The Benefits of Using Refractory Bricks

Two of the most common questions people ask when building a wood burning pizza oven are.

"Do I need to use refractory bricks when building an oven?" and "What is the difference between refractory bricks and ordinary bricks?"

A brief history of brick ovens

Brick ovens have been in use for over 1000 years. Dating back to ancient Egypt and many other countries around the world. With the invention of electric and gas ovens in the last century, the need for such ovens has diminished considerably.

Today, brick ovens are returning to the mainstream, thanks in no small part to the wood-burning oven pizza movement, inspired by the fine pizzas and pies that people enjoyed on holiday in Italy and throughout Europe. People are making these traditional style ovens with increasing frequency as they add value and character to the home and create a great social atmosphere for any event or gathering.

Straight Fireclay Bricks
 

People often choose to build their own ovens (DIY), but there are many professional oven builders who can build your oven for you. If you would like a list of skilled local contractors, you are welcome to contact us and we can offer you some advice.

"Do I need to use refractory bricks for my pizza oven?" Although you do not have to use refractory bricks for your pizza oven, they are highly recommended by professionals and consumers alike.

Here are 4 reasons why you should use refractory bricks in your oven.

1. No toxic additives

You need to remember that you will be using this oven for cooking, not just watching! As the colours and styles of the standard blocks vary considerably, this means that the ingredients used in their manufacture also vary considerably.

To ensure that your food remains chemical free, it is always a better option to use refractory bricks. These are just a few of the many reasons why it's a better idea to avoid using house bricks and spreaders inside your pizza oven. You can always use standard bricks around the outside to build your stand - in fact we recommend this as standard bricks actually work better in wet weather.

2. Better heat retention + slower heat release.

Because refractory bricks are better at keeping heat in, it means you don't have to store the fire all the time and you can use less wood in the long run. Another great feature is that the heat is released more evenly and more slowly, which means you are less likely to burn bread, pastries, pizza bases etc.

3. More heat resistant than ordinary bricks.

Although 'normal' bricks can withstand quite high temperatures, they do make a big difference. With refractory bricks, you can be sure that your bricks will not crack or become brittle through continued use. If the bricks start to crack, it could mean that they have to be replaced, or worse, replacing whole sections of the oven can become very expensive and very quick.

4. Reflect more light into the oven, which is helpful when cooking

Because they are usually a light or cream colour and they don't darken as easily as house bricks, fire-resistant bricks are much better at reflecting light into the oven. This may not seem like a big deal, but if you have ever cooked in a brick oven, you will know that providing extra light in the cooking area is a big help.

Due to the temperature the oven reaches, it is impossible to put lights in there. Yes, there is a fire inside which can give off some light, but usually once the fire reaches the point where it is made mainly of hot coals, you are cooking and giving off very little light.

For more information, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.