FAQs

Lead Times

Our ovens are handmade on site to order in Worcester, UK. This means we may face a backlog of orders during our busier periods. When you place an order we will give you the option to pick a date that’s best for you. If you are not yet sure but want to place the order you can get in touch to amend a delivery date pending it is past the lead time.

Please seen below the current lead time status.

Current Lead Time: 5 days for Primos/Mezzos. 7-10 days for Ventos/Gustos

Why buy from The Stone Bake Oven Company?

Here at The Stone Bake Oven Company, we manufacture and distribute our ovens in and outside of the UK, removing the middleman. We pride ourselves on our extensive experience of wood fired oven manufacturing and are always on hand for credible advice and guidance.  Unlike any other manufacturer, all our ovens are reinforced with Micro Mesh Technology, exclusive to The Stone Bake Oven Company.

The Oven Insulation Kit Overview

The Insulation Kit is an optional add-on which can you purchase if you wish to insulate your oven for improved heat retention (taking a standard 4 hours to 24+ hours). Insulating also means that you can encase the oven in standard brickwork or render without it being affected by the heat. The kit includes a decorative archway for the entrance of your oven, insulation wool to insulate your dome and calcium silicate board to insulate the floor.  You can also purchase these components separately if you wish. Please note the Vento 100 and Gusto 120 come with an insulation kit as standard.

The Oven Render Kit Overview

If you wish to render your oven you must first insulate it. Rendering it means you can shape the exterior of your oven to a mould of your choosing. First encase your wool in chicken wire and then apply the glass fibre mesh to create a skeleton for your render structure. The render itself is a composition of sand and cement which can then be painted or tiled to achieve your desired effect. The full render assembly guide can be found here

Cooking Capabilities

All of our Stone Bake ovens are capable of a range of cooking techniques, allowing you to cook pizza, grill, bake, and roast. They are even capable of hot and cold smoking. For those looking for overnight slow cooking, please see our Insulation Kit. When insulated, the oven retains its heat for over 24 hours which is perfect for long, slow cooking. Find all you need in The Stone Bake Oven Company’s Using Your Oven Section.

What is the sealant and how do I use it?

The Stone Bake Oven Sealant is used to protect your oven from the elements. The sealant prevents moisture getting into the dome, which can cause cracks due to the freeze thaw process. After your first heating of the oven, put the sealant on the dome. We recommend applying this at least every 6 months. If you have the oven encased in render it is not a bad idea to apply sealant to that either.

Heat Up Times & Heat Retention

Our ovens heat up quickly, reaching maximum cooking temperatures within 20-50 minutes depending on the model. Your very first firing will take slightly longer, this is normal. Due to its insulating nature, the standard oven dome can retain heat in its core form for over 4 hours, without the need to add additional wood. Insulating the ovens using our insulation kits can take the heat retention to 24 hours.

There Are Cracks Appearing On The Dome?

When you first use your oven, you should light it for 4 hours, bringing the heat up gradually. Sometimes, if heated too quickly, fine cracks can appear on the dome. Please be assured that hairline cracking is a completely normal expectation of any wood fired oven. Our oven material is reinforced with micro mesh technology meaning that despite hairline cracks, it is still completely safe to use. As our ovens heat and cool, they will expand and contract, this is a normal expectation. Please note that the cracks will likely appear larger when hot as the oven expands and then contracts when it gets cooler. They can also vary in size, so some cracks may be small and others larger. Again, this is completely normal. It is also normal for steam and water to omit from these cracks where condensation has built up, but again this doesn’t mean the oven will be losing any heat. This will stop after your first few heatings.

Please be assured that hairline cracking is purely cosmetic and will not affect the performance or longevity of your oven in any way. Oven cracking is normal on a wood fired oven and Micro-Mesh Technology ensures the structural integrity of your oven over time. Please note oven cracks need to exceed 3mm (or over a £1 coin thickness) to qualify as unusual, smaller hairline cracks are normal. Send a photo to the Stone Bake Team if you need further guidance on hairline cracking.

Our other advice would be that when you see these cracks appear, do not add to the heat. Retain the heat as it is, as heating it too quickly can lead to worse cracking.

There Is Water Coming Out of my dome?

During the manufacturing process, water is used in the mix used to create the dome. When the oven is heated for the first time the oven will release this moisture as either steam or water. This shows the oven is drying as planned, so do not fear when where is water on the dome. After the first lighting, the majority of the moisture will have escaped. This is the perfect time to seal it.

The water you see is the moisture escaping from the dome through the cracks, which again is nothing to be concerned about. You should also be able to wipe off the residue. As you continue to use the oven, all of the moisture will have escaped and there will no longer be water coming out the dome.

There Are Small Holes In The Back Of My Oven?

Our ovens are hand cast in moulds, to order. Due to gravity, when the oven is cast some holes may appear in the dome, particularly at the back. These holes are checked before dispatch to ensure that they will not effect the longevity or performance of you oven. If you order an oven and are unhappy with the holes, we can send you a patch kit free of charge.

What Is The Patch Kit and How Do I Use It?

The patch kit consists of a powder which is the same colour as our ovens. Mix it with a bit of water until it forms a paste and fill any cracks or holes with it by pushing it in with some the gloves. Let it set and then apply oven sealant to the exterior.

Indoor and Outdoor Installation

Our ovens are DEFRA exempt meaning they can be used indoors. If you are looking to install your oven inside, you will require a Twin Wall Flue to adhere to regulations. The Twin Wall Flue offers a layer of insulation to the flue and a flash which is used to pass the flue through the roof, while protecting the roof from any heat transfer. This makes them perfect for outdoor kitchens with roofs, gazebos, pergolas and conservatory areas within your house. We will try to fulfill all your needs, but for more complex flue solutions (for examples ones that require extraction) we may refer you to our network of flue specialist.

DEFRA Exemption

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) states that in certain areas of the UK (mainly built up areas), it can be an offence to burn solid fuels without the use of an exempt appliance.

For this reason, the ovens in The Stone Bake Oven Company’s range have been DEFRA tested and made exempt, ensuring that they are safe for both indoor and outdoor use. Please refer to the product specification tables for a PDF download of our certificate of exemption and also to find out how to make our ovens safe for indoor use.

Exempt appliances are appliances (ovens, wood burners and stoves) that have been made exempt by Statutory Instruments (Orders) under the Clean Air Act 1993 or Clean Air (Northern Ireland) Order 1981. These have passed tests to confirm that they are capable of burning an unauthorised or inherently smoky solid fuel without emitting excessive emissions.

If you are not in a smoke control area, you do not need to worry about DEFRA Exemption, although this certification can help if issues were to arise with neighbouring properties.

Flue Placement

Our Flue is placed outside the oven cooking chamber. This smart design means that when the door is closed, the flue vent is shut off. This feature is crucial for maximum heat retention, low wood consumption and especially useful for baking and other cooking techniques. Ovens with centralised flue vents in the oven dome result in sub-standard heat retention and higher fuel consumption.

Material Composition

The oven domes are made from an insulating aggregate, resulting in excellent heat retention. Our oven bases are made from a dense, commercial grade material which you can find in industrial furnaces . This material stores heat for longer, allowing for crispy pizza bases and excellent cooking ability for hours on end. Due to the dense and insulating qualities of the dome, the oven can be used in its core form, without the need for extra insulation and building works.

Reinforcement

The Oven is reinforced with Micro Mesh Technology, exclusive to The Stone Bake Oven Company. Micro Mesh Technology sees stainless steel fibres embedded in the oven material, which form a complex mesh within the oven. These fibres allow the oven to expand and contract whilst heating and cooling, maintaining structural integrity. Micro-Mesh Technology results in an oven that is designed to last.

Weather and Frost Proof

Whilst our ovens are already treated for protection from the elements, including frost, The Stone Bake Oven Company strongly recommends applying our sealant . Applying the sealant just twice per year is all you need to keep your oven protected in the long term.

Assembly

The oven is designed for easy installation. The oven dome is in one piece(two Half pieces for the Vento 100 and Gusto 120 and the two-part oven base makes for easy manoeuvring. The base fits together with a tongue and groove joint and the dome sits in a recess in the base. For the Primo and the Mezzo, you can opt for a hands free approach by purchasing a stand. Ask The Stone Bake Oven Company for guidance on building a wooden stand. Please note: if you build your own oven stand, you do so at your own risk.

Oven Stand Information

You can purchase a metal, weatherproof stand from The Stone Bake Oven Company online shop as a ‘ready to go option’, Please note these stands only fit the Primo and the Mezzo ovens.

Alternatively, you can build a brick or block work stand to place the oven on. You can place your oven on a wooden stand, however you MUST adhere to all safety precautions suggested by The Stone Bake Oven Company. Please refer to the oven stand advice manual in the Manuals and Videos section of the website. For additional guidance on building your own stand please see the Manuals and Videos section of the website.

Delivery

Our standard Primo 60 and Mezzo 76 Oven delivery costs £49.99. Vento 100 and Gusto 120 delivery is £99.99.Delivery takes place between 9-5.30pm, Monday – Friday. If you wish for you oven to be delivered Saturday 8:30-1pm then there will be an extra charge. Unfortunately a specific time may not be available, however tracking details will be emailed to you the morning of delivery. Someone will need to be present to sign for your oven delivery. Please note – it is not the responsibility of the driver to set your oven in place and/or assemble it. For more information on deliveries, please see our delivery document.

Product Delivery Fee Weight (*Add 50kg for Pallets)
Primo 49.99 200kg*
Mezzo 49.99 300kg*
Vento 99.99 350kg*
Gusto 99.99 420kg*
Stand 49.99 25kg
Kit 49.99 50kg
All other products 9.99 Specific to product

Both our manufacturing facilities and offices are based in Worcester. If you wish to collect your order please get in touch with us as we can arrange this with you.

Full terms and conditions can be found here.