How to Make an Arch in a Wall

This alternative to a regular door is ideal for standard apartments and most private homes, where there are no non-standard layouts, large halls, or foyers.

The most common and popular widths for prefabricated drywall arches are 90 and 150 cm. These can be built using a lightweight frame made from standard metal profiles, minimal tools, and basic drywall skills.

Required materials and tools

• Drywall:

• Two 12.5 mm thick drywall sheets. The sheet size may vary, but it must not be narrower than the future opening width.
• One sheet of special arched drywall, 6.5 mm thick.

• Profiles:

• Guide profile PN 27 x 28 – 4 pieces.
• Stud profile PS 60 x 27 – 1 piece.
• Reinforced arched corner bracket – 2 pieces.

Required tools include a hammer drill, metal snips, screwdriver, drywall knife, level, ruler, and pencil. With this complete kit, you can begin the project.

Work Procedure

First, determine the desired radius of the future arch. When choosing, consider comfort of use: the arch should not be overly curved, as a perfect circular shape consumes significant usable volume, potentially making it difficult to move furniture or other large items.

It’s most convenient to choose a radius equal to half the width of the future opening. Mark the drywall using a string and a simple pencil, acting like a compass. Mark the centerline on the sheet, which will serve as the reference point for marking.

Drive a screw into the intended center of the circle, attach a string to it, and tie a pencil to the other end. Draw the arc contour or several segments of the arch with the string fully taut.

After drawing the arch contour on the drywall, cut away the excess material. It’s best to use an electric jigsaw, but if unavailable, you can use a fine-tooth saw or drywall knife. In emergencies, a standard utility knife with replaceable blades will suffice.

Always cut drywall sheets while laying them flat on the floor or a table, if possible. A flat, solid surface beneath ensures accurate cutting. After cutting, one piece becomes the arch template, and the other is its mirror image.

Once the drywall is cut, proceed to assemble the metal frame. Its design and dimensions depend on measurements taken from the template. Install guide profiles along the wall and ceiling in two parallel strips. The distance between these strips determines the arch’s thickness (section). We recommend keeping this gap within 20 cm.

If the arch replaces a door, account for drywall thickness: two layers of 12.5 mm each, plus a 2 mm safety margin. Fix drywall to the profiles with fine-thread screws every 20–25 cm.

Next, measure the arc length and, using metal snips, cut a duplicate of the arch’s curved profile from the guide profile. Attach this profile to the inner side of the arch, along the full curve. Use as many fasteners as possible—don’t hesitate to overuse them.

Then, cut stiffeners from the stud profile to match the arch’s thickness. Install these every 10 cm along the arch’s entire perimeter. This ensures proper rigidity.

Final Stage

After completing the above steps, install the thin arched drywall sheet into the frame. Measure the frame’s circumference and cut a 6.5 mm thick drywall strip accordingly. To shape the strip into the correct arc, lightly dampen it with water and rest it on a chair. Under its own weight, it will gradually bend. Adjust the curve by rolling a metal needle roller over the strip several times, shaping it precisely.

When bending the drywall, carefully control the water amount. Over-wetting risks weakening and breaking the sheet. In cases of a slight curve, a standard 12.5 mm drywall sheet may suffice. The special arched sheet is only needed for highly curved arches.

The final step in installing the arch in a doorway is attaching the arched corner bracket (perforated profile) along both edges of the frame. This reinforces the joint and supports the subsequent plaster layer. After applying the profile, cover the joints with tape and apply plaster evenly.