
Insulation material for pizza ovens and wood-fired ovens
July 31, 2023 Julia Haberecht
Ratgeber
Ratgeber
Insulation Materials for Pizza Ovens: Vermiculite and Ceramic Fiber
When building your own pizza oven, it is crucial to use suitable insulation materials to achieve optimal cooking results and ensure efficient use of the oven. Two commonly used insulation materials are vermiculite and ceramic fiber. In this article, we will take a closer look at these materials and explain their benefits for pizza oven construction.
Vermiculite:
Vermiculite is a natural, mineral-layered material that has a mica-like structure in its raw form. When heated, vermiculite expands and forms a lightweight, heat-insulating layer. These properties make it a popular insulation material for pizza ovens.
Vermiculite has the following advantages:
- Excellent insulation: Vermiculite has high heat resistance and helps to retain heat in the oven and ensure an even temperature distribution.
- Lightweight: Compared to other insulation materials, vermiculite is lightweight, making the construction and handling of the oven easier.
- Easy installation: Vermiculite can be purchased in the form of loose granules or as pre-made boards, which simplifies installation inside the oven.
However, some disadvantages should also be considered when using vermiculite as an insulation material: It is crucial to protect the oven from moisture, as vermiculite can absorb water, which may impair its insulating capability. However, this also applies to firebrick in the pizza oven, which is why the oven is protected from moisture during construction anyway.
Ceramic Fiber:
- Ceramic fiber is a heat-resistant material made from aluminosilicate fibers. It is known for its excellent insulation properties and is frequently used in industrial furnaces, melting furnaces, and also pizza ovens. The use of ceramic fiber as an insulation material offers some remarkable advantages:
- Excellent thermal insulation: Ceramic fiber has a very low thermal conductivity, making it a highly efficient insulation material.
- Low density: Ceramic fiber is lightweight yet strong, preventing unnecessary load on the oven structure.
- Flexibility: Due to its fibrous structure, ceramic fiber is flexible and easy to shape into the desired form, which facilitates installation.
Despite these advantages, there are some aspects to consider when using ceramic fiber as an insulation material: The installation of ceramic fiber materials requires appropriate protective clothing and respiratory protection, as the fibers can be harmful if inhaled. It is important to follow the manufacturer's safety instructions.
The Result: Highly Recommended
The use of vermiculite and ceramic fiber as insulation materials in the construction of a pizza oven each offer specific benefits. Vermiculite is easy to handle and provides good insulating properties, while ceramic fiber ensures excellent thermal insulation but requires special care during handling. Both materials are excellent options for insulating a pizza oven when used correctly and following safety measures, leading to delicious, perfectly baked pizzas. Before deciding on one of the materials, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the individual characteristics of your oven and the specific requirements of your project.
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Average rating of 5 out of 5 stars
The insulation for the pizza oven: vermiculite. Only high-quality materials are used for the pizza ovens in our range. However, you can strengthen the performance and energy efficiency of many pizza ovens with a suitable insulation. To do this, the round domes of the pizza ovens are walled square and then filled with the appropriate insulation material. Insulation for the pizza oven is made of vermiculite, a particularly light and efficient insulating material. The advantages of insulation for the pizza oven A good and comprehensively executed insulation of the pizza oven by means of vermiculite not only looks good and can change the whole appearance of the oven. Because there are several other advantages that the insulation brings. The pizza oven works more efficiently, and the risk of injury is also reduced. In addition, thanks to the insulation, the oven can be used indoors. Grain size 4 (0-8 mm), bulk density approx. 75-85 kg/m³Dimension and proportion8,0 - 5,6 mm %5,6 - 3,15 mm %3,15 - 2,0 mm %2,0 - 1,0 mm %< 1,0 mm % Greater efficiency through higher energy storage thanks to vermiculite Another advantage of effective insulation using bulk material is the very effective energy storage of the insulation material. This means that the heat remains in the interior of the kiln and cannot escape further to the outside. This ensures higher efficiency, as the furnace needs to be loaded with less heating material. This factor may sound like a minimal difference at first, but with regular use, this reduction in heating materials can have a significant financial impact. Sooner or later, the cost of insulating the pizza oven will definitely pay for itself. Minimize the risk of injury through insulation for the pizza oven Especially in the catering industry, but also in many normal households, the pizza ovens are used without protective insulation. However, when the pizza ovens burn continuously and have corresponding temperatures inside, part of these temperatures very quickly reach the outside of the oven. A careless movement or an inconsiderate touch later, painful burns occur in the worst case. Especially families with children and professional catering, for these reasons, we always advise a comprehensive insulation for the pizza oven. If it is to be operated indoors, this insulation for the pizza oven is usually mandatory anyway in order to comply with fire safety regulations. How to build an optimal insulation for the pizza oven The basis for optimal insulation for a pizza oven is the structure. As a rule, the round top of the oven is provided with a square wall. It is important to size this correctly so that you do not have to use too much insulation material. Basically, a good 7 cm of space should be left between the furnace top and the wall on the sides of the brick surround. This leaves enough space for the ceramic fiber and the fill layer. Above the copings, you should allow enough space for 10 to 20 cm of insulation layer. The first step in the insulation process is to lay the ceramic fiber tightly around the furnace tops. Here, make sure that the dome is well and comprehensively covered. Now you can put the vermiculite as insulation for the pizza oven between the domes and the brickwork. Make sure that the material is well compacted without exerting too much pressure on the dome. It often helps to just lightly jiggle the material so that it can trickle into the existing gaps. Once the layer has been applied, the walling can be completed. This is why vents must be kept clear Even a modern and efficient insulation for the pizza oven, as offered by us, must follow certain guidelines. For this reason, it is especially important that the insulation is not completely airtight. It may certainly look attractive to plaster the oven or the entire wall afterwards, but you should leave at least two ventilation openings in the wall. Through these, the moisture that accumulates in the insulation material can disperse, so that the stove ventilates effectively on a permanent basis. This not only ensures better results, but also immensely increases the life of the pizza oven. Vermiculite instead of your own tools Again and again one hears from owners of pizza ovens that they do without the "expensive" insulating material and prefer to use sand or gravel from their own garden. What sounds at first like private individuals, unfortunately also occurs in the catering trade again and again. However, the pizza ovens are built in such a way that they have a certain load limit due to the dome shape. Although the ovens are stable and therefore ideally suited for normal operation, if the maximum load is exceeded, problems quickly arise. And anyone who piles up a layer of about 10 to 20 cm of sand on the dome will exceed this load limit extremely quickly. Thus, permanent damage to the oven will occur, just because the rather low price for a good insulation for the pizza oven should not be paid. The advantage of our insulation for the pizza oven When choosing the right insulation material, you need to pay attention to many different factors. Firstly, the weight of the material plays a not insignificant role. If the weight of the insulation is too heavy, the vault of the pizza oven can not compensate for the pressure, so the curvature may collapse. In such a case, the oven would be completely damaged and no longer usable in this form. In addition, the material used must have very good insulating properties.Finally, it is necessary to reduce the temperature transfer to a minimum. The last aspect is also important. Because a good insulation must be able to absorb the ambient moisture. Thus, excessive moisture formation inside the furnace can be prevented. We have chosen a combination of two different materials. First, a ceramic fiber is used, which serves as the first insulation layer. In order to increase its efficiency, the bulk material is now introduced, which has the above-mentioned properties and thus provides perfect insulation for the pizza oven. We will be happy to provide you with comprehensive and personal advice Of course, it is difficult to choose between the various offers in our range. It is important that you get both the right pizza oven and the right insulation material for your requirements and wishes. After all, it is a clear difference whether you want to operate the pizza oven for your family or gastronomically. For this reason, our experts will be happy to assist you by phone and provide you with comprehensive advice. So you can not only find the right insulation for the pizza oven, but with our help and experience, you can also order the appropriate quantities of insulation material. This makes it even easier to provide the optimal insulation and to sustainably increase the efficiency of your pizza oven. Contact us simply and straightforwardly via our contact form or by e-mail and arrange a callback by us with pleasure. We will ensure your satisfaction with comprehensive and professional advice! We are already looking forward to your contact!!!
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Innovation with beautiful details, the stone oven Valoriani Indirect. With its indirect heating of the baking surface, the oven Valoriani Indirect seeks its peers. The patented process allows particularly gentle and even baking due to radiant heat. The fire in the combustion chamber heats the firebrick stones of the baking surface and is fed from behind, where it surrounds the entire baking chamber. The heating time to 300 degrees takes about 30 minutes. Two pizzas can be baked at the same time in a few minutes. The exhaust gases are led forward to the controllable flue. The advantages of the innovative technology: The entire baking surface can be used and it can be baked continuously. The Valoriani Indirect can be placed both indoors and outdoors. Installation inside and outside: Inside, the Valoriani Indirect can be integrated into the elements of a kitchen as a supplement to the stove and mounted next to the fireplace or in the party room. Outside, he finds his place next to the barbecue, on the terrace or in the garden. But then it must be protected from the weather. As a mounting kit or pre-assembled: The Valoriani Indirect is equipped with thermometer, ash box, smoke connection and hardwood handles. Ideal is a 3-layer insulation with ceramic fiber of about 8 cm, to ensure a slow cooling and a long life. After that, it can be plastered or walled up. It is important that no moisture can get into the insulation. Take a look at our sample pictures. The kit Valoriani Indirect is a special fire concrete, which is poured into molds. Schamottseteine and clay granules provide excellent thermal conductivity and insulation. The stove is reworked by hand during assembly. Please keep in mind that certain dimensional tolerances +/- 5mm and small irregularities are normal. Alternatively, the model is also available as an already assembled model including ceramic fiber insulation, metallic cladding and bottom plate in Toscanarot. Ideal for your private party The model is perfectly adequate even for larger families and small celebrations. With a baking time of 3 - 4 minutes per pizza depending on temperature, surface and firing, all guests can be satisfied.For bread baking and the lower firing chamber swept in the second baking process and used for baking. The oven keeps the heat long enough to have twice the capacity at the end of the pizza steak . The details for private use: Important for customers is the compact size of the model: After cladding and insulation, they receive external dimensions of 70-80 cm and a depth of 80 cm.The flue gas duct through the baking chamber provides the traditional taste. The baking chamber is less contaminated with soot particles or ash in relation to a directly mounted model. The compact dimensions of the Valoriani Indirekt make it ideal for terraces, balconies or even small gardens.You can bake your pizza directly on the firebrick and alternatively on metal sheets, it is important to get a feel for the oven.The floor temperatures are always slightly higher than in dome furnaces, this should be considered in order to achieve the best results for its taste . If the soil temperature is too high, we recommend placing the embers in the back of the glow chamber about 20 minutes before the pizza stump .Also delicious is the cooking and cooking of vegetables, pasta or meat in this wood oven. This is possible in commercial casserole dishes at any time and they get crispy and juicy dishes. We wish you a good appetite! A small baking instructions model "Valoriani Indirect ": Ideal is to heat the oven at least 1 to 1.5 hours to about 280-300 degrees. If they want to bake directly on the pizza stone made of fireclay, ideally after firing up the embers should be pushed back to the last third, so that the floor temperature is not too hot. If they bake on trays, this is not necessary, as these somewhat reduce the temperature emanating from the pizza stone. You should add one or two small pieces of wood every 15-20 minutes so that the pizza oven settles at a minimum of 250 degrees. Once the pizza is inserted, the oven should be closed again to keep the heat in the oven. Thin pizzas and not too many toppings are ideal. Then you achieve a delicious and crispy pizza directly on the bottom in about 3-5 minutes of baking. If they want to bake bread in the second round, remove the embers completely and leave the oven open for 10 minutes so that some heat escapes. Then put the bread in and close the oven for 30-40 minutes. Closing the smoke control is also ideal.