3 Best Fire Bricks for 2023 Reviewed

By Robert Parsons March 23, 2023

What comes to mind when you think of a famous Italian eatery with mouth-watering pizza, classic dishes, and timeless decor?

As you enter the space, a black and white checkered tiled floor greets you. Traditional wooden dining chairs and tables are scattered about, while an Italian flag hangs proudly on one of the walls. The tantalizing scent of pizza fills your nostrils as your eyes focus on its brick oven source – a delicious reminder that this is truly authentic Italian cuisine!

Firebricks come in an array of shapes and dimensions, used for the lining of furnaces, fireplaces, and stoves – plus they take pizza ovens to a sumptuous new level! One taste and your customers can tell the difference between regular old-school oven pizzas compared to those made with smoky flavor from brick ovens. Of course, we all know that scrumptious smokey flavor is only possible when you build your own brick hearth – now that’s what I call delicious!

What sets firebricks apart from regular bricks is that they can maintain their integrity under intense temperatures. Firebricks are specially designed for lining fireplaces, stoves, furnaces in both residential and industrial settings. Even though it’s not an immutable rule to use these bricks when building a pizza oven, consumers and professional chefs highly recommend using them due to their heat-resistant quality.

The Best Fire Bricks

If you’re looking for an in-depth overview of fire bricks, this buyer’s guide is just the thing. We’ll take you through all the advantages and uses of these bricks for both domestic and commercial purposes so that you can make a well-informed decision. So get comfortable, it’ll be an informative ride!

Product Review Rating Price
Rutland Products Fire Bricks Read Review 4.6
Girtech Fire Bricks Read Review 4.5
US Stove Firebricks Read Review 4.3
Our Favourite

1. Rutland Products Fire Bricks

4.6/5.0
Looks / Appearance 4.0 / 5.0
Ease of use 5.0 / 5.0
Functionality 5.0 / 5.0

Pros

  • – Withstands temperatures up to 2,700°F
  • – Easy installation
  • – Great heat retention

Cons

  • – Some buyers have reported poor shipping

Both construction professionals and everyday home-owners have trusted Rutland Products for over 130 years. Knowing this, it comes as no surprise that their firebrick is of superb quality and perfect for building domestic heating units and replacing old bricks in existing ones.

2. Girtech Fire Bricks

4.5/5.0
Looks / Appearance 4.0 / 5.0
Ease of use 5.0 / 5.0
Functionality 5.0 / 5.0

Pros

  • – Handles temperatures up to 3,050°F
  • – Can be used both outdoors and indoors
  • – High compressive strength

Cons

  • – Shipping has room for improvement

Fire bricks are among the greatest materials to use for all types of heating units, from furnaces and fireplaces to stoves and ovens, due to their high compressive strength, density, and other characteristics. In fact, a very well-known appliance is built using this kind of brick. Of course, the pizza oven may be the topic of our discussion!

3. US Stove Firebricks

4.3/5.0
Looks / Appearance 5.0 / 5.0
Ease of use 4.0 / 5.0
Functionality 5.0 / 5.0

Pros

  • – Lightweight
  • – Easy Installation
  • – Thermal Conductivity of 2,000 BTU

Cons

  • – Not for outdoor firebrick usage

When it comes to finding the perfect firebrick for your oven, kiln, wood, or coal-fueled stove, you’ll find the quality and performance you’re looking for in US Stove Firebricks. 

US Stove Company has been innovating for over 150 years with heating appliances that support Americans in staying warm and self-reliant. With this much time and experience under their belt, there’s no questioning the superiority of the firebricks they offer.

What are Fire Bricks?

Firebricks are a unique type of refractory material that can withstand the highest temperatures. They are used by chefs, artisans, and other professionals to line kilns, ovens, stoves, and furnaces for greater energy efficiency than regular bricks due to their low thermal conductivity. Moreover, firebricks have great applications in both fireplaces and forging projects alike!

Why Fire Bricks Are Necessary?

For tasks and appliances that require enduring high-temperature settings, firebricks are the necessary solution. Firebrick is composed of refractory ceramic material which differs from traditional bricks used in sidewalks or driveways. This specialized brick can withstand intense heat environments not achievable with other building materials.

Firebricks are the ideal choice to protect your stove’s steel sides, as their exceptional insulating and heat-retaining properties keep high temperatures within the firebox to prevent them from leaking out. Furthermore, these bricks provide a number of additional advantages:

  • – With superior heat retention, you’ll never have to worry about burnt pizza, pastries, and other baked goods again.
  • – Through reflection, more light is captured and directed into the oven fire to expedite cooking.
  • – When it comes to pizza ovens, Firebrick offers a truly classic experience with its authentic design.
  • Firebricks are free from any hazardous chemicals, making them a safe choice for use in various projects.
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What to Look for When Buying Fire Bricks?

When selecting wood stove fire bricks, there are several variables to consider. In particular:

Go Hard or Go Soft?

Fire bricks come in both soft and hard varieties. Hard fire bricks are incredibly resilient, dense, and perfect for chimneys, kilns, fireboxes, and burner ports. On the other hand, soft firebricks are composed of refractory components that contain combustible materials; making them lightweight yet highly effective as liners that can withstand extreme temperatures from 2000°F to 3300°F!

Grades

Fire clay, used in the manufacture of firebricks, contains alumina and silica. These two elements give it its ability to absorb high-temperature levels. You’ll find that hard bricks can be found with different grades including:

  • – Low-Duty: Reliably endure temperatures of up to 1,750ºF while providing 24-26% alumina. Yes, this material is perfect for fireplace chimneys.
  • – Medium-Duty: Constructed with 34-38% alumina, this robust material is suitable for low-temperature ceramics kilns and flues. It can resist temperatures up to an incredible 2,700ºF!
  • – High-Duty: Boasting an alumina content of 36-40%, this special material can handle temperatures up to 2,850°F, making it ideal for chimneys, backup linings, and boilers as well as ceramic kilns.
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Shapes

9 x 4.5 x 2.5 inches is the dimension of a typical refractory brick, available in various shapes such as:

  • – Straights
  • – Splits
  • – Soaps
  • – Wedge
  • – Arch
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Selecting the shape and size that is right for your needs depends on what you intend to use the fire bricks for. For example, insulating firebricks can be easily cut by hand with a saw while hard bricks require specialized equipment. Consider precisely why you need these bricks; decide which form best accommodates that purpose, then make your selection!

What Fire Bricks are the Best for Pizza Ovens?

If you’re searching for fire bricks to fit in your pizza oven, look no further than clay and kiln-fired options. These are the ideal choice to unlock your inner pizza-baking wizardry as they can withstand the intense heat inside a pizza oven – something concrete bricks simply cannot do.

Don’t worry about your fire bricks, even if you own a low-duty grade–they are designed to withstand temperatures up to 1,000°F and more! Now you can rest easy knowing that your pizza oven can reach scorchingly hot temperatures without causing any damage.

Conclusion

For pizza lovers, there are few pleasures that can compare to the taste of homemade fire-baked goodness. Fire bricks for wood-fired ovens hold heat extremely well even with a relatively small flame and will cook large batches without costing an arm and a leg – typically ranging from $1-$3 per brick!

If you’re pondering the amount to invest in fire bricks, then be overjoyed when you discover their affordability. As we’ve mentioned earlier regarding woodstove fire bricks, there’s no doubt that a brick pizza oven is a right choice for you. To make your quest simpler and more convenient, take a peek at our list of top 3 picks today!