Pizza Oven Front Veneer Begins - June 2026

While most of my priority to-do items on my annual list involve horticulture, a few of them are different type of projects.  #5 is to "Finish the Pizza Oven".  Finishing it means the finish materials:  exterior cladding with brick veneer, trim around the roof and covering the roof.  

Late last year, I began to play around with brick veneer. I started along the backside (just to get the hang of the materials) before Winter arrived.  But, one of the things I've been watching is the temperature tolerances of the veneer mortar.  I wrote about the temperature requirements earlier this Spring.  With the temps (finally) rising, we're in the window to work on the veneer.

After getting the hang of the material on the back and one of the sides (Note:  I didn't complete either, just did a couple of rows.), I have moved to the front.  I'm using two types of brick veneer - one is about half the price of the other, but I prefer (surprise, surprise) the look of the more expensive veneer.  

So, I'm using that more expensive type on the front face and along one of the sides that you can see from the house.  I'll use the other type on the other two faces.

I am using L-shaped corners on this front face (both sides) to give the illusion of using full bricks.  That's where I started - by applying the corner pieces in an alternating layout.  I have yet to pull out the tile saw, so I'm only applying full-width (non-cut) pieces so far.  I figure I'll get the saw out and make all the cuts at once.

I went up eight layers with corners and then did the first full row across the front.  Well...not quite "full", but mostly "full".  I'll make that last cut piece at some point.  Getting this layer level and straight seemed important, so I took my time and attached a cleat to hang the brick tiles against.  

This is slow-going (for me) because I'm only doing one row at a time to allow for the mortar to set-up.  On one of the sides, I found my bricks sort-of 'drifting' downward over time.  On the front face, it seems important to avoid that look - thus....the one-layer-at-a-time (per day) progress.

Nat provided a sketch of what we're going for - and it includes surrounding the mouth of the oven in tile with the rest clad in brick.  That's why I've left the center part here open and blank.   She's calling for white tile surrounding a mosiac (black penny tile) in the center.  Black roof trim and a red roof.

Also, in terms of progress here, I applied a base coat mortar to a number of spots around the face of the oven to attempt to get a more-level base.  You can see it peeking out from the cement board and (now) covering part of the firebricks around the mouth of the oven.  I'm thinking that I'll try to find some flexible Schluter edging to encase the tiles.

In addition to continuing the veneer, I have to finish the legs in front - going to apply more lumber, then a screening that can handle the veneer.