How to Make an Archway
Create some drama in your home with an arched doorway! Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- hammer
- drill
- 1/2" PVC pipe
- nails
- tape measure
- level
- drywall trowel
- drywall corner bead
- miter saw
- flat bar
- pliers
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Instructions
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The first thing you need to do is take the door casing off both sides and the top of the doorway. Do this carefully so the trim pieces can be used again. Use a flat bar and a carpenter's hammer to pry the pieces off. Pull the nails out with a pair of pliers through the back of the trim pieces to avoid any splinting.
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Now that the trim is off, measure the top of the opening. Make a mark in the exact middle of the opening. Now you have to decide how much of an arch you want. The taller the middle mark the more dramatic the arch. Keep in mind that dramatic arches are harder to do and you do not want to cut too much out of a load bearing header. Usually 2" up from the middle for an average doorway is enough to accentuate the arch. After you make your middle mark 2" tall, put a nail at the top of the mark. Using a ½" piece of PVC piping, bend the pipe over the nail and line up the pipe on both corners of the doorway. Holding the pipe in this position, have a helper trace along the pipe. Repeat this for the other side as well. Stand back and inspect the arch line to make sure that you like the arch before you cut.
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Using a reciprocating saw, cut up from the middle and work at an angle towards your line following the arch line you made. Go slow and steady as you don't want to get off your line too much. Now you may have to add some blocking if there was no header at the top of the doorway. Use 2x4 chunks to give yourself something to screw your drywall of arch casing to. Simply measure the space and install the 2x4 chunks every 6" securing them with screws through the drywall.
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Now that you have made your arch, you have to decide what finishes you want. Stand back and look at the other doors in the room. You want to have a look of continuity. In other words, you don't want the doorway to stick out like a sore thumb. If every door in the room has trim, then use the old casing. If there are no other doors, use drywall.
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For trim, use the old casing from the original opening except on the top of the side pieces, cut the angle off so the pieces are flat at the top. Use ¼" thick plywood on the archway bottom. Nail it into place with brad nails. Now you will have to be creative on the arch face. There are literally hundreds of options to dress this area up so let your creative juices flow.
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For drywall, install a piece of ¼" drywall on the bottom of the arch top. You will probably have to add pieces all the way down the sides of the doorway also. Then use corner beading to finish the edge. Metal corner beading for the sides and flexible plastic beading for the top. Nail into place with 1 ¼" nails. DO NOT SCREW IN. This will cause push-outs and make your mudding job hard.
Next, take light weight pre-mixed joint compound and spread it over the corner beading and the walls about 12" past the edge of the doorway. This will help blend in the new mud. Sand in between every coat. To match texturing, use sand in your paint, or pick up a can of texturing at your local building supply retailer. Blend the texture over most of the wall the door way is one on. One can will texture a 10x10 foot so you should not need more than that.
Congratulations! You now have an attractive archway in your home.
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Tips & Warnings
Use caution when using power tools. Eye wear and gloves are recommended to keep from cutting hands.
