In the article we will tell you how to make a brick arch yourself. Perhaps you were thinking about how to slightly transform the look of your home. And if you turn to the architects for help, they can offer you a good option - to install brick arches on the windows, doorways. Please note that most of the elite mansions are built using such structural elements.
They can emphasize the status of the owner, decorate the facade of the house. It is also worth noting that this pleasure is not very expensive - you can make an arch vault for a simple citizen, you only need to know the features of the work.
Types of arched vaults
Before you make a brick arch with your own hands, you need to consider several types of structures. When we talk about arched vaults, it is necessary to clarify a specific view. The fact is that there are many varieties, all of them are individual and unique in their own way. Consequently, these arches are laid out in different ways too.
An arch vault is a semicircle located in a window or doorway between vertical bases. Typically, the walls of a building or structure are used as vertical bases. There are 3 types of arched vaults in total, we will try to consider them in more detail.
Full arches
The first thing worth mentioning is a view like a full arch. This is one of the most sought after varieties. There are several reasons for this. About this type of arch, we can say that it is performed quite simply, while reflecting the good taste of the owners of the house. The arch is made in the form of a semicircle. And most importantly - if you chose this version of the arch, then you can make it yourself without any problems.
Rectangular Arches
The second design option is a rectangular or, as they call it, wedge. It’s just difficult to do it yourself without experience. Therefore, such a design would not be a good choice for a novice builder. Even if you do almost everything yourself, you will find a bunch of tips and recommendations from specialists.
All the same, it’s unlikely to make such an arch beautiful and high-quality. It is necessary to fill your hand, gain experience in order to lay down a brick arch, which will last for more than one decade. Externally, the construction, laid out in high quality, looks very beautiful, similar to the Russian letter P.
The last thing worth mentioning is the arched arch. The arch has the shape of an understated semicircle.
Arch Type Selection
Before choosing the design option that you want to implement in your home, it is necessary to mention some nuances. For example, you must take into account the distance between the two columns. Please note that it is rather difficult to make a rectangular arch if the opening is very wide. If there is a distance of more than 1 m between the supports, the structure will not have high strength.
For beam structures, it is allowed to use supports, the distance between which is more than a meter. Such a structure can be erected between columns located at a distance of 1–1.5 m from each other. In the same case, if the supporting elements are at a distance of more than 2 m from each other, it is best to use a full arch. It is recommended to consult with specialists before starting work.
Preparatory work
Before starting work, you need to determine the location of the arch. In this case, we will consider the construction of an arch vault from scratch. In the case when the house is still under construction. Therefore, we will start with the construction of columns for supports.
But there are cases when homeowners make new passages, building arched arches in them. In this case, you need to first break through the openings themselves in the walls of brick. Regardless of which option you choose, the first thing you need to do is masonry, as well as strengthening the columns. The supports should be especially carefully strengthened if the distance between them is more than 1 m. In this case, the load increases significantly, so you need to lay the support posts to a thickness of at least 2 bricks. Photos of brick arches in the interior of the house are presented in our article.
What else needs to be considered?
Be sure to note that it is not allowed to have distortions between the bricks on both racks. All rows of masonry must be controlled using a level. As soon as you get to the start of laying the vault, you need to pay attention to some tricks. For example, you need to prepare a template from a tree, with which the arch is laid.
Moreover, this template will have to be kept in the structure until the cement mortar sets. Let's look at how to make a supporting wooden structure. You also need to pay attention to the consistency of the cement mortar. It must be thick, if you use liquid, then the brickwork of the brick arch will become worthless, since it will collapse under its own weight.
Wood Pattern
If you lay out the arch yourself, such a template is simply irreplaceable. In order to make it, you need the presence of desire and the necessary materials. First you need to take two sheets of chipboard. This is the basis for the arch template. From these sheets you will need to cut two completely identical semicircles that will exactly follow the contours of the future arch. Once you prepare the sheets, you need to find a board whose width will be the same as the thickness of the support. However, thinner boards can also be used.
On this board, it is necessary to fix patterns from a chipboard with nails. In order to achieve high rigidity, it is necessary to install several wooden blocks between the sheets. And instead of nails, you can use wood screws. It is advisable to install a steel strip on top. It is necessary to choose such a thickness of the metal so that the bricks that will be located on top do not push it.
Usually, strips of steel with a thickness of 0.6–0.8 mm are enough. The wooden template must be secured between the supports. To do this, use wooden spacers. They, like the template, after complete solidification of the solution will be removed. The thickness of the spacers should be about 10 cm, and the distance between adjacent spacers should be at least 50 cm.
How to lay out an arch?
So the moment has come when you can proceed directly to the laying of the arched vault. Before you begin laying the first bricks, you need to master one simple rule. All work needs to be done in one go. You can not allow the slightest break, since the solution will dry out and lose its quality. When dried, the solution begins to stretch the whole structure in different directions, as it were, while creating tension.
Therefore, if suddenly the masonry will be produced within a few days, you should not expect high quality from it. She will begin to crack as a result. Laying should begin simultaneously on both sides of the template, gradually approaching its central axis. The brick, which is installed last in the center, will serve as a castle.
What should I pay attention to when laying?
Please note that such recommendations will be useful in the construction of any version of the arch vault, no matter what you stop at. Brick installation must be carried out at the same angle relative to each other. It is with this in mind that an arch vault is created.
To greatly simplify the process, you need to make markup on the template. When laying bricks, it is necessary to use a square to withstand the same distance.