Customer Build Story · New Jersey
How to Build an Outdoor Bread Oven: The Boguslavsky Family’s Six-Week Build
Zero masonry experience. A wife who expected “a complete and total eyesore.” A few friends on weekends. Six weeks later, this New Jersey family had the focal point of their backyard and fresh bread every week.
- Built By
- The Boguslavsky Family
- Year Built
- 2015
- Location
- New Jersey
- Number of Photos
- 58
- Homeowner Review
- ★★★★★
Build Time-Lapse
Watch It Get Built
Six weeks of weekends in about 15 seconds. Press play, or grab the slider and scrub through all 43 build photos yourself.
Some projects you build for yourself. This one was built for the family. When this New Jersey homeowner set out to build an outdoor bread oven, he had literally zero hands-on experience with masonry, and his wife fully expected “a complete and total eyesore.” Six weeks later, she was the one proudly walking houseguests out back to see the masterpiece her husband built “with his own hands.” Here is how they did it.
Step 1 of 7
A Family Project From Day One
It started with a cement pad and a row of cinder blocks laid out on the patio, and the family was right there from the very first day. Course by course, the block walls went up with an opening left for wood storage, until the base was ready for its hearth.
Step 2 of 7
Laying the Firebrick Floor
An insulating layer went down on the hearth and cured under plastic, and brick trim finished the front edge. Then the firebrick cooking floor went in. Each brick was marked, cut, set and leveled until the floor was flat, because this floor is where every loaf would bake.
Step 3 of 7
The Barrel Rises
The foam form set the shape. Each firebrick was buttered with mortar and set against it, course by course, until the barrel closed overhead and the chimney went up front.
“From the very first day I discovered that the online instructions were clear, concise and easy to follow.”
The homeowner
He did most of the work himself, with a few friends pitching in on the weekends.
Step 4 of 7
Insulate, Shell, Smooth
To hold heat for long baking sessions, the barrel was wrapped in foil-faced insulation. Then the outer shell was built up and parged smooth, and the entry arch was finished inside and out.
Step 5 of 7
Signed by the Family
Every BrickWood oven starts from the same kit and plans. The finish is where a family makes it their own. Here, that meant a stucco-finished barrel with the family’s initials pressed right into it, then red brick veneer and a bright band of blue tile.
Day 1Finished
Drag across the photo (or just move your mouse) to go from cinder blocks on the patio to a finished brick oven.
Step 6 of 7
Loads and Loads of Bread
This is what it was all for. Dough prepped, loaves slid in with the peel, and artisan bread pulled from a wood-fired oven the family built in their own backyard. He told us he bakes at least 8 to 9 loaves of artisanal bread every week, without fail.
Hover over the dots (or tap them on your phone) to explore the finished oven.
- Brick ChimneyBuilt at the front of the barrel and finished in brick to match the oven.
- The BuilderZero masonry experience before this project. Now he bakes every single week.
- Blue Tile AccentA bright band of blue tile wraps the hearth, the family’s signature touch.
- Fresh Artisan LoafStraight from the oven. At least 8 to 9 loaves a week, without fail.
- Extended Side Prep CounterCounter space beside the oven for dough, peels and finished loaves.
- Natural Stone Veneer BaseThe block base is wrapped in natural stone veneer.
Step 7 of 7
Pizza Parties, Turkey and More
Bread is only the beginning. Since finishing the oven, he has used it at least once a week to host pizza parties, cook a Thanksgiving turkey, smoke meat and bake bread. Quite a few people have asked him who built it, and his wife now proudly brings every houseguest outside to see.
From Zero to Hero in 6 weeks! The oven is now the focal point of our backyard and quite a few people have asked me who built our outdoor bread oven. My wife now proudly brings all the houseguests outside to see the masterpiece her husband built “with his own hands”!
The Boguslavsky Family · New Jersey
In His Own Words
★★★★★The Boguslavsky Family · New Jersey · 2015
I can officially declare that the folks at BrickWood Ovens were right when they boldly declared, “Anyone can buy an Outdoor Bread Oven… and anyone can build an Outdoor Bread Oven!” for if I can, then everyone can! I am fairly bright professional guy with literally zero hands-on experience in masonry or any sort of manual skills. I was very hesitant to undertake such a project and faced complete skepticism from my wife who expected me to produce “a complete and total eyesore”. From the very first day I discovered that the online instructions were clear, concise and easy to follow. The whole process from pouring a cement pad to hosting a pizza party took exactly six weeks with most of the work done by myself and a few friends on the weekends. I’ve been using my outdoor bread oven at least once a week since building it to host pizza parties, to cook a Thanksgiving turkey, smoke meat, and to bake bread. Loads and loads of bread!
I can’t say enough nice things about the level of help I received from the crew at Brickwood Ovens. Between useful tips and outright guidance, they were phenomenal! Without fail, I bake at least 8-9 loaves of artisanal bread every week!
Your Turn
Build One for Your Family
The Boguslavsky family built this outdoor bread oven with zero masonry experience in six weeks of weekends. Your family can too. Start with our free oven plans and materials list, then pick the Mattone Barile Grande kit that fits your backyard.
