Arched doors: photos, installation instructions. Options for designing arches in an interior doorway How to make a door in the form of an arch

Arched doors are gaining more and more popularity in the construction segment. On the one hand, this is an accessible opportunity to change traditional solutions, on the other hand, correction standard sizes input and interior doors. The “arch” theme began with the appearance of arched corridors, after which it smoothly moved to door structures.

The main classification of arched doors is carried out according to the following criteria:

• design features - entrance and interior doors, prefabricated and non-removable;
• arch shape - round, oval and rounded;
• manufacturing material - wood, plastic, metal, glass, veneer, mirror, combined products;
• the shape of the arc is round or gothic.

In addition to the fact that arched doors themselves are becoming more and more in demand, it is worth noting the popularity arched openings both under doors and as an independent structural element.

Types of arched openings

An arch is a relatively simple design solution that allows you to divide a room into zones without the use of doors and partitions. The most popular place to install an arch is, of course, the hallway, but arched openings at the entrance to the kitchen, balcony/loggia, recreation room, etc. are becoming increasingly popular. This is an opportunity to change traditional solutions for organizing space.

Varieties of shapes and materials of manufacture

According to the shape, the outlines of the arch are divided into:

• lancet;
• round.

In turn, the round outline is divided into the following main types:

• classic - even radius;
• modernist - arc (oval) with a rise;
• romantic - with a central straight part and rounded corners of the desired radius;
• ellipse - a regular or irregular oval is taken as the basis of the shape.
• horseshoe-shaped - part of the national interior in the form of a smooth or pointed upward semicircle;
• Gothic - with an elongated pointed shape without smooth elements.

Types, material of manufacture, design

The main difference and aesthetics of arched doors is the presence of a rounded top that follows the smooth line of the doorway. Until recently, this model of doors belonged to the eastern form of organizing space and was little used in European culture. After some time non-standard form doors have conquered their niche, and today few houses can do without arched openings and doors. The main secret of popularity lies in association. What is an arched door in the understanding of each of us? This is the entrance to the palace, to a beautiful tower. This is a trend from the past, when kings ruled the world. It is this feeling of a fairy tale that attracts with its special design.

Arched doors can be classified according to a variety of criteria, of which the main ones are:

• place,
• material,
• structural characteristics.

Installation location and material of manufacture

There are 2 main types in this category - interior and entrance. The first option is doors installed inside any room. The main material is plastic, wood, combi with glazing.

Entrance doors are the main element of the entrance group of all kinds of premises. For their production they are used different kinds metal, veneer, wood, plastic, less often - tempered glass

Due to the peculiarities of the design and the complexity of manufacturing the panels, plastic and wood are most often used; for interior doors, combination with glass panel is the most successful. The wood used for the production of the entrance group must undergo a complex of treatments to prevent the development of fungi and mold.

Design characteristics

The first and main feature of arched doors is the structure door design, which is traditionally divided into:

• a single complex of canvas and opening, characterized by a perfect match of the two elements due to point cutting and individual assembly. The most expensive type of doors;
• standard door complete with arched part. In this case, the manufacture and installation of both parts is carried out separately. Recommended for installation when choosing swing and sliding models.
• single-leaf doors are the most popular type of door, not only arched, but also standard form. Can be installed as entrance group, and in the house.
• double-leaf - perfect solution wide doorways opening. It is recommended for installation even in small rooms, where, due to the wide area, the “working” part will seem 2 times more focused.

Rounding the corners significantly reduces the height of the opening. Calculate it using the formula: 2.10 m + ½ opening width. This figure may be higher, but it should not be reduced.

Do it yourself

A variety of standard doors allows you to choose the right product for any size. Arched doors are not yet so popular among manufacturers and therefore you may either not choose any model at all, or you may not find the right size. Therefore, we suggest you make wooden arched entrance doors yourself.

You can actually make the canvas yourself, but the boxed part will have to be purchased either at a specialized store or go to the forest.

Tools:

• jigsaw;
• electric milling machine;
• belt sander with a set of sandpapers of several degrees of grain;
• board 5.0 cm;
• small wedges;
• beams and wood screws, with the height of the screw being at least 3 cm greater than the width of the beam;
• wood glue or PVA glue.

Procedure

1. First, determine the net width of the opening, for which you subtract the thickness of the box part from the total width of the opening and plus 2-3 mm of margin.
2. The arch will be smooth and beautiful if its radius coincides with the radius of the doorway. To do this, you select boards, and then determine by width how many are needed, based on the fact that the boards are laid horizontally.

To make arched doors, always use only wood that has undergone forced drying. industrial conditions(chamber, heat, air exhaust, etc.). A damp or insufficiently dried fabric will eventually begin to move to the side, sag or warp in other ways.

1. Using an electric router, you cut grooves on the boards that will allow you to connect the parts together as tightly as possible. On back side also make small shallow grooves for forced ventilation. Cut the grooves at the rate of 3.0 mm wider than the thickness of the board.
2. Clean the boards with a soft brush and apply a middle layer of PVA glue or other carpentry analogue. Give it time to dry.
3. Cut a circle from the workpiece and check the level of the plane.

The outline of the shape depends on what the arch will be like in the future. So, if you are planning an arch in the shape of a semicircle, mark a point at the very bottom. Take a marker or pencil and attach a thick, non-stretchy thread to it. Attach its end to a point and draw a semicircle with a marker.

If the shape of the arch is pointed or elongated, you will need metal ruler. Place a point at the bottom of the workpiece, from which you draw a line straight up at an angle of 900. Next, place the ruler edge-on and carefully adjust it to the radius mark and along the edge of the workpiece. Trace the ruler with a marker. Do the same with the other side, maintaining complete symmetry of the lines.

1. Using a jigsaw, cut the workpiece along the drawn lines and grind it. First with a larger abrasive, then with a fine one. This completes the arched part.
2. Bottom part the doors are prepared in the same way, except that the board is now laid vertically.

Be sure to add a horizontal part to the door, which will maximize the life of the door.

The finished canvas consists of three elements:

• lower;
• shield made of vertical slats;
• arched part.

You connect, as already mentioned, using the tenon-groove principle, for which you use a router to cut tenons, which should protrude by 2-2.5 mm. Remove the dust, apply wood glue and place the parts on top of each other in order. Be sure to support the already assembled canvas with wedges.

After 2-3 hours, after the glue has completely dried, apply finishing the almost finished door using any protective agent. It can be “Pinotex” (universal impregnation) or any other. The most the best solution will use clear varnish. On sunny side laminating coatings quickly lose their effect, and on a shaded surface it is simply unnoticeable.

Often the interior passage in an apartment is not closed with a door, but left open. This allows you to elegantly unite the space and make the interior design of the rooms more elegant. For this you can purchase finished design from assembled elements or cut out individual parts with your own hands and then assemble everything into doorway. But how to make an arch yourself so that it looks smooth and beautiful? After all, there are a lot of materials and technologies for installation; you need to choose wisely.

Designer arch

What arches can be installed in an apartment

Installation of an arched structure in place of an interior door can be done without the involvement of professional builders. You just need to choose the type of arch and the materials for its manufacture. Following the step-by-step instructions below will help you avoid mistakes and make an arch with your own hands.

Arch curves can be the most bizarre

Design features and significant differences

In construction, arched structures are supports for overlying elements of walls and structures. But in apartments, doorways to the corridor and between rooms are not load-bearing. In the first case construction materials are selected based on serious external loads, and in the second they must withstand only their own weight along with the finishing.

Arch with bar counter

An apartment door arch, installed instead of a door, is an element of interior design. Its frame can be made from a lightweight profile for gypsum boards or bars with a cross-section of 20–30 mm. This design can easily withstand the weight of finishing materials. You just need to firmly fix it on the walls so that the decor does not warp or fall off after a couple of weeks.

Reference! In private houses and city apartments, an open door arch between rooms serves exclusively decorative functions. Bearing loads in this case are placed on concrete walls on the side or a lintel above the opening.

Finished plastic arch

Shapes of arched openings and their capabilities

There are many options for arranging interior arches in shape:

• "Classic".
• "Romance".
• "Modern".
• "Ellipse".
• "Trapezoid".
• "Portal".

The most popular types of interior arches

The first option at the top has the shape of a regular semicircle, and the last one has strict rectangular outlines throughout its entire height. The rest are intermediate versions between them. But other variations are also possible with one side “support” or two curved posts.

The shape of the door arch and its design are chosen to match the design style of the room. This takes into account the height of the ceiling, the size of the opening and the features of the premises on both sides. In some houses, classic shapes with a regular curve in the form of a semicircle will look ideal, while in others - a rectangular portal. This is more a matter of the taste of the home owners and the general style of interior decor. Some people even prefer cone-shaped contours.

• It is recommended to choose the classic option only when high ceilings in the area of ​​3 meters and above.
• In typical panel high-rise buildings It is better to decorate the entrance to the kitchen with a “MODERN” arch.
• For a wide doorway from the hall to the corridor, “ROMANTIC” with large wide racks is more suitable.
• The rectangular “PORTAL” looks best in an interior where clear horizontal and vertical lines predominate in the decoration. This type of doorway design is ideal for houses made of timber or logs. In such a home, its rectangular corners will look elegant and fit the theme as much as possible.

Classic in the interior

What to build a designer doorway from with your own hands

To quickly make an arch in the doorway of an apartment, it is enough to purchase a set of prefabricated elements made of plastic or laminated chipboard lumber. They must be cut to the desired height and then secured in the places specified according to the instructions. But such options are standard and quite expensive. Plus - not every opening can be fitted with a ready-made model with the right sizes.

Components interior arch system

To make panels of arched posts and arches you will need one of the following materials:

• drywall;
• plywood;

Advice! It is better to choose plasterboard sheets for covering the frame. GCR can be further finished with more various materials. However thin plywood much easier to bend.

Finished veneered arch

The frame for an interior arch can be made:

• from a metal profile;
• from wooden blocks 20x20 and 30x30 mm.

Brick decoration is ideal for connecting a balcony

You can also make an arch instead of a door from concrete, brick or aerated concrete blocks, and only then decorate them with one or another finishing material. But these options are more for those who like capitalism and solidity. Plus they weigh a lot, in old apartments apartment buildings It is impossible to build anything from them.

The use of metal is limited not only by its weight, but also by its high cost. Manufacturing metal structures of complex shapes at home is a very difficult project to implement in practice. The easiest way to do it yourself is to work with drywall and its profile.

Step-by-step instructions for self-installation

The photos and recommendations below will allow even a novice master to cope with the improvement of a doorway. To do this, you first need to create a frame, and then sheathe it and decorate it. You can do everything yourself, you just need to do everything consistently and without mistakes.

Scheme of a plasterboard arch

Preparing the doorway

1. First, the canvas and box are dismantled existing door(if it exists and stands still).
2. Then the opening is expanded to the planned dimensions.
3. There is no need to plaster the cut walls under the frame; they will still be covered with sheathing. It is enough to straighten them and remove everything that can fall off (plaster, pieces of concrete, falling bricks). The main thing is that the supporting profile can be secured securely and in a strictly vertical position without tilting.
4. If you are planning a backlit design, then you need to install the wiring in advance.
5. Measurements are always taken at several points in the opening so as not to miscalculate the dimensions.
6. If the walls are uneven, then the thickness of the racks (depth of the arch) is selected according to the thickest point.
7. To simplify the marking and cutting of sheet material for covering the arched frame, it is necessary to make a life-size template from cardboard. This will allow you to avoid mistakes and preview how the contours of the structure being formed will look.

Important point! The upper part of the arch takes about 10–15 cm away from the height of the doorway. At least 20 cm should remain from it to the ceiling. When calculating and marking, these numbers must be taken into account.

Fastening the guides

Creating a supporting frame

1. To make a frame for an arch, you first need to create a main contour from a profile around the perimeter of the opening, fixing it to the walls.
2. Then the top curved part will be attached to it frame system. Sometimes only a curved element is made on top, but this is only possible with perfectly smooth slopes.
3. Vertical guides in the doorway are attached with an indentation from the plane of the interior wall by the thickness of the plasterboard sheet plus 2 mm for subsequent plaster on top of it.
4. After plastering you should have a single, flat surface.
5. On each side and at the top of the arch being created, you will need to secure two such profiles parallel to each other.

Advice! If the walls are made of wood, then self-tapping screws are sufficient to attach the guides, but in the case of concrete or brick, dowel screws will be required. The spacing between fasteners should not exceed 30 cm.

If the columns of the arch are made of small thickness, then two arches can be easily replaced with a wide profile. All cutting and bending manipulations in this case are carried out according to a similar pattern. However, transverse installation will no longer be necessary. When using wooden blocks instead of a profile, the frame for the arch is made using a similar technology. Only the original carrier material changes frame structure.

Two ways to bend plasterboard sheet

Rough sheathing of the frame

After completing the assembly of the arch frame, all that remains is to mount the gypsum board or wood board. To give plywood or fiberboard the desired shape, they will have to be pre-moistened, fixed on a template and steamed with a hot iron.

Ideally, you need to use special arched plasterboard, reinforced on both sides with non-woven fiberglass. It is enough to stretch it in the longitudinal direction and give it the desired shape.

Bend regular plasterboard sheet There are two ways: wet and dry.

• Wet technology involves soaking the back side of the gypsum board with water and gradually bending it onto a template of the required shape and fixing it on it. This process is lengthy, haste can lead to rupture of the cardboard layer of the sheet. And the resulting part can be installed and secured with self-tapping screws on the arch frame only after the plaster has completely dried.

Advice! It is possible to speed up the process of moistening gypsum board to give it elasticity using a needle roller.

• The dry method involves making parallel cuts on one side of the sheet, which affect the plaster and the upper outer layer of cardboard. But the front cardboard layer remains intact. The bend is smooth and of the correct shape.

Installation of the main element of the arch

Cutting sheet material is best done with a jigsaw. When using a hacksaw, the cutting edges will certainly be less even. The sheathing is fastened with self-tapping screws in increments of 5–6 cm. After fixing it, the edges of the plasterboard and plywood sheets are sanded. And then a special one is attached to the curved edge to protect it from chipping. plastic corner with perforation.

GKL fastening

Putty for perfect surface leveling

The next stage of finishing a plasterboard arch is primer and putty. After applying the first one, you need to wait until it dries. And fiberglass mesh is used to reinforce the second layer. The corners are also reinforced and leveled using a mesh.

The edges must be smooth

Surface putty

Putty joint with wall

Mesh reinforcement

Edge reinforcement with mesh

Next, apply the third finishing layer. The putty, hardened after 10-2 hours, is sanded sandpaper to remove excess and make the surface as smooth as possible. There should be no protruding screw heads or dents left on it.

This is what the arch should look like

Decoration of the structure and design techniques

You can finally decorate the arch in the apartment with your own hands and make it beautiful:

• painting in color with the walls;
• wood paneling or plastic panels;
• pasting with wallpaper or veneer;
• finishing with decorative stone on a gypsum base;
• decoration with mosaics and mirrors;
• decorating using stucco or ready-made columns.

Simple finish with backlight

Materials in finishing Interior arches are used both natural and artificial. The choice here depends on the general design idea for apartment interior design. To improve the doorway, you can use polyurethane stucco and even textiles. All options are acceptable, the main thing is that they are in harmony with the surrounding decor.

Shelves in the design of an arched passage to the corridor

The frame of columns made of clinker or decorative stone. Manual installation will require time and diligence, but the result will certainly please the master. The uniqueness of the apartment in a similar way decoration guaranteed.

Decor artificial stone

Arch finishing natural wood will bring solidity and grace to the house, and the mosaic pattern invented by the owners will make the decor unique. The main thing is not to overdo it with the design, making the design a tasteless heap of elements. different styles. All interior details should be in harmony with each other and complement each other.

Stucco columns in an arched doorway with wide walls

Often conventionally painted white or Brown color It’s quite enough to complete the design, making the arch with your own hands beautiful and elegant. However, some require built-in lighting and additional decorative elements in accordance with the style chosen for the apartment. It will take more time to finish the arched opening, but it will be worth it.

Decor with corner and wallpaper

Install and arrange it yourself interior arch instead of a door it's easy. For work, it is enough to have metal scissors, a screwdriver and a hacksaw in the house. But if you have no experience in handling these tools, it is better to trust professional installers.

Arches for doorways have been used since ancient times. The arch is very aesthetic, today it is not only beautiful, but also allows you to save space, complement the interior and carry out the work yourself, with your own hands.

As a rule, plasterboard is used, it is not expensive, it is easy to work with and you can make any arched opening. The arches can be framed in any way; you can install a platband and a variety of finishing materials.

Shape selection

The type of arch can be any, even from several levels, with different nearby and functionality, the correct measurement of the door opening is initially made. The main types of arches are presented in the table:

Once the contours of the arch have been drawn, you should cut out the shape using a jigsaw or a regular knife. All cuts are made exactly along the lines; the quality of the arched opening depends on this. The classic version of arches is made according to the following principle:

1. You need to measure the doorway and calculate the material.
2. The instrument is being prepared.
3. A template of arches, semicircular, round, oval and others is cut out.
4. The frame is mounted in the opening using metallic profile or tree.
5. Polyurethane, plasterboard, plywood, fiberboard, chipboard, polystyrene foam or other selected material are installed.
6. The bottom of the arch is cut out and screwed to the side parts.
7. The arch is being puttyed, finished and decorated.

Important! When deciding on the type of arches, you need to pay attention to the height of the ceiling and the width of the door opening. Some types are suitable for a wide but low opening, while others are the opposite.

The main forms are as follows:

1. Portal - U-shaped arch, according to the design it can be in the form of waves or with many angles, one of the most popular types of opening.
2. Classic arch - recommended for use for ceilings over 3 m, with a passage width of 90 cm.
3. Romance - it is recommended to install it if the width of the opening is large, but the height to the ceiling is small.
4. Modern is an alternative to any type of arches; it can be used in Khrushchev, where every centimeter of space is important. The corners of the arch are made sharp or rounded.
5. A semi-arch is an ideal arch for zoning rooms.
6. Straight arch - suitable for loft, hi-tech, modern style.

The photo shows ready-made false arches from the company Leroy Merlin, which do not need to be framed:

Knowing what types of ready-made arches for doorways exist, you need to decide on the materials and start working with your own hands.

DIY plasterboard arch (video)

Materials for work

You can’t just build an arch; you need to choose the material and prepare all the equipment. Plasterboard sheet is most often used, it is easy to work with, you can remake the arch if desired, and its cost is low. Therefore, an example of working with gypsum boards will be described step by step below. An arched interior opening requires:

1. GKL 9.5 mm.
2. Profiles 27x28 mm and 60x27 mm.
3. Self-tapping screws for attaching 3.5x25 mm drywall.
4. Dowels to secure the frame in a 6x60 mm opening. Used for brick or concrete.
5. Self-tapping screws with press washer 4.2x12 mm.
6. If the doorway is made of timber, then you need wood screws.
7. Putties for gypsum boards.
8. Needle roller.
9. Perforated corners.
10. Spatula.
11. Pencil and tape measure for measuring and drawing.
12. Screwdriver.

Having prepared the material, you need to mark and measure everything.

Measurements

Before , how to make an arch from plasterboard doorways measurements are taken. The size of the opening itself is taken in height and width. When there is width, it is divided in two to create a perfect semicircle arch. The shape of the arch is determined for classic version You will need to additionally level the walls using putty and beacons. Naturally, the opening needs to be completely disassembled, prepared by removing dirt and dust from it, and if necessary, seal the cracks and voids with mortar. When the opening is ready, you can proceed to the next steps.

Installation of an interior arch

On the gypsum board, an arch design is made for a private house or apartment, the necessary picture is drawn, and then cut out with a knife, strictly along the lines. When one piece is cut correctly, a new side is drawn along its contours and another piece is cut out. Having prepared both pieces, you can mount them on the frame, but before that, construction is carried out correct frame. The work will look like this step by step:

• At the top of the opening, the profiles are fastened using dowels if the opening is brick. After this, the profile must be installed on the walls of the opening. The frame is mounted at two points of the door passage.
• Next, a profile is made in the form of an arc. Using scissors, you need to cut through the metal every 5-10 cm, after which the metal is bent along in the required form. Previously cut pieces of drywall are used for the template. Installation is carried out with dowels, and the frame is covered with plasterboard using self-tapping screws. For arches you need 2 arcs.

• To make the frame strong, bars or pieces of profile are installed between the arches.
• The frame is ready, but the arch itself is not yet made. You will need to bend the drywall for installation at the bottom of the arch or make a composite element, the prefabricated bottom is made from pieces of drywall, and when bending you need to cut a piece, adding 10 cm to the sides. To prevent the material from cracking, it is wetted with a little water, passed with a needle roller and left for a couple of hours so that it is flexible. After this, you can bend the material and attach it to the frame, initially using tape and then self-tapping screws.
• After 12 hours, the beautiful arched opening will be ready and all that remains is to design and decorate the arch.

Here's how easy it is to install an arch in a doorway with your own hands. Using these tips, the production of arches will be fast. All voids in the arch can be left unchanged, or you can use polyurethane foam, pouring it inside according to the instructions. Next, you need to cover your creation.

Doorway design

What to make arches in a doorway from is known, but how to decorate an arch in a doorway? You can decorate the finished structure different materials. Often the design is done with using MDF, can be trimmed modern material, for example, artificial stone, wood, wallpaper, paint and apply solid wood. When the arch opens into the kitchen, it is recommended to secure the curtain by immediately installing fasteners in the arch. Before sheathing and decorating the arch, you need to do a number of works, step-by-step instructions below:

• The surface of the arch is sanded with sandpaper, removing irregularities, creating a rounded edging.
• Seams, joints and places of self-tapping screws must be sealed using putties, but before this, a perforated plastic corner is placed on the corner, it must be fixed directly into the putty.

• When the putty dries, sand everything again with sandpaper to remove any unevenness.
• The arch is coated with a primer and when it dries, finishing putty is applied and sanded one last time.

The arrangement of the arch is completed, you need to select the finishing and place it on the finished opening. As you can see, it’s easy to make a homemade arched opening; anyone can assemble the frame and fix the drywall, not necessarily a master, even if they have little experience. It is recommended to make an arch, the same shape as the window, so that the interior is unified, although the opening itself can be modernized so that the house or cottage is transformed and functional. Finally, a video showing the work process, how much material is needed and how to make a rectangular arched opening with a rounded top:

Photo gallery of finished works

Related materials on the topic:

Step-by-step instruction how to install a plasterboard arch with your own hands
Arches in an apartment: what are they, types, advantages
Interior arches for the kitchen: varieties and design

03.09.2016 15306

How to make it yourself

The manufacturing rules are not much different from a similar procedure with traditional door leaves, but there are some peculiarities.

1. First of all, an arch template is cut out, usually from fiberboard.
2. The canvas is assembled in a rectangular shape, taking into account the fact that the upper cut will not bear the force load.
3. The upper part is cut according to a template with allowance for further processing.
4. The outer side of the rounding is carefully adjusted to the shape of the template, maintaining the perpendicularity of the end part. It is more convenient to edit the outer edge with a milling cutter. If there is no access to the machine, this can be done using a belt sander.
5. The arched top of the box is made along the contour of the canvas. The arc can be bent according to a template or a set of several bars connected with spikes can be made. The vestibule is selected using a milling cutter.
6. The upper loop is installed as close as possible to the beginning of the rounding.
7. The fittings are attached in the same way as on a rectangular door.

Tools:

• assembly table with clamps;
• manual Circular Saw with the possibility of milling;
• surface planer, planer, jointer;
• electric jigsaw;
• drill;
• Sander.

Bivalve swing doors are made according to the same principle. First, rectangular panels, then general marking of the arched curve according to the template, and after that - the door frame.

More complex designs

The arch cannot be manufactured according to traditional project, since they do not have a top side to accommodate sliding mechanism. Manufacturers made some tricks in the design.

1. Single leaf. The arched shape is preserved only from the side door handle. The opposite part of the door is rectangular in shape with a mechanism installed on it. When the door is completely closed, you cannot see what kind of bend it has, since it is hidden by the opening. When opening, only the part on which the handle and lock are installed is visible.
2. . Both halves are made in a rectangular shape. The pattern or windows on the canvases follow the curve of the arch, and closed doors look like a repetition of the arched opening.

This option is suitable if the suspension mechanism sliding doors hidden in the wall. If the canvases are hung on one side of the wall - both halves sliding doors rectangular. The design is made in such a way that on one side the doors look arched, repeating the curve of the opening. On the opposite side there are ordinary rectangular sliding panels.

Transformation of the interior of the premises is done different ways. One of them is replacing the door with an arch. There are several technologies for its arrangement, but if you look at it in detail, almost all of them are similar and quite feasible on our own. Moreover, you can install both purchased elements of the “vault” and those made independently.

Preparatory activities

Choosing an arch type

Experts recommend focusing on the ceiling height and general style room decoration. There are several options for arched structures, but most of them reduce the opening due to installation load-bearing frame approximately 150 - 200 mm.

• At low ceilings It’s hardly worth getting rid of interior doors. At the very least, you should think carefully. The only possible option for finishing the opening after their dismantling is plastering followed by pasting (wallpaper, fabric) to match the walls. Building an arch using this method is quite simple; it is only necessary to correctly process the end parts of the passage. But this room design option has a significant drawback, and therefore does not suit everyone - the lack of sheathing makes it impossible to install hidden spotlights in the opening.
• In some articles on the topic of making an arch, there are recommendations for giving the desired geometry to the passage between rooms using cellular blocks, bricks or concreting. Not to mention the complexity of such work, it is worth considering the additional load on the floor. And since you will also have to deal with the solution, it is not the best option for an apartment.

But if the decision is made, then you should take into account the features of the interior of the home. This will help to correctly determine the optimal type of arch.

• Classical. The upper part is an arc with a constant radius (semicircle). It is relatively easy to make, since it has the correct geometry. But it is advisable to install it only in openings between rooms with high ceilings.
• “Modern”, “Romatica” are well suited for multi-storey buildings. The latter type of arches has a large width, and therefore are recommended for installation in the opening leading from the hall to the hallway.
• "Portal". Fundamental difference from others that it is rectangular arch. It is advisable to install it in private buildings. When applied to an apartment, it looks great, but only if straight lines predominate in the design style of the room. A significant advantage of this design is that it can be installed without much difficulty, even if you have no skills.
• "Ellipse" and "Trapezoid" have a more original shape. When deciding how to make an arch in a doorway according to one of these schemes, it is worth considering that the correctness of the geometry largely depends on the accuracy of calculations of the parameters of all elements and radii (angles).

There are other options for designing openings: Venetian, Florentine, with “shoulders” and a number of others. But building an interior arch of any of these varieties is so difficult that for self-installation There is no point in choosing them.

Selection of materials

• Frame. There are only two options here - wooden slats and metal profile. It is more difficult to work with the former, especially if the vault has a geometry with changing parameters. Bending wood is not only a complex process, but also a long one. In addition, wood absorbs moisture well, is susceptible to drying out, and therefore deformation cannot be avoided. In this regard, a door arch assembled on a metal frame is more durable and reliable.

• Facing. Panels made of plastic or chipboard with lamination look great, and they do not require further finishing. The downside is that it is difficult to choose their shade for a specific interior; besides, such an arch will be more expensive. It is better to use elements made of fiberboard, multi-layer plywood (small thickness) or gypsum board. Work with data sheet materials(cutting, bending) is much easier. Plus, the finishing design can be done in any way you wish.

• You must have experience working with wood. It is difficult to bend and, in some cases, to process. For example, the selection of grooves and quarters cannot be done without special tools and devices.
• The lumber still needs to be selected correctly. First of all, by breed. Each one is different characteristic features, and use largely depends on the specifics of the room in terms of microclimate.

Operating procedure

1. Dismantling door frame. The opening must be completely cleaned; not only from the frame with the sash, but also from sealing/insulating materials.

1. Marking. One nuance should be noted on this point; The ends of the wall must be strong. Therefore, if it does not meet this requirement in a separate area, you will have to think about either strengthening it (for example, with a corner), or additionally removing part of the material and then leveling it. But in the latter case, the size of the opening will increase. This is typical for houses made of wood if it is discovered that rot has developed on the timber (log).

• Dimensions should be taken at several levels. Even if the distortion is visually unnoticeable, difficulties may arise when installing the door arch with your own hands.
• There are many discrepancies in the question of what to do first - draw up a drawing of the arch or determine the dimensions of the opening. Here it is worth focusing on local specifics. If the wall material is easy to process, then widening the opening is not difficult. Otherwise, the design parameters will have to be “adjusted” to it.

1. Fastening the supporting frame. It is installed in several stages.

• Arrangement of the main circuit. In accordance with the drawing, all external vertical installation slats are “fastened” to the wall.
• Fastening the "vault". Additionally top part The arches are fixed with suspensions, which are located symmetrically across the entire width of the opening.

• Strengthening the frame. For this purpose, transverse elements are used, installed along the arch along its entire profile. Approximately - 50±10 cm from each other. For gypsum boards, the maximum is sufficient (about 55 - 60), but if the cladding is done with boards, then the interval should be reduced to 45 - 50.

• Sealing gaps. In fact, this is one of the ways to insulate an opening. Depending on the material of the wall and frame, the appropriate product is selected - a solution, polyurethane foam, putty or other.

1. Wiring. As a rule, all arched openings are illuminated. Therefore, the lines are installed before finishing the frame begins.

1. Cladding of the structure. The specifics of fixing the cladding elements depend on their material. But they are attached to the metal profile slats with self-tapping screws; the easiest and most convenient way. You just need to mark the location of the holes and drill channels for the hardware.

1. Finishing the arch

• Applying putty. This is necessary to smooth out roughness.
• Primer treatment. Such products simultaneously increase the moisture-repellent properties of the base and the adhesion of the material.
• Strengthening the finish (if necessary). The edges of the gypsum board are reinforced with a small corner (made of plastic, with perforation), the surface itself is reinforced with a reinforcing mesh, which is glued.
• Re-application of putty composition and primer.
• Grinding.
• Finish coating. Possible options– paints and varnishes, decorative films, veneer, wallpaper, stucco, mirrors. There are no stereotypes - your own imagination will tell you what look to give to the opening.

In principle, the process of installing and finishing the arch does not present any difficulties for a business man. And if you take into account in advance such a point as the maintainability of the structure, then they will not arise in the future.