How to make an arch with your own hands in a doorway: step by step instructions. How to make an arch with your own hands: types of arches, necessary materials and tools for installation Do-it-yourself arched opening
Starting to repair an apartment or house, people strive to make their home as comfortable, stylish and elegant as possible. One of the most popular design ideas is the design of the doorway in the form of a semicircular arch. Having studied the technology, it is quite possible to make an arch from GKL with your own hands.
Using an arched structure, you can influence the design of the entire environment and set the tone for the arrangement of the entire interior.
Arched structures are used not only for decorating doorways, but also for zoning the corridor. In this article, you will learn how to make an arch from GKL with your own hands.
Necessary tools and material
From the tools you will need a screwdriver, tape measure, construction square, pencil, spatula, grater, container, knife, sponge, drill, jigsaw, metal shears.
Draw the outline of the arch on the drywall. To draw the upper part of the arched structure, use a homemade compass from a self-tapping screw screwed into drywall and a thread with a pencil tied to it
The greater the length of the thread, the greater the radius of the arc. Here you have the opportunity to experiment until you get the shape of the arch you need.
The blade of the tool must cut through the material strictly according to the markup - the quality of the arch directly depends on this. Next, start creating the arched frame. It can be metal or wood. Both options have their advantages: the aluminum profile is characterized by evenness and lightness, while the tree is distinguished by great strength.
If you have a concrete wall, then you first need to make holes with a drill, insert dowels into them and only then screw in the screws.
Then, after attaching all the profiles to the wall, start the installation of the plasterboard. Sheets are installed using a screwdriver. The size of the screws depends on the thickness of the drywall.
Fasten the curved aluminum profile along the edge of the drywall. This will increase the rigidity of the structure. First, attach both ends of the curved track to the metal frame, and then screw the drywall sheets to it. You need to screw in the screws in increments of 0.1-0.15 m.
Mount perpendicular pieces of the profile to connect the side walls of the arched structure to each other.
Fix the lower arched arch section. Using a tape measure, measure the length and width of the arc. Cut out the appropriate piece from the gypsum board. Attach it to the bottom of the arch, gently bending to give the desired shape.
The edges of the drywall rectangle should be flush with the walls of the arch. Fix the section with self-tapping screws on both sides of the arc. Read from the center of the arch.
Inspect the resulting design and eliminate minor defects. Proceed to finishing. Tape the edges of the drywall with fiberglass mesh or paper tape.
Apply putty (minimum 3 coats). Sand thoroughly with a grater. The arch is ready. It remains only to paint it.
Varieties of arches
There are different types of drywall arches. They usually differ in the configuration of the top, and in some cases in the way they are connected to the vertical segments.
The photo of drywall arches shows that they are usually divided into six types:
- Classic.
- Modern.
- Romance.
- Ellipse.
- Trapeze.
- Portal.
Also, a semi-arch is separately distinguished.
It is not so difficult to make and mount an arched structure yourself. You just need to study the technology and choose the appropriate design of the drywall arch. We wish you success.
Photo of drywall arches
In an effort to move away from generally accepted standards and give elegance to the interior, the owners of apartments and country houses change their usual doors to arches. This is no longer a new, but to this day a popular design highlight. The arch in the doorway is bought ready-made or made by hand. It comes in a variety of configurations, so it allows you to realize any idea.
Forms of arched openings
Interior door arches are selected not only based on taste preferences, but also depending on certain parameters: ceiling height and. The structures are made of drywall, wood, MDF, PVC. Drywall is the easiest to work with as it is the most flexible material.
Currently, there are a large number of different types of arches, which differ in shape. The most common are:
Arched openings also have different designs and, on the basis of this, are divided into several varieties:
After looking closely at your interior and choosing the right arch model, you can begin the phased work.
Step-by-step instructions for self-production
In order not to spend extra money on finished products, you can do the decoration of the arched opening yourself. To do this, you need to follow a well-established scheme.
Making the necessary measurements
Any construction process requires accuracy, which is achieved by preliminary measurements. You need to start from the opening itself, so first measure its width and height. The size of the span between the walls of the opening is equal to the width of the arch. In order to make a semicircle as accurately as possible, this indicator must be divided by two.
Before making the arch, you need to decide on its future configuration. If you are going to perform it in a classic style, then pre-align the walls. Otherwise, the design will look ugly. You can remove all defects from a vertical surface with putty or plaster using beacons.
Creating a Structural Frame
To make the installation of the frame, you must perform a series of sequential steps:
- A contour of a metal profile is screwed along the lines of the opening with dowels. Vertical guides are set indented from the surface of the interior wall. The size of the indent is equal to the thickness of the drywall sheet and the plaster layer (about 0.2 cm).
- We install two such profiles parallel to each other on each side.
For the frame device, two profiles are installed in parallel - Having finished working with the profiles, we take up the installation of the first sheet of drywall. If its thickness is 1.25 cm, then it is recommended to fasten it with 3.5x35 self-tapping screws. If the GKL thickness is not more than 0.95 cm, use smaller screws.
Drywall fixed with self-tapping screws - Sheathe the second side of the frame with drywall.
- Make a metal profile in the shape of an arc. To do this, cut the side walls of the profile with special scissors every 7 centimeters. As a result of these actions, it is easier for him to give the required shape. For an arched structure, two such blanks are required.
An arched arc is made from the profile - Install and fasten the arcuate profiles to the main part of the frame.
The arcuate profile is attached to the main part of the frame - In order for the arcs to be securely fixed, they are attached with suspensions to a straight guide located on top. The number of hangers depends on the width of the opening. Usually three pairs are enough.
- In increments of 0.4-0.6 m, attach reinforcing crossbars along the perimeter of the frame, fixing them on the guides of the two contours.
- As a result of the above actions, a reliable metal structure in the form of an arch comes out of the profile. In the future, it will be covered with plasterboard or plywood.
If it is assumed that the columns of the arches will not be too large in thickness, then it is permissible to change 2 arcs to a wide profile. Cutting and bending is done in exactly the same way. Only in this case, the installation of crossbars is not required.
Sometimes wooden slats are used instead of a metal profile. The technology of mounting the frame does not change significantly.
Bending drywall sheet
After installing the frame, they are accepted for bending the GKL. Experts recommend using drywall, designed specifically for arched structures. It easily takes the desired shape if the material is washed in the longitudinal direction.
If you decide to use ordinary drywall, then you will have to tinker with it. The installation element is cut to the desired size in the form of a rectangle. Bend it in two ways: wet and dry.
Scheme for manufacturing a bend The wet method takes a lot of time and is not rushed. So that the material does not crack when bent, it is moistened with water and punctures are made. In this form, the drywall sheet is left to lie for some time, and then it is bent on a template of the desired configuration.
The dry method refers to the application of cuts parallel to each other on the wrong side of the GKL. The cut goes deep into the sheet, affecting the outer cardboard layer and gypsum. The cardboard layer on the front side remains intact.
With the dry method, the bend of the installation element takes the correct shape. At the same time, it is important to know that sawing GKL is best done with a jigsaw, and not with a hacksaw. Then the edges will not be torn.
Rough frame trim
If the bend was carried out by the wet method, then first of all it is necessary to wait until the drywall sheet is completely dry. The material is fixed first with adhesive tape, and then with self-tapping screws. The minimum step between them should be from 5 to 6 centimeters.
Perforated corner prevents edge chipping After fixing the sheathing, the edges of the drywall sheet are cleaned. And in order to prevent chipping of the curved edge, a perforated plastic corner is installed on it.
Leveling with putty
To make the surface even, you need to finish the arched structure. To begin with, a primer is applied, and after it dries, putty. Fiberglass mesh is used to reinforce the second layer and strengthen the corners..
Fiberglass mesh reinforces the corners of the arch The last third layer of putty is applied to the grid. After about 10 hours, it dries up, after which you can start cleaning up the bumps with sandpaper. With a quality work done, the surface will be without roughness, irregularities, and the caps of the self-tapping screws will not be visible in it.
Ways to finish arches
Those who wish to finish the arches on their own will have to work hard, cutting out each detail separately. However, many do not look for difficulties and choose a simple path - they acquire factory structures from prefabricated elements.
Ready-made and prefabricated linings
There are two types of factory-made overlay: wooden and foam.
Styrofoam elements
Foam arches are often preferred as an alternative to plaster products. The advantages of such structures are as follows:
- Fast installation. The installation speed is much higher than arched structures made of plywood or plasterboard.
- Low price.
- Easy transportation. Styrofoam is a fairly light material, so you do not need to hire movers to deliver the product to your home.
- Light weight. Arches of this type can be installed even on very weak structures.
- Various forms.
Foam arches are assembled from prefabricated elements and cut in place to fit the size of the opening The negative sides of the arched foam structure are: fragility, toxicity, rapid flammability.
Wood elements
Wooden arched structures do not require advertising. They look rich and rarely do not fit any interior style. However, it should be understood that the word "wooden" does not mean that all components are made of pine, oak or other wood.
The arch can be made of natural wood, MDF, chipboard or plywood Arched elements are also made from inexpensive MDF, laminated chipboard, plywood, veneered. The desired option is selected individually based on the taste and thickness of the wallet.
Wooden elements are ordered from a catalog and then cut to length before installation. Installation of wooden structures is simple. In hardware stores, arches are sold both assembled and disassembled. The first option is considered more reliable, since the work was performed by a specialist.
Decorating with finishing materials
Currently, there are many ways to beautifully and neatly. The decor is selected so that it is in harmony in color, texture, material with the home environment. The most popular options are:
- Simple staining. The arch will look elegant and complete if it is simply painted white, brown or to match the walls. This finish is often supplemented with decorative elements, lighting.
Monochrome painting looks advantageous in combination with backlighting - Wallpapering. This is the fastest, most affordable and easy process. For these purposes, vinyl or non-woven options are best suited.
Slopes highlighted with wallpaper - a very stylish design move - Finishing with wooden, plastic clapboard. The method guarantees not only a beautiful aesthetic appearance, but also ensures the durability of the structure, its protection from moisture and mechanical damage.
The clapboard option is great for interiors with wall decoration from the same material. - Decorative plaster. The surface of the arch is beautiful, embossed and durable. True, such a finish needs to be restored sometimes, and it requires some care.
This method looks especially advantageous in deep arches. - Stone. An arch in a house made of natural or artificial stone is installed only with the help of a professional. Finishing fascinates the eye, makes the interior unusual.
The ragged edges of the arch can be the highlight of any interior. - Cork- it is quite expensive, but environmentally friendly material. It is easily susceptible to mechanical damage, therefore, to extend its service life, it is recommended to cover the cork with wax.
Cork finish brings a sense of environmental friendliness and comfort to the interior - Clinker tiles. This finish will last for years. It does not attract dirt and does not require special care.
Finishing with clinker tiles - unlimited space for interesting solutions
]]> ]]> The arch is an effective and very common way to enliven the interior, bring freshness and non-originality into it. A beautiful arch will emphasize the beauty of your home, make it original. A huge variety of forms and extraordinary visual solutions inspire many to the idea of making an arch on their own, and here the search for information begins on the topic: how to make an arch with your own hands.
Even such seemingly complex drywall constructions can be done by yourself.
Even such seemingly complex drywall constructions can be done by yourself.
In fact, it’s not difficult, the main thing is to come up with what kind of arch you want, prepare all the necessary tools, choose material, read how to make an arch with your own hands and get down to business! It is worth noting that the simplest and most reliable option is a drywall arch. It is easy to build even the most intricate curves from this material - it behaves like clay in the hands of a talented sculptor. Drywall does not need serious processing, and if you work with it carefully, you can easily give it the desired shape. You can also make an arch of concrete or brick, but this will require more patience and certain skills from you.
We make arches from drywall
If you already know how to make an arch with your own hands, moreover, you decided to make it right now, then your house will become cozier very soon. Today we will make a drywall arch, telling you step by step about the entire production process.
We start with the purchase of drywall - it is inexpensive, and this is another advantage of it. Everyone can buy drywall, because today this material is not in short supply, therefore, it can be purchased at any hardware store. When choosing drywall for your arch, remember that the thickness of the sheet at different points in the structure will be different.
For example, the lower part is made of sheets with a thickness of 9 millimeters, the side parts must be thicker - at least 12 millimeters. We have indicated the most common ratios, but you can also create your own masterpiece, unlike others.
It is important to take correct measurements.
After the drywall is purchased, you can proceed to the first stage of the production of our arch. And it begins with the preparation of a place for attaching the arch. For these purposes, it is advisable to use a special profile (as a variant of PN 28/27), which is attached with dowels or self-tapping screws to the doorway. We drill end holes, hammer plastic dowels into them for screwing in screws, thereby strengthening this part in the opening.
The dimensions of your arch will depend on the opening that you want to decorate in this way. You can cut out all the drawn elements of this design using a special knife or a jigsaw (the second option is faster and more accurate). Cut out the drawn semicircle. We cut out the second semicircle according to the template - we apply the cut out part to a new sheet and outline the outline. From the remaining material, we cut out a strip, the width of which is slightly larger than the width of the doorway and longer than the opening of the arch itself. To prevent the destruction of the plate, and the cut turned out to be neat, we recommend using a special blade for the jigsaw.
For a beginner, this process can be overwhelming work, but it's worth a try, even if the first attempts are unsuccessful. Now the elements of your arch should be given flexibility - for this we process them with a damp cloth. After such a procedure, it will be easier to attach them to the end arched element and subsequently bend the necessary parts. Next, we apply the finished part to the arch frame and fix it with self-tapping screws (it is better to do fastenings at least every 15 centimeters). We do the same with the second part.
A very important point: when screwing in the screws, make sure that their heads are slightly recessed into the panel. You can also fix the details on the profile on both sides of the arch. Make sure that the distance of the two sides between the profiles matches exactly, otherwise the manufactured arch will look uneven. Having firmly fixed the arched structure, we proceed to the final stage of our work. We carefully process the edges of the structure with a perforated corner, and cover the seams with reinforcing tape and apply putty on them. Then you can do the exterior decoration of the arch - this is a real scope for imagination!
Make your interior arch a harmonious part of the interior
With the help of decor, you can emphasize the style of your home and make the arch a "highlight" of the interior.
Slowly, we have come to the end of work with our arch. But in order for the arch in the apartment to turn out not only beautiful, but really even, you need to know some of the nuances of working with drywall. We will talk about them further.
The subtleties of working with drywall
The material must be given flexibility, for this it can be slightly moistened, then allowed to dry thoroughly. It is necessary to fasten the strip to the profiles located at the end, repeating the bend of the arch. After the drywall dries out (after 10-12 hours), putty the resulting structure, as well as all existing seams and joints. Pay attention that the screws are not touched. After the structure has dried, carefully sand all the elements until the burrs are completely removed and the protrusions are rounded.
You already know how to make an arch in an apartment with your own hands, but how to make it perfectly even? In order to give it a mirror proportionality, it is necessary to take care of creating optimal conditions even before starting work: prepare the necessary tools, take care of good lighting. For safety reasons, use gloves and goggles. Professionals installing interior arches always take care of the comfortable conditions of their work, perhaps this (and considerable work experience) is the secret of their success. So become a real professional for your home, create a stunning arch with your own hands. Now your house will have a wonderful source of pride, which you can not only surprise your friends, but also admire every day.
Enjoy the fruits of your labor
How to make an arch with your own hands
With the beginning of the era of renovations, homeowners took a different look at their home. Everyone is pretty fed up with the dark corridors with many battened down doors, like in the good old communal apartments. Increasingly, people are abandoning door frames and canvases that separate rooms, more and more often, when repairing, we leave open openings, which makes it possible to visually enlarge the interior space, highlight separate zones.
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Few people are satisfied with strict rectangular shapes (although, of course, there are lovers of straight lines), as a rule, the opening takes on the rounded outlines of arches of a wide variety of configurations. When an arch is made with your own hands, you need to pay close attention to the technological aspects of installation.
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Despite the fact that the arch can be made based on plastering technologies, in most cases drywall is used here. It should be noted that this popular material is revealed in all its glory when arranging arches.
To say that the accuracy and reliability of the installation of a plasterboard arch structure is a defining moment for achieving the desired result means to say nothing. Correcting a crooked arch with subsequent putty can be very difficult. Drywall workers perform this element in different ways, there are several technically correct options, but not everyone manages to avoid typical mistakes that seriously affect the subsequent finish. There are several problems, here are the main ones:
1.) The outer corners of the arch are "not parallel" (if I may say so about non-straight lines).
2.) A clear radius is not obtained.
3.) Cracks appear at the junction of drywall to the main wall.
The first issue is solved by high-quality preparation of a “bare opening”, when it is plastered before starting work, achieving parallelism and sheerness of all lines, working out angles strictly at 90 degrees.
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This allows you to prepare two absolutely identical sheets with the desired cutout on the workbench, and then simply fix them in the design position. Some masters first fix rectangular sheets of drywall in place, and then, after carefully marking, cut out the given radii and tie the structure with a metal frame.
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Problems with radii usually arise when sheathing the lower part of the arch. Sometimes a UD profile cut with a grinder is incorrectly screwed along the edge of the sheet, the main thing here is that the metal does not protrude. Sometimes it is not possible to bend a strip of gypsum with high quality, especially at small radii. Even if the treatment with a spiked roller and subsequent moistening does not give a result (drywall breaks), then parallel cuts 4-5 cm wide can be made on the back side of the dry strip.
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Arched (or “restoration”) 6 mm drywall, unfortunately, is too expensive, and its quality has been a little lame lately, but there are more than enough wall trimmings during repairs.
Cracks near the arch are a real scourge, especially if the decoration is dominated by painting. Cracking on the plane of the wall is very common when the gypsum board adjoins the mineral base end-to-end.
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Therefore, many installers (if possible) dismantle the plaster near the opening and fasten the sheets to the wall (100-150 mm), while using Perlfix glue, plus fix this place with dowels “through the body”. If the small thickness of the plaster does not allow such a maneuver, and the docking takes place in the same plane, then the problem area is glued to the base with glue for drywall (“bloopers” from the inside).
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The second delicate point is the adjoining of a narrow hemming strip to the slopes of the opening, it is also better to use glue here, we apply it immediately before screwing the drywall.
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When the arch is mounted and thoroughly dried (if you moistened the gypsum), you can set the perforated corners. For this, there are special arched specimens made of plastic or aluminum. Among the painters there are ardent adherents of one of the two options, but they are both suitable. The main thing is that the perforated corner on the arch and on the right vertical corner of the opening should be of the same type, then there will be no questions about the correspondence (or rather, discrepancy) of the shape of the rib.
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The most important task is to correctly set the perforated corner, while not “breaking” the radius. It is very convenient to use a drywall template for these purposes, it can be made separately, or you can use the counterpart that remains after cutting the radius. It is better to fix the perforated corner with a stapler, many painters use carnations / self-tapping screws, which are removed as they are puttied.
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After installing the perforated corners, it follows with a dense nylon mesh-serpyanka (it is sold in meter rolls) to reinforce problem areas - the junction of the GKL to the mineral base. It will not be superfluous to continuously glue a curved, and even more so a notched plasterboard strip. Please note that the mesh must be embedded in a pre-applied layer of putty, and not just covered.
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Now you can begin to broach the zones near the punched corners. It is best to use a strong putty designed for sealing plasterboard joints, for example, Fugenfüller from Knauf. Perforated corners usually move the plane away from the base by 2.5-5 mm, so it is convenient to level the mass between them with a spatula with a hard cloth or a small rule.
arch alignment
Many painters for such purposes cut short rules from an ordinary aluminum trapezoid. After the base layer has dried, we cover the entire structure with a finishing putty.
Some difficulties arise when grouting a curved surface. An ordinary flat block will not work, so it is worth making a rounded or elastic abrasive holder, for example, from a piece of dense rubber. You need to skin mainly with longitudinal movements, to the state of "under the wallpaper." Do not forget to prime all putty surfaces.
The finishing of the arches is made using various technologies, ranging from facing with wild stone and decorative plaster, ending with wallpaper for painting. If there is a desire to get a smooth painted surface, then it is better to first paste over the arch with fiberglass using PVA. The same applies to thin-layer plasters. If we talk about wallpapering and painting directly, then these technologies in relation to arches do not differ much from the work on slopes, which we have already discussed in one of the previous articles.
Finally, I would also like to note that the opening, due to the high traffic, is subject to mechanical damage, therefore, quite often its outer corners, including arched ones, are covered with protective patches - stripes, corners, dense polyurethanes.
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Do-it-yourself arch for beginners
The ability of drywall panels to bend easily has become the reason for the emergence of fashionable interior design using curved surfaces. In some rooms connected to each other by a door, the doorway remains open all the time, that is, the door is not used.
In this case, the best use of space is getting rid of the door and arching the opening. Often, when starting repairs, homeowners believe that such a reconstruction will cost too much, but they don’t know how to make an arch with their own hands without resorting to the services of craftsmen, although the technology for such work is not too complicated.
Any person with minimal home repair experience can cope with such work as making a drywall arch. First of all, it must be borne in mind that in order to decorate the doorway with an arch, it must be at least two meters high. Otherwise, the arch will only worsen the appearance of the room. You should know that the greater the height of the arched opening, the more attractive it looks.
If the height of the opening is insufficient, then before you make an arch with your own hands, you will have to increase it by hollowing out the upper part. Now you should decide on the design of the arch. Arched structures are divided into two classes - classic arches that look like half a circle, and arches that are half an ellipse. The first option is used to design high openings, and the second class is more suitable for doorways that have a significant width.
Before you make a drywall arch, you should prepare the necessary materials and tools.
The main necessary materials for work:
- drywall 10-12 mm thick
- metal profile PN 28/27
- self-tapping screws for metal
- dowels for fixing the profile
The main tools needed for the job:
The process of creating a drywall arch
Work begins with cutting a blank for a future arch. Having determined its shape and dimensions, we mark the drywall in any convenient way. Having marked the trim line, cut out the outline with a hacksaw.
If there is a jigsaw in the home workshop, then this process will be much more convenient and faster. Using the finished blank as a template, cut out another one identical to the first. Then we prepare a strip of drywall for the end of the arch. In order to give it the necessary shape, lightly moisten the front side of the strip and gently bend it.
Now, with the help of dowels, we attach profiles to the door opening, not forgetting that it should be positioned in such a way that the plane of the arch coincides with the plane of the wall. We are preparing a profile designed for the end part of the arch. So that the profile can be bent, after 3-5 cm we cut grooves in two of its walls. Then we bend it according to the template and attach it to the side profile.
It remains to cut off the extra corners at the side parts of the profile and attach the drywall blanks to their places with self-tapping screws. We can assume that the task of how to make a drywall arch with your own hands has been solved. It remains only to putty the seams, previously pasted over with reinforcing tape.
The doorway will look more aesthetically pleasing if you arrange it in the form of a semicircular arch. You can make it from drywall yourself, without resorting to the services of professional builders.
arch markup
A significant disadvantage of this design is the reduction in the size of the doorway. To see if the arch will fit well into a particular doorway, it is better to first cut out a piece of paper or cardboard and fasten it above the door. If the height of the opening is less than 2.5 m, it may be necessary to reduce the bend of the arch or make small bends only at the corners of the arch.Installation of an arch with a small bend radius
To draw the upper part of the arch on the workpiece, we will use compass. You can make it from improvised means: a self-tapping screw or an awl fixed in the center of the circle, a thread and a pencil. Pulling the thread evenly, we draw the required arc. The longer the thread, the flatter the arch will be.
Construction of a circle
You can also make a compass from trimming a metal profile
cutting drywall
1. First, cut through the first layer of cardboard and the gypsum core. To do this, a ruler is applied to the intended line, and a ruler is drawn along it several times. with a sharp knife or saw for metal.
Cutting through the first two layers
2. To finally break the gypsum core, drywall is placed on the edge and the cut is lightly tapped. If the part to be cut has a small width, you can break the plaster by simply pressing on the edge of the sheet.
Cutting the second layer
4. To remove roughness along the edge of the cut, it is processed sandpaper or rasp.
Important! For perfect joining of sheets along the edges of drywall with a sharp knife, remove chamfer 45°.
Chamfering
Cutting blanks for the upper vault of the arch
It is most convenient to work with electric jigsaw or a special planer for drywall. With the help of them, you can cut out any shapes from drywall. Moreover, with this method, gypsum practically does not generate dust, and the resulting edges require almost no additional processing.
Jigsaw cutting
You can also trim curly edges with drywall knives saw-shaped or metal saw blade with fine teeth. However, this will require some skill. A knife or a saw is drawn along the intended line so that the blade penetrates as deeply as possible into the sheet. In this case, the tool must go strictly perpendicular to the surface. Next, tap the place of the cut with a hammer, if necessary, draw a knife over it several more times.
Cutting with a knife-saw for drywall
Then cut through reverse side of the sheet, on which traces from the pressure of the knife are already visible. Then the excess pieces are cut off, and the edges of the sheet are trimmed with sandpaper. If the cut line is large enough, it is better to cut the sheet inside the outline into segments.
For getting holes(for example, for mounting lamps or sockets), you can use an electric drill with a crown-shaped nozzle.
drill bit
Cutting and bending metal rails
Aluminum rails are cut with conventional scissors for metal. To fix the upper part of the arch, you will need a special arched profile. It can be purchased at the store or do it yourself.To bend the profile on it are made incisions. The distance between them depends on the bending radius - the larger it is, the more often notches should be made. For bending, it is better to choose an L-shaped profile - it will be much easier to work with it, and incisions will have to be made only on one side.
Profile bending
Drywall bending
For the device of the arch can be purchased arched drywall. It is more plastic and, since its thickness is less than ordinary sheets, it bends easily. However, buying a whole sheet is quite expensive. Some stores sell such material not in sheets, but in segments, which is very convenient. If it is not possible to purchase a small piece, you can also bend a regular drywall sheet.
Thin arched drywall bends easily but costs more
To do this, you can use two methods: wet and dry. In the first case, in order for moisture to better penetrate deep into the sheet, the drywall blank should be rolled before bending. needle roller.
Before bending, the workpiece is rolled with a needle roller
Further sheet evenly moistened with water and laid on a curved surface, repeating the shape of the arch, pressing down with a load. A device for drying the workpiece can be cut from the remains of drywall or plywood.
wet bending
Important! With any bending method, it should be noted that drywall bends well only along the length of the sheet.
At dry bending cuts are made along the entire length of the fold. Moreover, the larger the bending radius, the more often such notches should be applied. You can do this quickly with a grinder, however, since this produces a lot of gypsum dust, it is better to do the work on the street.
Dry bending drywall
Frame installation
After dismantling the door frame, the surface is cleaned of loose plaster, dust and dirt and all irregularities are knocked down. Further, on the sides of the doorway, with the help of self-tapping dowels in increments of 20-30 cm, they are fixed two rack metal profiles. At the same time, 11-12 mm should be retreated from the edge for the installation of drywall and the application of putty. If the width of the opening is large (more than 1 m), fasten between two guides jumpers. Small sections of profiles connecting two side rails are also mounted at the bottom of the opening. They should rest on the floor.At the top of the doorway are mounted two curved profiles. If necessary, they are also interconnected by jumpers.
Fixing the top part of the profile
Fastening the profile with jumpers
Between themselves, the sections of the profile are fastened with self-tapping screws.
Drywall fixing
The very first self-tapping screws with a step of 25-35 cm blanks for the upper semicircle of the arch are attached. Their width should be equal to the width of the doorway plus 10-15 mm. Self-tapping screws should not be fastened too close to the corners - it is necessary to indent 1-1.5 cm, otherwise cracks will appear at the attachment points.
Drywall installation
Corner fixing
Important! So that the screws do not protrude above the surface, they should be sunk into the sheet by a couple of millimeters. In the future, the holes from them are covered with putty.
The finished structure is plastered with a wide spatula first starting, and then finishing putty. The solution is applied to the inside of the arch, and then, after it has completely dried, to the side walls. At the joints of drywall, to protect the mortar from cracking, it is attached with a putty paint grid.
After the installation is completed, the arch is covered with putty
Attaching the paint grid
For the design of doorways in the house, all kinds of arches are often used. They have many advantages:
- they save space in the room, which is occupied by opening and closing doors;
- visually unite the space of the apartment, providing an easy passage between the rooms;
- visually zone individual rooms without the help of doors, if required by the design concept;
- make an apartment or house elegant, giving them an elegant and original look.
The main forms of arches used in residential premises
There are various design options for the doorway, which depend on the technical features of both rooms, which will be separated by an arch. In particular, the determining criteria for choosing the shape of the arch are the height of the ceiling and the width of the doorway. Because some types of arches are designed only for high rooms, and to create others, you need to expand the opening. Before you make an arch in the doorway, you need to carefully carry out all the necessary measurements, since the success of the entire process of the upcoming installation will depend on this.
The most common types of arches are:
- Classic (with the correct arc radius equal to half the width of the doorway).
- Art Nouveau (having a truncated arc radius that exceeds the width of the doorway).
- Romance (rectangular arches with rounded corners).
- Arches - "portal" (arches of a simple rectangular shape, repeating the shape of a doorway).
- Arches in the form of an ellipse, dome, trapezoid and other arches of a non-standard shape.
- Semi-arches (arches formed by a small part of a circle of large radius).
Any arch made by hand or with the help of specialists is made of: brick, stone, natural wood, plywood, chipboard or fiberboard, MDF, plastic, drywall.
Arches made of brick, stone, concrete
Such arches in the interior look beautiful and solid, especially in the corridor or hallway, but installing an arch from these materials is not an easy task. In addition, this design is quite heavy, and this must be taken into account. Making an arch from stone or brick often requires an increase in the size of the doorway, and this is sometimes problematic.
There are three main types of brick arches:
- Full, or ordinary (bricks are laid out in the form of a semicircle, the height of which is half the width of the doorway);
- Wedge-shaped (bricks in a special way, tightly laid with a wedge);
- Luchkovaya (bricks are laid along a truncated arc).
Making an ordinary brick arch is the simplest of the three described, and a wedge arch is the most difficult. However, the masonry technology in all three cases is very similar, but it requires certain skills. Therefore, before making a brick door arch, it is advisable to thoroughly study the process in theory and watch the corresponding video.
In general, the installation of an interior brick arch includes the following steps:
- design and manufacture of a template for the vault of the future arch;
- installation of the manufactured template;
- laying bricks in accordance with the chosen arch shape;
- fixing the structure;
- deleting a template;
- final finishing of the finished arch.
It is highly desirable to take into account the experience of others and avoid typical mistakes in the manufacture of a brick arch in the hallway, living room or other room:
- It is important to calculate the proportions of the future arch as accurately as possible, since non-compliance with them leads to an uneven distribution of weight. As a result, cracks may appear or collapse may occur.
- It is important to delete the template in time. If it is left, the wood will swell and the installation will not work properly. To avoid this, the template is covered with a construction film before laying.
- Metal cannot be used to make a template: the lack of the necessary elasticity prevents proper installation and uniform distribution of the load, which can result in cracks.
Do-it-yourself arch made of wood
Wooden arches look great in any part of the house, especially in the hallway, immediately declaring the solidity, good taste and high status of their owners. The process of making a wooden arch is not easy, it requires attention and some skills. Before putting such an arch, you need to decide what shape it will have by viewing the relevant photos and videos.
So, for a hallway, kitchen or living room in the style of hi-tech or minimalism, wooden arches-"portals" are perfect. It is easier to make than other forms, but for all its simplicity, it makes the room sophisticated and elegant. Installing an arch of a simple square or rectangular shape does not require special skills: you can connect its straight parts with staples or special glue.
Features of the installation of wooden arches
Wooden arches of a rounded shape are created by connecting separate small parts with glue or metal brackets.
The process of installing a wooden arch begins with careful preparation of the place for it: the wall must be cleaned, leveled, then the opening must be given the desired shape, depending on the chosen shape of the arch. The size of the doorway should eventually match the parameters of the arch.
The installation of wooden arches requires great care - both the structure itself and the part of the wall in which it is installed need to be carefully treated. The arch should fit into the opening exactly, without voids along the edge, without looking out and not hiding behind the edges of the wall.
At the end of the installation, the finished arch is finished. Usually it is covered with paint or varnish to preserve its original appearance and mask bumps, chips and dents.
How to make a semi-arch or arch from fiberboard or chipboard
Sheet materials such as fiberboard, chipboard or plywood are easy to install, and they cost much less than natural wood. In addition, they are easy to decorate as you wish. Chipboard or fiberboard are indispensable if you want to create a custom arch design and save money at the same time. In addition, it is easy to mount built-in lamps in an arch made of these materials - such an arch, in particular, in the hallway, will look very impressive.
How to make an arch in a drywall apartment
The easiest way is to make the arch yourself from drywall. Making an arch from this material does not require special knowledge, and even an inexperienced master can do it. Thus, it is good to make, for example, an arch leading from the hallway to the kitchen, since wooden arches are more difficult to install and require special care in this area.
Installation of a drywall arch - the main stages
- Before you make an arch with your own hands, you need to choose a project for the future arch and draw its life-size template.
- Installation of a metal profile
The best type of profile for this is in the shape of the letter "P". In addition to the guide profile, special scissors and a hole punch are needed for working on metal.
First of all, the required profile length is calculated, depending on the size of the selected arch. On the measured and cut piece of the profile, cuts are made at a distance of about 1 cm from each other (this will help give it the desired shape). Then, by bending the profile, an arch frame is obtained.
- Drywall preparation.
It is carefully folded into the shape of the frame. There are several ways to do this - to choose the optimal one, it is better to watch the corresponding video.
- Opening surface preparation
Here, you first need to level the wall, then strengthen the metal profile on both sides of the opening. Next, the previously curved part of the profile must be attached to the straight profile installed in the opening. And then assemble all parts of the arch structure and attach them with self-tapping screws.
- Finishing the finished arch in the kitchen, hallway, living room or other room of the house
This stage includes processing with a perforated corner, sealing the seams and joints of the structure, puttying the arch and polishing its surfaces. Only after that, the arch in the hallway or other part of the apartment can be decorated to your liking.
