The Tandoor Site

Building: Planning

The tandoor needs to be firmly supported at a manageable working height. It needs to be supported on a heat resistant platform and surrounded by insulating material. The overall structure must be resistant to English weather conditions and must not be an eyesore. The structure should be robustly constructed so as to survive for many years.

The foundation is a one metre square concrete slab, approximately 75mm deep. This is supported by a 75mm layer of hardcore on top of compacted earth. The concrete slab provides a sturdy base for the tandoor and the brick enclosure. No damp proof membrane is included – time will tell if this is a mistake.

The tandoor stands on a layer of firebricks which are dry-laid directly onto the concrete base. These bricks protect the concerete base from the high temperatures at the base of the tandoor. The bricks are dry-laid so that they can be replaced individually if they bacome worn or damaged. The bottom of the tandoor is sealed to the firebricks with fire cement.

The tandoor is surrounded by vermiculite insulation, to a minimum thickness of 100mm. This reduces the rate at which heat is lost from the tandoor, reducing the fuel consumption. The insulation is retained by brick walls which also support the working surface on the top of the structure. The working surface is exterior-grade plywood with a hole through which the mouth of the tandoor protrudes.

The top of the structure is protected by a cover constructed from more plywood. It is important to keep the tandoor liner as dry as possible to prevent damage to the unfired clay. An air gap has been left around the cover to provide ventilation and safeguard against damp.