Building an Outdoor Pizza Oven for Your Backyard Kitchen
An outdoor pizza oven is the perfect addition to any backyard kitchen. Here at Landscape Solutions & Design Inc., we have experience building everything from large commercial pizza ovens to smaller personal ovens. Let’s talk about what you need to know about building a pizza oven in your backyard.
Gas Versus Wood: Which Type of Oven is Right for You?
The two main types of outdoor pizza ovens are gas and wood. There are pros and cons of each, but we definitely have a personal favorite!
Gas Pizza Ovens
Gas pizza ovens are an easy addition to your deck or patio. You’ll need an existing gas line to lead to your new oven, or you can opt for a propane version. They are typically made from steel, but some are powder-coated in various colors. To use a gas pizza oven, all you have to do is turn it on and wait for it to heat up. The flame is stationary, typically in the middle of the oven, and there is relatively little clean-up to do. This is an easy out-of-the-box option that matches your other outdoor kitchen appliances, but you do need professional installation to ensure that your new gas appliance is safe to use.
Wood Pizza Ovens
Wood, on the other hand, doesn’t need any kind of hook up. You can find metal ovens, but the more popular wood-fired pizza oven materials are clay bricks, fire bricks, ceramic tiles, and refractory concrete blocks. A wood-fired pizza oven requires more time for heating and cleaning, since you’ll have to clear out the ash. However, most people agree that the taste and temperature are both superior. The hand-built look of a clay or brick pizza oven can also give you that perfect aesthetic you want for your outdoor kitchen.
For us, a hand-build wood-fired pizza oven is the better choice. While gas is more convenient, nothing beats the taste of a wood-fired pizza and the gorgeous look of a brick pizza oven in your backyard.
Building an Outdoor Pizza Oven: DIY or Hire Professionals
As outdoor kitchens have grown in popularity, so to have kits to help people build their own pizza ovens, along with pizza oven tutorial guides and videos. While these kits and guides can make it seem easy to build your own pizza oven, the reality is that you’ll have a better, safer finished product if you hire a professional. Here are some of the dangers of trying to DIY this project:
- The wrong materials can be hazardous to your health. Pizza ovens get extremely hot, and this can cause materials to degrade over time. If you use the wrong materials, you could leech harmful chemicals into the air and your food.
- Not all building materials can withstand high heat. Additionally, even the right materials won’t stand up to the heat if installed incorrectly. This can cause a pizza oven to crack, collapse, or catch on fire.
- If built improperly, outdoor pizza ovens might not be level. A pizza oven needs proper air flow in order to control the temperature. An oven that isn’t level won’t cook your food properly and it could be a fire hazard.
- The chimney needs to be installed correctly. If it’s not, it can easily cause a fire due to ash built-up or improper air flow.
Proper Installation is Key
We don’t say this to scare you. A pizza oven can be a lovely addition to your home, and they aren’t dangerous when installed and maintained properly. However, the risks of a DIY project are real, and it’s important to be aware of these issues before you start.
Additionally, trying to do it yourself isn’t just dangerous; it is also potentially expensive. When you pay for an expert contractor, you don’t have to worry about ruining materials as you muddle your way through a project. We get the job done right the first time.
The Aesthetics of Your Outdoor Kitchen
A custom outdoor kitchen can be sleek and modern, rustic, or anything in between. Our team loves taking on your custom outdoor kitchen project to design the exact space you want. Throughout the process, we use innovative 3D modeling programs so we can show you the overall kitchen design as it will actually look in your backyard. We can even add touches like people and pets so you get a sense of scale.
Pizza ovens typically work best on a deck or patio. If you don’t have one, we can help. We have experience with wood/composite decks, pavers, stamped concrete, and more. Our team will work hard to give you the exact look you want for your new outdoor living space.
FAQs About Outdoor Kitchens
We’re happy to answer any questions you may have about building a new pizza oven or outdoor kitchens in general. Here are a few common questions we hear to get you started:
Can I build an outdoor pizza oven in NC without a permit?
It depends on the type of pizza oven you’re building, the size, and the county/city where you live. If you need a permit, we handle this process for you. Homeowners can have a pizza oven. They are not limited to commercial properties.
Do you build commercial pizza ovens too?
Yes! We work with both commercial and residential clients. If you own a restaurant or other business that can benefit from an outdoor kitchen or other hardscape, we can help you create the perfect design. We even have a current promotion of $1,500 off your hardscape project of $25,000 or more, which is good until March 15th 2023 and can go toward a complete outdoor kitchen and dining area for your business or home.
What kind of maintenance does my outdoor kitchen need?
Regular maintenance will keep your outdoor kitchen both safe and beautiful. Different surfaces (metal, brick, concrete, etc.) have different maintenance requirements. We can tell you about the maintenance required for all the available options. Likewise, and we can even provide landscape maintenance for you. We’d love to tell you more about our maintenance packages to keep your entire landscape looking great.
To schedule a free no-strings-attached consultation about your new outdoor kitchen, click here.