How to make an arch of drywall?

The graceful arch is an element of architecture that any interior can make exquisite and unique. Properly chosen arch design will allow it to become the dominant point in the interior and to collect the entire space of the apartment into a single unit. This article will tell you how to make a drywall arch without the help of professional builders and unnecessary investments.

Arched openings appeared in the East. Gradually, the habit of replacing doorways with decorative arches migrated to Europe. This method of decorating interior passages solves not only the issue of increasing the space of the rooms due to the lack of doors in them, but also decorates it, giving the house elegance and style, refreshes the boring interior, bringing an original touch to it.

The main advantages of drywall arches are:

• low weight of the material (the arches can be installed both on the load-bearing walls and on not-very-strong partitions without fear for the reliability of the structure);
• quick and easy installation;
• quality of the material - soft, but durable material allows you to experiment with creating a unique style of space and cut out any fancy shape of the structure;
• masking property. Plasterboard constructions in the form of arches make it possible to hide technical units and communications in the room;
• the ability to separate the functional parts of one room;
• functionality (drywall openings may have niches for books or notches for indoor plants).

The classic drywall arch is a structure installed between adjacent rooms and supported on the sides of the pillars.Bypassing the usual version of drywall, you can create an original asymmetrical shape, emphasizing the modern interior.

According to the shape of the arch, the arched structures are classified into the following main types:

• roman The most common type of arch. Its semicircular vault will be appropriate in any interior;
• square or portal. They make out wide openings;
• trapezius. Also often used in the design of wide openings;
• ellipsoidal. This view is similar to the classic version, but with a large radius at the corners;

• gothic It has an egg-shaped vault with a pointed apex;
• Turkish Artsy oriental design;
• British This form has strict forms. Highlight the sophistication of any room;
• Thai or semiarca. Asymmetrical arch: on the one hand, this is a classical arch, on the other - an arch in the form of a portal.

In addition to lighting fixtures, there is another design trick that adds useful properties to a regular archway: the design of shelves and niches both inside the structure and from its outer sides. This idea helps to create additional comfort, because on the small shelves you can perfectly place souvenirs and family photos.

Plasterboard arches in a modern interior are not uncommon. This architectural element allows you to abandon the usual doors, while creating a finished look of the doorway.

In small apartments there is often not enough space for open doors. For this reason, instead of the door in the aperture mount a beautiful and uncluttered arch. Such arches play the role of a certain boundary between adjacent rooms, where the door used to be, and actually expand the free space.

The choice in favor of the interior arch and make when planning redevelopment of the apartment. For example, the exit from the kitchen to the balcony or from the living room to the kitchen can be arranged in the form of an elegant arched opening. At the same time, it is possible to choose a favorite aperture shape (standard semicircle, trapezium, or other asymmetric shape).

Often, in order to preserve the overall style in an apartment, all doorways are designed in the form of arches of the same type. This is not always true, and sometimes it will even excessively overload the interior. But a two-three arched openings of the same shape of the upper part, one of which is complemented by an interestingly cut out of the drywall configuration on the wall - a very stylish approach.

Previously, the arches were decorated only with palaces and houses of wealthy people, but today this element can be found in any average apartment and even in a modern frame house (a wooden arch is cut down at the time of manufacturing the frame of the house).

Choosing the arch, you need to focus on its functional component. Arches are active and passive. Passive often found in residential buildings and perform the function of a simple transition, the connection of two rooms.Their shapes are simple: ovals, portals, or standard rectangles and trapezoids. Active arches involve more complex shapes and often include additional decorative elements (shelves, lamps).

In order to make a classic arch with your own hands, you need to understand its structure, understand what the subtleties of the technology of construction of this structure.

Curved arcs form the so-called arch of the arch. It can have a uniform coating or consist of various parts with gaps between them. It is possible to revive a smooth-bodied version of the arch of the arch with the use of decorative relief, platbands on the edges of the arch.

The peak of the arch is called the highest point of its arch. It serves as a strength element of the design. Often the top is also an aesthetic fragment (for example, in the arches of the eastern type). He tops go down the wings, their ends rest on the supporting structures - bend, which can also be decorated decoratively.

The span of the arched vault is the width of the arc formed by the wings. The height of this arc from the center of the span to the top is called the arrow of the arch. An arched vault usually rests on pilaster semi-columns or goes inside the walls, resting on the spatula (in this case, this vault is called hanging). The portal is formed by a structure located below the pilasters and vanes.

The top, arch and portal are the main visible components of the structure. They are called arched transom. Usually framulu make out in a single concept. The golden section of the arch structure is determined by the ratio F = (A + B) / B, if B≥A. This ratio in architecture is observed when A = 1/3 B. The arch will have the correct golden section if its height is about three widths of the arch opening, otherwise you can get the effect of reducing the height of the room and ruin the overall interior.

The following materials can be used as decoration materials for arch decoration:

• plastic molding - low cost and simple options;
• polyurethane is a flexible material used to form stucco moldings of gables, ceilings, cornices;
• decorative stone - an artificial or natural natural mineral. Most often used in the design of arches in load-bearing walls or monolithic structures.

It is rather difficult to make a decor of polyurethane on your own, which is why they often resort to purchasing ready-made decorative elements. Facing stone - an expensive, but elegant option. Most often used slate or shell rock. Acrylic artificial stone tile is less heavy and can be used even for plasterboard partitions. As for the texture, here, depending on the interior of the room and personal preferences, untreated surfaces and polished mirrored tiles can be used.

When there is a task to independently make an arch, after the shape and size are chosen,the master must first calculate the future product to determine the exact dimensions of the mounted parts. Do not be afraid, since the calculations of this design are based on simple school formulas. When making calculations, it is recommended to draw a sketch of the future product in parallel on the graph paper, after which the project is scaled to the specified dimensions of the product. As a stencil, you can use a thick cardboard or profile sheet of fiberboard. By attaching the template to the surface of the erected curved roof, it is possible to more realistically assess the accuracy of previously performed calculations and, if necessary, correct it in time.

The main 3 parameters that should be known to the master are the width of the opening, the height of the future arch, and the depth of the wall. There are two main methods of calculation: empirical and mathematical. The master decides which of them will be more convenient for him. The calculation and drawing of the arch circumference must be carried out on paper on a scale that is 30% less than the real one.

When an empirical calculation is necessary, first of all, measure the door opening and transfer it to a sheet of paper. Spend the axis of symmetry of the doorway. After take the compass, put his leg on the axis point and make several different circles. Choose the most suitable, and the rest are removed with a gum.

In the mathematical calculation of the arch radius, the Pythagorean theorem is used:

R = L2 + (R2 - H2)

R = L2 + (R - H) 2

Converting the formula, get the following form:

R2 = L2 + R2 - 2HR + H2

Subtracting R get:

L2 + H2 - 2HR = 0

After the subsequent conversion receive:

2RH = L2 + H2

The radius of R in the end:

R = (L2 + H2) / 2H

Due to the fact that the manufactured arch will include many fragments (in order to form them, you should take a board with specified dimensions), you must first calculate the dimensions of the element made from the board with the selected dimensions. The calculation is based on the reverse. It is necessary to calculate the maximum length of the part, which will be made of the existing board with a certain width, given the already known radius. Using the previous formulas, where all relations are already known, we need to derive the following equality:

L2 = 2RH - H2

HR - H2

When the project is ready, proceed to scaling the product on drywall. Preserving the proportions of the product, they lay out the arch model in the specified parameters. Cut a piece of drywall to the desired size. To do this, a special knife is carried out on the drawn line and break off the extra pieces of drywall with their hands.

It is necessary to prepare two identical sheets. One of them is placed on a flat surface, a line is drawn through the center. 2-3 cm higher than the bottom of the sheet make a mark and fasten a bolt or screw. A bolt is put on a rope, the free part of which is tightened into a loop and a pencil is inserted into it. This system (similar to the compass) will allow you to draw a flat bend line of the arch radius. Having determined the desired radius, they tighten the cord and draw a bending line with a pencil.

After that, on the second sheet of drywall repeat the markup in a similar way. In order to avoid unnecessary actions, you can cut the blank on one sheet, put it on another sheet and draw a pencil around the contour of the product. Thus two identical preparations will turn out. It is best to cut products using special scissors for metal, carefully cutting off all unnecessary.

In order to install the drywall arch in the doorway, you will need:

• drywall archs;
• metal profiles;
• dowel;
• self-tapping screws of two types: 3.5 × 25 mm; 4.2 × 13 mm;
• scissors for metal;
• pliers;
• screwdriver;
• perforator;

• roller with needles;
• building tape or level;
• simple pencil;
• putty plaster;
• sanding pelt;
• corners for walls;
• primer;
• cladding material (optional).

Before you put the frame structure, you should prepare a doorway. First you need to remove the door frame and punch the door up and sideways to increase the space for the arch. The surfaces of the resulting opening are carefully cleaned, smoothing out rough irregularities, remove dust and dirt.

It is necessary to follow the step-by-step installation instructions, then the arc structure will be securely installed and secured in the opening. First, in the upper part of the opening with dowels attach the guides of the metal profile. On the walls of the opening also install similar guides (to the level where the curved parts of the arch end).

After that, from the metal profile form the product in the form of an arc. Along the edges of the profile make equidistant cuts with special scissors for metal and bend the product, focusing on the ready-made patterns of drywall. Similarly, form two such curved profiles for each side.

The curved profile should be installed in the following way: with dowels, the profile is attached vertically to the guides, and attached to the drywall with self-tapping screws. In order to assemble the frame more reliably, several pieces of the profile are inserted between the arcs inside the arch.

The next step in the installation of the arch is the fixing of the arcuate part inside the structure. To do this, take a sheet of drywall. Carefully cut out the strip according to the width of the inner space of the arch, longer than its inner surface.When measuring the length is not superfluous to leave a margin of about 10-15 cm.

Bend drywall can be using ordinary water. To do this, wet the bottom of the strips of drywall and pierce it with needles roller. Next, you need to bend and attach this element inside the arch. This is done with adhesive tape and left for some time to dry. Homemade arch frame ready.

After the arch frame is assembled, all elements are securely fastened, and the inside is completely dry, you can proceed to the processing and appearance of the structure.

To begin with, the entire surface of the arch is sanded using special paper, eliminates all irregularities, and removes dust from the sandpaper. The surface of the arch should be smooth. The remaining seams from the installation must be sealed with putty. Before you do the filling of the seams, you need to install the prepared corner profiles (they give the corners of the arch stiffness and protection against deformation).

These corners can be fastened on top of the putty, but then from above it is necessary to apply another layer of putty, aligning all the joints. After the putty dries, again level the surface with emery paper. Remove dust and primed the entire outer space of the arch.When the ground is dry, they carry out the final putty of the structure and grind irregularities.

When all the dirty work is done, you should proceed to the decoration.

When choosing a design should take into account the overall concept of the interior and its style. The fastest and cheapest method of finishing will be painting the structure with water-based paint. This finish is very practical, because in case of contamination of the wall it can be wiped with a damp cloth, in addition, the arch will be very resistant to scratches. This type of finish is also good because if you wish, you can quickly repaint the arch yourself.

Arched vaults occupy a special place among architectural details when decorating a room. Smooth lines will bring the mood of coziness to any room and emphasize refined style. If the choice is made in favor of adding an arch to the interior, it is necessary to choose such a design so that the vaulted design fits organically into the space of the room and serves as a certain highlight in the interior.

The arches in rooms with semicircular window openings look great.Vaulted structures will advantageously complement the interior, in which there are doors with a semicircular top. Arched openings are used not only in living rooms and hallways. Kitchen space is also decorated with arches. Here they will serve not only as an element of decor, but also fulfill their functional role (storage systems, niches in the form of arches).

The design of the arch, decorated with glass shelves, itself looks authentic. If the space of the room allows, glass weightless shelves can be replaced with massive ones made of stone or wood, plywood. They serve as a great place for souvenirs and photographs.

The light framing of the inner and outer part of the arch looks interesting. Where there is not enough light, it will be especially useful. This applies to most corridors and hallways. Designers recommend using for this non-standard forms of lamps to give the room an additional sophistication. When making arched openings with light elements, you should not limit yourself, focusing on the arch material, because the backlight will look advantageous with both the plasterboard arch and the construction of wood.

The most harmonious is considered to be an arch with absolute symmetry or smooth smooth lines in the case of the initial choice of asymmetric shape. This arch is suitable for any interior. If it is worth choosing the shape of the arch to the interior in the style of art-nouveau, you should look at the curved arcs. In the classical version of the interior such arch is not suitable. But here it would be appropriate to look at this element with a lot of decor from plaster ornaments in the form of columns and intricate curls.

Acre in the form of an ellipse or wide portal has a strict but noble appearance. It is simple to perform, does not require frequent alterations, and is appropriate in any space.

And since they do not argue about tastes, it’s definitely not worth refusing from this design right away. Even in the modern world of designers, the arch is not a tasteless, obsolete fragment of a dwelling, if it is combined with the general style of space. The arch has long become a classic.And only its unsuccessful application can spoil the classics.

How to make an arch of plasterboard, see the following video.