Just curious, seeing as how bread's a French way of life. Has anyone got their own bread oven built into the house? Ours had, until the 1950's when it was knocked down before it fell down! I've always wanted one, so I trawled t'Interweb for some ideas, designs and potential costs. I started building it a few days ago. I've just finished laying the chappe for the oven floor out of vermiculite, poulolane and ciment fondu. I'll let that harden for a few days, then its on with laying the hearth, and building the arched bouche, then the voute! It should be ready for first firing in a week or two's time!

I'll post a pic or two of progress if anyone's interested?

Thought you just bought stainless steel machines that did it now?

Have toyed with idea of outside kitchen. Did you use fire cement? We have an outside Barbie come fire but it's getting some cracks in the joints I think they've used ordinary cement not the proper fire/heat resistant stuff.

Ah....stainless steel is soooooo yesterday!

Yes. I mixed my own heat-resistant 'chappe' for the hearth bedding using vermiculite, pouzalane and ciment fondu. It's no use using OPC because it doesn't have the thermal characteristics to withstand the sort of temperatures I'm after - 300-400°C.

Hi Le Chant

Yes, I'm very impressed - would love to see photos! Our house, (farmhouse probably medieval, ) had a bread oven but it has long since been filled in with rubble, don't think there is anything left to salvage unfortunately. Range cooker now stands in its place. We still have the curved wall at the back though. Currently trying to get rid of rats which have come back in due to cold weather. Not actually in the house though. I hope!!
I am planning an outdoor kitchen, probably with just a sink, barbecue and maybe a big gas burner. Ahh, dreaming of next summer already

Our neighbour has one, L'acajou and it's brilliant. He really knows how to work it though, having had the farm in his family for 4 generations! Mine's not as big as his, but it'll be big enough for what we need it for. If not, I'll build a bigger one somewhere else!

A few pics. From L-R. Taken as I was dry-building, just to get an idea of scale. The finished support, with ancient briques I found here at Le Chant. The sole in place, the hearth arranged and the bouche formed dry. The last pic is what it should look like when complete.

Hi Le Chant

Thanks for the piccies, I'm really impressed! And envious. Unfortunately my hubby isn't too keen on doing any kind of bricolage, he could if he had the inclination (trained as a joiner) or the time (too much farming to do..)... so I guess it is down to me or getting a builder in. I have the entire house renovation planned, the part which I am most excited about is the outdoor kitchen - probably because I'd never heard of them in my previous life in the North of England

Sue

I only had bbq's when I lived in the frozen, riot strewn northern wastes too. So I'm pretty chuffed at having both the space and the skills to be able to build this thing. I'd love to have a go at a proper one, of the type built onto the houses hereabouts. My mate up the lane has one that we've often talked of renovating, but it's all time isn't it?

I'm possibly going to install a summer kitchen here too at some stage. I already have the makings of it, with the potwash area that we have set aside for campers.

Today, I'm mostly letting the sole harden off. I've taken off the coffret, letting the air get to it. I've peeled off the silver paper from the sides too. That's just there to protect the wooden base from the water and corrosive chemicals of the ciment. It'll also give a bit more insulation too.

When it's hard enough, possibly tomorrow, I'll start laying the hearth properly, then begin building the outer and inner arches.

You know the old saying,

If you are looking for a painter,and all you have is the street he lives in,look for the house that needs painting,and there you will find him.

Sorry it is the way of the world.
And man.

It was 'A plumber's always the one with a leaky tap' round our way. But the sentiment's the same Stan.

To be honest, if a tradesman's worth paying, then they're always going to be out working, therefore their own jobs suffer.

Hi Stu, that's a mighty impressive looking bread oven. I can paint a wall and use a screwdriver, but that's about all I'm good for, so I'm always amazed at people who can build practical (and aesthetic) things.

Cheers Gav! But, aren't quality websites practical and aesthetic too?

The magical words "round are way"

Yes we all say things in a different way,and from that others can get a insight to the part of the country we spent are early years.

If we move around a lot,and have many houses in a lifetime,when we speak of home to others,it always seems to go back to birth place.

That would be Round our way. Our is the progressive determiner of the Personal pronoun We, Wereas Are is The present indicative plural of the substantive verb to be. Or an area of land in Russia.

Its better than going fishing

Well, it's coming along quite nicely. Both arches are built. I've had to change the design just a touch to allow for a slightly larger hearth. But, it all works fine. Took out the former for the archese this morning and (thank his Noodly Goodness), they stayed upright!

I've then formed the ellipse that will eventually be the domed cooking area. I've finished for the day now. Syb's rellies arrived late (very bloody late) last night, I'm starting on the red wine right.......NOW!

Couple of pics to show progress.