How To Build An Outdoor Pizza Oven Kitchen

I’ve recently finished building my very own outdoor pizza oven kitchen and it’s looking amazing. Teamed with our outdoor sink, BBQ and sofa seating area we’ve created this fantastic outdoor living area. We’ve even built a wooden veranda so that we can enjoy the outdoor eating experience whatever the British weather has to throw at us. The pizza oven, worktop and storage area all combine to make this the ideal outdoor kitchen. Within this article, I’d like to show you the simple step-by-step instructions to build this yourself. You can easily adapt my design to suit your own needs and space requirements.

What Materials are Required to Build This Outdoor Pizza Oven Kitchen?

I’ve tried to keep things simple and stick to a modest budget on this build. I’ve used some basic construction timber, a large porcelain tile, a traditional wood-fired pizza oven from Gardeco and a handful of various accessories.

I’ll include a full materials list at the end of this article should you like to know where I purchased everything. Here is the pizza oven I used which is a pre-made kit. It comes with a dome and three-piece base which must to be cemented together. I’ll describe the process in detail within the article.

Step-by-Step Guide – Build Your Own Outdoor Pizza Oven Kitchen

Let’s get stuck into the build.

Step One – Preparing and Planning

I started by selecting the perfect location for our pizza oven kitchen and measured up the space. I calculated a depth of ~800mm and a width of ~1800mm. I wanted enough space for the pizza oven and a suitable worktop to place our electric BBQ and charcoal-fired BBQ within this space. I also wanted enough worktop space for pizza preparation and cutting. Here is the starting point and available space we had to play with.

I also completed a quick sketch of the design to get a feel for how all the elements would fit together.

For the worktop, I wanted something that could withstand heat and provide a weatherproof surface to protect the storage area beneath. After deliberating over many options, I settled on one large porcelain tile slab. I visited my local supplier to see what was available. Luckily, they had some old sample stock and gave me this one for free.

For the pizza oven itself, I needed a secure base that would be resistant to heat transfer to the wooden frame. For this, I used cement fireboard and 25mm fire bricks held together with fireproof cement. More detail to follow on this.

Step Two – Building the Frame

I started with and floor frame and worked my way up. I’ve attached the frame to the sleepers in my garden but you can attach yours to decking or any other surface you are building on. If building on a solid patio you can drill a couple of holes and fix them using rawl plugs. I’d always recommend securing this type of pizza oven kitchen to the floor due to the weight. If it falls over you will very likely damage the pizza oven dome.

The floor frame was built using a 2″ x 3″ construction timber. These have been secured together using 70mm screws.

For the upright supports I’ve used a 2″ x 4″ construction timber. A slightly larger timber has been used here to support the weight of the porcelain slab and pizza oven. The pizza oven weighs about 40kg so it’s very heavy.

I’ve secured the upright supports using a pocket-hole system. I’ve used a Kreg Jig for this purpose. Find this Kreg Jig system here.

I made sure the frame wasn’t deeper than the porcelain slab which is 600mm.

The four posts for the pizza oven support are slightly taller than the other two so that the pizza oven fireproof base could be taller. I cut two notches into the middle posts to support the porcelain slab. The notches are at the same height as the other two posts on the right.

The top supports can now be added using 70mm screws.

It’s now time to test the porcelain slab. This should slot nicely into the notches which are 24mm deep.

I’ve simply balanced the porcelain slab onto the top of the frame but this will be secured later with some adhesive.

This completes a secure frame on which to build the rest of the kitchen layout. The next section includes how to build a fireproof platform for the pizza oven to sit on.

Step Two – Building a Fireproof Platform

Building a secure and fire-resistant platform is an important step in this build process. For mine, I’ve used cement fireboard, fire bricks and fireproof cement.

The dimensions of the pizza oven are 65cm length, 60cm width.

I began by cutting the cement fireboard to size. I’ve made this slightly larger. 70cm x 70cm. I built a wooden frame using the 2×3 timber and secure the board to this frame using 45mm screws.

This sits nicely on the wooden frame beneath. I didn’t get a picture of this but I’ve also installed a layer of aluminium foil underneath this board to reflect heat. You can find this heat-reflective foil on Amazon here.

The next job is to secure this board and frame to the structure. this can be done with 45mm screws through the top.

Now it was time to add the fire bricks. You can also find these fire bricks here on Amazon.

I’ve secured these fire bricks to the top of the cement board using a Vitcas fire cement which you can find here on Amazon.

Each brick is secured to the board. You can select any patterns as this will eventually be covered with cement.

At this stage, I decided to create a surrounding boarder using 25mm thick timber.

Now a quick check to ensure everything fits before I secure the pizza oven base to the bricks.

Before continuing, I spread fire cement on top of the bricks. Before the cement set, I could then secure the pizza oven base pieces to the wet cement. You can find the outdoor fire cement here on Amazon. This 2kg pot is more than enough for this job.

Step Three – Building the Pizza Oven Dome

With the heatproof base completed and the stone base of the oven dome set into the cement, it was time to secure the dome to the top. This pizza oven comes with the fire cement supplied. You simply need to mix the powder with a bit of water and stir until it is a thick peanut butter-like consistency.

This cement is then applied to the edges of the base about 5mm thick. I then lifted the dome into place and began smoothing the cement on both the outside and inside of the dome. Due to the weight, I needed help with this bit.

I continued this process until it was smooth all around the edges with no gaps. I used small amounts of water and a sponge to help smooth everything out.

Step Four – Adding the Side Cladding

The next stage of the build was to add the cladding to the side of the frame and construct some doors. I used some 6″ x 1″ timber for this. It’s important to ensure the wood is dry before installation. Wet wood will shrink in the sun and leave gaps between each piece.

Each piece was cut to length for the sides and rear walls. I’ve fastened the pieces to the frame using 45mm screws.

The doors were built using a similar method. Each piece was cut to size and joined on the back using some 25x50mm timber.

Hinges, handles and door catches were added to complete the outer shell of the pizza oven kitchen. The T-hinges simply fit to the front of the material using some small black screws. (Usually supplied with the hinges).

Step Five – Building Internal Shelves

The final stage of this build was to build some internal shelves. I’ve used some 25x50mm timber for the shelf supports and some interior 22mm thick timber for the shelving. This is a nicer, planed smooth timber.

Above, you can see the frame built with two central supports to help carry any weight on the middle shelf. The same was applied to the flooring shelf.

Step Six – Stain or Colour the Outdoor Kitchen

To ensure your garden pizza oven kitchen lasts throughout the seasons it’s important to stain the wood or paint with some outdoor wood paint. We’ve used some Rustoleum Outdoor Furniture Paint to brighten the whole kitchen up.

I’ve applied two layers of this paint for a long-lasting finish.

This completes the build but before you go, check out the full materials list and my top tips for using this wood-fired pizza oven.

How to Use the Gardeco Wood Fired Pizza Oven

It took a couple of attempts to get this pizza oven operating at the correct temperature. I probably should have read the instructions before I jumped in. Here are the official instructions.

To light the Pizzaro Pizza Oven, start by using a soft brush and dustpan to remove any cold ashes from inside. Sweep the base to ensure it is free of dust and debris. In the center of the oven’s mouth, build a small fire using newspaper and thin, dry kindling. Gradually add the remaining wood fuel to the fire. After about 15 minutes, use a raking tool to push the glowing embers and burning fuel to the back of the oven. Always wear a fire glove to protect your hand.

Carefully insert a pizza stone, ideally placing it about 8 cm from the front lip of the oven. Use a peel to turn the pizza stone after five minutes to ensure even heating. Continue to let the wood burn. After about 30-35 minutes from ignition, the oven should reach at least 300°C. Check the temperature using the thermostat. Use the raking tool to push the glowing embers to the back and sides of the oven, allowing all flames to burn off before cooking.

For optimal results, use about 2.5 kgs of wood pieces or chips (excluding kindling) to reach the operating temperature of 300°C within approximately 35 minutes. This includes 35 minutes for heating and another 35 minutes for cooking. Making your own wood fuel by splitting logs into thinner pieces is possible, but exercise extreme care if using a small hand axe. Traditional Italian pizza ovens use dry oak chips, which burn fast, leave little ash, and produce a smoky oak aroma that enhances the pizza’s flavor. Other well-seasoned, dry wood types can be used to minimize smoke. Avoid using scrap pallet wood, as it is often treated with toxic preservatives.

Prepare all pizzas in advance. Using a peel, place the pizza on the hot stone, which will take about four minutes to cook. After two minutes, lift the pizza out with the peel, turn it 180 degrees, and return it to the oven for the remaining two minutes. The oven is large enough to cook pizzas up to 12 inches in diameter, but it is recommended to cook 10-inch pizzas to prevent the edges from burning or touching the embers. The pizza is ready when the topping is bubbling, typically after four minutes at 300°C. Remove the pizza with the peel, serve immediately, and repeat the process with the next pizza. Avoid touching the inside of the oven and the outside of the dome, as both are extremely hot.

Material List for This Outdoor Pizza Oven Kitchen

Here is a complete list of materials I’ve used on this outdoor kitchen build. I’ve included some helpful links to where I purchased all my materials.

Material	Quantity	Cost (Time of Purchase)
Gardeco Pizzaro Pizza Oven	1	£370
2″ x 3″ Construction Timber	10m	£32
2″ x 4″ Construction Timber	6m	£30
1″ x 6″ Timber (Cladding)	26m	£76
25x50mm timber baten	10m	£13
250mm T Hinge (Black)	6	£29
Black handle	3	£12
Cement Fireboard	1	£21
1′ x 6″ planed timber (Shelves)	12m	£77
Door catch (Double roller)	3	£7
Fire Bricks	18	£84
Fire Cement	2kg	£10
Assorted Screws	~300	£30

Total cost for this build = £791

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Here are answers to the most commonly asked questions about outdoor kitchens.

Is It Cheaper To Build Your Own Outdoor Kitchen?

Building your own outdoor kitchen will always be cheaper than buying one due to the manufacturing and shipping costs associated with e-commerce and Retail options. It’s not only cheaper but you can also customise your kitchen to your exact dimensions, design and style.

Do You Need Planning Permission with an outdoor Kitchen

A kitchen like this does not need planning permission but you should always be considerate of your neighbours when using the pizza oven as it can generate smoke. I’ve extended the flue on our pizza oven to prevent smoke from spreading too low.

What are the Key Considerations When Building an Outdoor Kitchen?

It’s worth thinking about the use of your outdoor kitchen and when you are most likely to use it. We have a covered area in our garden which protects us from rain and winds so we can use the garden all year round. The kitchen area is simply an extension of this space. We also have a separate sink area where we can wash and prepare food. Whilst the kitchen and pizza oven aren’t covered they are very close to the veranda and can be operated in the rain.

Outdoor Heater

We’ve also added an outdoor heater to keep us warm in the colder months. We really can use our outdoor kitchen all year round. We’re already looking forward to outdoor pizza on Christmas Day.

The outdoor heater makes a great addition to the outdoor living space. We purchased the 2.4kw Devola Infrared Patio heater. It heats this area nicely whatever the weather.

Outdoor Seating – Sofa

I’ve also made this outdoor sofa and coffee table set myself. You can view the full guide here: How to Build an Outdoor Garden Sofa

Conclusion

Hopefully, this article has inspired you to create your very own garden kitchen area. You can find articles and guide to all of the structures seen in this article. Designing a functional outdoor kitchen and dining area is an amazing project to undertake. Any outdoor space can be converted into a beautiful living space that can be used all year round.