Pizza Oven Enclosure Brick Veneer Update - Mortar Application And Beginning Grout - July 2026

Earlier this month, I posted the latest update on the progress of finishing our backyard wood-fired pizza oven where I showed the continued application of brick veneer to the exterior to clad the enclosure in a finished material.  At that time, I had most of the back and some parts of one side/the front complete.  

Fast forward a little bit and now the brick veneer is fully-applied.  I ended up using two types of bricks (a cost-cutting choice) that I sort-of have come to regret.  But, that's only after I began to grout the bricks.  I used a more expensive brick on the front that came with L-Shaped 'corners' to help provide the illusion of full-dimensional bricks being used.  I'm glad I did that.  But, I also used a far-cheaper brick veneer product for the back and parts of the sides of the oven.  

I thought that they would be hidden (in the case of the back and most of the sides), so it wouldn't matter if the 'cheaper' brick was back there and it didn't look as nice/authentic/real-brick as the front.  Because, most people will ONLY see the front.

Before I talk about my evolved feeling on the veneer, let's first look at the current state of the oven with the veneer applied.  

Here, below is the front of the oven with the 'more expensive' veneer applied.  Around the mouth of the oven will be a different material (Black Penny tile).  

Here, below, is the east side elevation.  With the 'expensive brick' on the top and the cheaper, white brick on the bottom.  Our plan is to paint the whole thing in an exterior white masonry paint, so the color differences won't be as stark once painted.  

Brick Veneer on Wood Fired Pizza Oven

I began to apply the grout, too.  First with a grout bag, then with a float.  Then back with the grout bag.  After getting the mix right.  Filling in the gaps really changes the look and begins to finish the bricks.

Brick Veneer on Wood Fired Pizza Oven

Below is the West side elevation after being grouted.  The mis-aligned bricks and lack of straight lines sort-of disappear when the grout is applied.  The color difference between the bricks faded with the grout, too.  

Brick Veneer on Wood Fired Pizza Oven

What has surprised me at this point is that I *actually* seem to prefer the 'cheaper' bricks.  Now that they're grouted, I think I like the way they look with the larger grout lines.  Hindsight is...well...20/20, but the 'corners' of the more expensive brick pushed me to go that route.  Can't change it, now.  

Next up is moving on to grouting the rest of the enclosure.  Then, we'll get around to trimming the roof out and applying the paint to the exterior.