To unite the space of the apartment in an elegant way, many resort to such a simple way as removing the doors and building in their place an elegant arched structure. For these purposes, you can purchase typesetting items in the distribution network or cut them yourself, and then put everything together in the doorway. That is, installing the arch in the doorway with your own hands is a simple matter.
Anyone can do this kind of work without even having superprofessional qualities, the main thing would be desire. So let's get started.
Arched construction technology
The algorithm of the arrangement of the arch structure is as follows:
- Choose the shape of the future structure.
- We make his sketch and drawing.
- Determined with the necessary materials, fixtures and tools. Arches can be different in shape, size and decor. It is these parameters that are fundamental when choosing materials for them.
- We choose the way to install the arch. This can be done either with the help of a template (scale 1: 1) from any material at hand, or with the help of markings scrupulously made on the wall surface (on both sides of the doorway).
- We dismantle the doorway and expand it to the required size.
- We build the frame.
- Sheathe it.
- We carry out decoration.
General recommendations
Listen to them, and you will succeed:
- We take measurements at several points of the doorway, so as not to miss with them.
- In the case of uneven walls (and they are most likely such), the thickness of the racks corresponds to the thickest place (this will be the depth of the arch).
- To significantly simplify the process of marking and cutting the sheathing material, we recommend making a full-size template. Then you will definitely avoid many mistakes, because you will have the opportunity to see firsthand the contours of the future design.
Important! When calculating, do not forget to take into account the moment that, as a result of installing the arch, the height of the doorway increases by an average of 10-15 cm. The distance from the top of the arch structure to the ceiling should not be less than 20 cm.
- Plasterboard sheets are cut only with an electric jigsaw. It is unacceptable to use a hacksaw, since the edges are torn and uneven.
- We fasten the casing with 5-6 cm increments with screws.
- After the drywall is fixed to the frame, we sanded its edges.
- We protect the curved edge from chips with the help of a special plastic corner with perforation.
- We equip the interior arches from fiberboard using the technology of construction of drywall floors. You just need to remember how to install the arch in the kitchen. The fact is that fiberboard perfectly absorbs moisture from the air. Therefore, this material is not at all suitable for mounting an arch between a room and a kitchen.
Choose the material for the frame
How to install an arch in a doorway? We start with the frame, for the arrangement of which we use:
- metallic profile;
- wooden bars (size 30 x 30 or 20 x 20);
- brick;
- concrete;
- aerated concrete blocks.
Most often, the frame is made of a light metal profile for drywall or wooden bars. Structures built from these elements perfectly support the weight of finishing materials. And more is not necessary. The fact is that the walls between the rooms are not load-bearing, and therefore, they do not experience serious loads. Therefore, all of the listed materials will perfectly cope with the tasks and will not let you down. It is quite another matter, if the arch structure plays the role of a support, then for its construction other materials with other strength characteristics will be required.
In addition, installing the arch in the doorway with your own hands from drywall is very easy and effortless even for novice builders who do not have much experience in repair work.
Advice! We strongly recommend that the frame be rigidly fixed to the wall. Otherwise, there is a big risk that after 2-3 weeks the decorative coating will warp and fall off. When installing an arch of brick, aerated concrete or concrete, you should think a hundred times whether it is worth equipping such a frame that is notable for its significant weight. Indeed, in this case, it will be necessary to calculate whether the floors below can withstand such a load.
Choosing a material for cladding
By constructing the interior arch at the place of the doorway, you can safely use materials such as drywall, fiberboard or plywood for lining. Most often, preference is given to HCP, since subsequently this will greatly facilitate the process of finishing the entire structure due to the fact that drywall has excellent adhesion with a large number of finishing materials.
In addition to this advantage, GKP has other advantages: light weight and ease of handling. But it is worth considering the use of such material as thin plywood, which is much easier to bend (and you will definitely need this when installing the arch). Think and decide for yourself which is better. An important role in making the final decision is played by your financial capabilities.
Without preparing the doorway, we cannot move on
We begin the installation of the interior arch by dismantling the door leaf (unless, of course, it is available). And then we proceed like this:
- We expand the opening to the planned design dimensions.
- We align the walls and beat off everything that can later or fall off during the work: concrete pieces, brick or plaster. This operation is extremely important for the subsequent reliable and strictly vertical (without any slopes to the right or left) fastening of the bearing profile.
On a note! There is no need at this stage of work to produce plaster walls. After all, they will still be under the frame, so you do not need to waste time.
- We sum up the wiring. We do this if the plans include a backlit design.
- We fix a profile to the wall around the perimeter of the opening.
- We fix on it the upper part of the frame structure (as a rule, it has a curved appearance).
- We fix the guides (vertical) in the aperture, stepping back from the interior wall by a distance equal to the drywall sheet plus an additional 2 mm.
- We fix parallel profiles (two on each side and on top).
Well, now the most important thing is to create a supporting frame
Important! We attach the guides to the wooden wall using self-tapping screws, and to the concrete (or brick) using dowels. The step of the fastener should not be more than 30 cm.
- To form a hemisphere at the top, we make cuts every 5-7 centimeters in the profile (in the side walls). This allows us to bend it as required. We make two pieces of such bent blanks (for each contour of the guides).
- We fix the curved profile to the main part of the frame.
Advice! To ensure the necessary reliability of the arcs, we fix them to the upper guide (horizontal) using suspensions. Their number depends on such a parameter as the width of the doorway (usually two or three will be enough).
- We fasten the cross-beams reinforcing the structure. The installation step is 40-60 centimeters. Be sure to fix the crossbars on the guides of both contours.
- As a result of all the work we get a solid frame, which subsequently remains only to sheathe and decorate.
- If the thickness of the arched columns is small, then for the arcs you can use a wide profile, and all work on cutting and bending is performed according to the recommendations described above. An exception is that the installation of the cross members is not necessary.
- Do-it-yourself installation of the arch in the doorway using wooden blocks is carried out using the same technology.
GKL installation
After the frame is assembled, we begin to sheathe it. Plasterboard sheets, in which reinforcement from non-woven fiberglass is made on both sides, are considered an ideal option. But you can do with a simple drywall, pre-moistened with water, fixed on the template and steamed with a hot iron. In order to achieve the required shape, we simply knead the material in the longitudinal direction.
How to install an arch in the kitchen with your own hands? Very simple: we use waterproof instead of conventional drywall.
Two ways to bend GCR
- Wet. Moistly moisten the back side of the drywall sheet with water (you can use a needle roller), gradually bend it on the template, fix it and leave to dry. The process is not quick, if you rush, you can touch the cardboard layer of the sheet, and this is unacceptable. Installation and fasteners on the arch structure are made only after the gypsum has finally hardened.
- Dry. The principle is to apply cuts (parallel) on one side of the sheet, passing through a layer of gypsum and the outer part of the cardboard (do not touch the front side). Next, gently begin to bend the sheet.
Ground, putty and decorate
The work algorithm is as follows:
- We are grounded.
- We apply the first layer of putty on the surface.
- After it dries a little, we carry out reinforcement using a fiberglass mesh.
- Apply the next layer of putty.
- Reinforce and align the corners using a grid.
- After hardening the putty, we grind the surface with sandpaper. We remove all irregularities, surpluses, caps of self-tapping screws.
- Getting to the finish: finish with stone, paint, sheathe wood or plastic. Here you can fully show the flight of your imagination.
Finally
Step-by-step instructions on how to install the arch in the doorway (photo above), performed sequentially and without any errors, will allow you to realize your creative ideas. Yes, it will take time and money, but, believe me, it is worth it. The result can exceed all your expectations. Moreover, you are unlikely to meet a second such design anywhere.