Arch-It ::: How to Install Half-Round

Half-round arches are as easy as 1-2-3!

Frame in opening in the usual way, then measure down half the width of the arch.

Line up arch segments and screw them in place.

That's it — you're done!
Go do another one.

Then just finish it off as usual, with drywall, corner bead, mud, and paint or wallpaper.

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Versatility & Simplicity

Even for a complex installation — such as this two-level ceiling treatment in a room with an arched opening — Arch-It makes framing-in a snap. (This happens to be a shot of an early stage of the dining room on the home page.)

A few tips...

Opening's a little too small?

If need be, the top ends can be overlapped. If the opening is a little wide, the top ends can be separated by up to a few inches, and the finished arch will look perfectly round.

Are nail guns OK?

We recommend wood screws. In fact, nailing invalidates the warranty.

Symmetrical

There's no top or bottom — install each segment without worrying which way is up.

Perfect circles

All arches are half of a full circle. If you're doing a 36" doorway, each arch segment is 18" wide — and 18" deep too. (If you're using a 36" set of arches on a 35" doorway, you'll still want to measure down 18" on the casing.)

Jamb wider than 3-1/2"?

Simply score arches with a drywall knife, separate them and screw them in place for the exact size you need — up to 16"!

Mudding, nailers

You can plaster directly onto the arch — just drywall over the wall side of the arch, zip it, attach a corner bead and mud it. On 8' arches, some blocking may be required to meet 16" code. Nailers may also be needed for barrel vaults.

Headers

Remember, arches aren't designed to be structural support, only to be support for drywall.