The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Cement v. firebrick hearth

Gadjowheaty's picture
Gadjowheaty

Cement v. firebrick hearth

In the book The Bread Ovens of Quebec, in the case study chapter, the oven builder indicates that "thirty-five years ago [he] used bricks to make the hearth, but now, [he] uses cement."

I may build a sort of hybrid oven - Quebec-style "half pear" shaped mud oven, firebrick (or cement?) hearth, and concrete block or recovered stones for the foundation walls.

Cement for a WFO floor, even if it's refractory, in lieu of bricks?  Anyone have thoughts on this?

codpilot's picture
codpilot

Refractory cement is serious money. Much more expensive than firebrick. Plus side firebrick on edge is a good heat sink “bonded: in with fire clay on top of concrete it will be a great heat sink. And you can remove the bricks if you need to fix one. 

Gadjowheaty's picture
Gadjowheaty

Thank you for another great post.  You've sold me.  

MichaelLily's picture
MichaelLily

I was able to source 12”x12” firebrick tiles for my hearth. It’s worth checking from a local supplier if you can get them. My local brickyard did not carry them but I was able to get some from Minneapolis. As to cost: back in 2011 when we were building our oven, an 80 lb bag of regular concrete was about $2.88, and a 55 lb bag of refractory cement was $55.

codpilot's picture
codpilot

Way back in last summer, here in south florida the refractory mortar was $85 a bag, and nobody carried the cement that I could find unless I traveled north of Orlando (5 hours away). I know you can mix a similar mix of concrete and things, but that’s not my area of fun :p

Still all in all a fun build!

 

Gadjowheaty's picture
Gadjowheaty

Wow, I've not priced this out in awhile but yikes, didn't remember how expensive the stuff is! And cod, right, would much rather change out bricks than deal with slab faulting.  We're uncertain how long we'll be living where we are, so still considering a good, solid base with the Quebec clay oven up top or going all-in and recovering what we can, if we do, on moving (it could be anywhere from 3-6 years).  The sensical thing would probably be to go the earth oven route and retain the firebricks.  But then, I'm anything but sensical. :)

Very much appreciate your thoughts, guys.

 

Paul