Installation guide

Pompeii Oven Instructions

8. Building the Oven Opening

Overview

There are four traditional ways for framing your oven

opening, though we recommend the first, and easiest

method. The simplest, fastest and least costly way of

framing the oven opening is to use fire bricks to frame the

sides of the opening, and a length of 2"x 2"x3/16" angle

iron to support the top of it.

8.1. An angle iron framed opening. Note the lack of a

reveal for the door jam.

The other methods are:

• Build a curved arch using a form and bricks to frame

the opening (Photos 8.2, 8.3, and 8.4).

• Build (or having a metal fabricator build) a complete

doorframe and vent, either from steel or cast iron.

• Frame the opening with a stone or precast lintel.

The curved arch method is beautiful, but difficult to build.

Having a welder make a doorframe that also integrates

your oven vent is something you might want to consider if

you have access to a good fabricator. The stone lintel

approach is authentic, and will look great, but you are on

your own when it comes to finding the right material, and it

can be tricky making your brick oven work with the non-

straight lines of the stone.

8.2. An arched oven opening.

8.3. The intersection between the dome and opening.

8.4. A form shapes oven opening.