wood forms, on 12" centers, starting 6" in
from the edges of the form, set half-way up the 3 1/2”
concrete layer (about 1 3/4”). Then, pour the 3 1/2” layer
of structural concrete. See Photos 4.1 and 4.2.
4.1. Rebar set in center of the concrete pad.
4.2. Structural layer waiting on insulating layer.
Prepare the insulating concrete using a ratio of 5 parts
vermiculite to 1 part Portland cement (5:1). Thoroughly
mix the vermiculite and Portland cement when they are
still dry, then add water and mix until you reach an
oatmeal consistency. Pour the insulating material to the
top of the form.
If you will be building a landing in front of your oven
opening, it is not necessary to pour vermiculite concrete all
the way to the front of the hearth. Rather, you can end the
form where your oven vent will begin, and only pour
vermiculite directly under the oven chamber and vent
area. Fill the form under the landing in front of the oven
with standard concrete (Photo 4.4).
4.3. Insulating concrete on top ready to cure.