Framing Pizza Oven Landing Support - November 2025

A couple weeks back, I posted an update on the pizza oven that showed the treated lumber framing that I attached to the front of the block stand (I used Tapcon concrete anchors) as part of the prep work for the installation of the final counter that serves as the 'landing' of the oven.  

In that post, I showed *most* of the framing installed, but since then, the countertop installer came by to measure the space.  When he was here, we talked about extending the front of the framing to provide a bit more support.  And, he suggested that I put down a layer of tile-backer board across the top.  The countertop installer suggested that he would use thinset mortar to affix the countertop in-place and the tile-backer board would provide the right base.

As I was looking at the framing that I had already installed, I noticed that the left 'leg' was slightly off (in terms of the correct position), so before I finished up the horizontal surface prep, I moved that leg over.  

The next step was to add another 2x6 to the front of the ledge.  I (again) used construction lag screws to drive this extra 1.5" of 'support' to the rest of the framing.  I used some 2x6's that I had on-hand, so it ended up being a cut-board.  You can see that attached to the front of the oven stand in the photo below:

I've attached the framing to the concrete stand using concrete anchors (TapCons) and then attached the framing to that blocking.  I built up a sandwich of framing using 2x4's, 2x6's and 2x'8s.  Below, you can see the cross-section showing how it was stitched together and supported down to the ground.  

The last step is to apply a 1/2" layer of DensShield tile-backer board.  According to the DensShield product page, it is: "backer board with a built-in moisture barrier, ideal for wet areas. Easier to handle than cement board, it cuts like drywall and meets fire-rated assembly requirements."  

Sounds like a perfect fit for a DIY (easy to handle/cut) outdoor (moisture barrier, wet area) pizza oven (fire-rated).   Here, below, is a close-up of the backer board ready for the countertop to get installed.

Once this countertop goes on, I'm going to move on to finishing up the framing (with lath) and then continue the brick installation around the front and sides.