How To Frame An Arch Opening

I’m going to build an arch right here.

This is a two-man job, and I was planning on the New Guy’s help, but he showed up to work in his fishing clothes and asked for the entire day off.

The first thing I did was mark the center of the opening; then I measured down five feet.

I installed a board at this height with a screw in the center.

I hooked a string to the screw and used it as a fulcrum to mark out a 5’ radius for the arch, which is technically an ellipse.

I used the piece we cut out as a template to mark another piece of OSB for the back side of the arch.

You can see here there’s a header above to transfer the weight- this arch is purely decorative; but it does need to have some strength because it gets wrapped in stone.

Next, I cut a whole bunch of blocks 7 ¼” long and I used these to fill in between the two arches.

I used ½” Pressure Treated plywood for the bottom of the Arch and made kerf cuts into it so it would bend to the shape of the arch.

Here you can see what it looks like all finished up.

Let me know in the comments if you know someone like the New Guy that works really hard at getting out of work. @hausplans

#build #howto #construction #tools #diy #contractor #carpentry #framing #arch #porch

29 Replies to “How To Frame An Arch Opening”

  1. So you have a nice plastic on your house with special screws to hold it and later u make some holes 🙂

  2. Gotta love the new guy just don't call Mr George 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂🤦🏾‍♂️

  3. Lol all wood. You wonder why it flys away next time there is a storm. It will look good until then so.

  4. Won't the pressure treat eventually shrink and cause the stone to become loose over time.

  5. Is that a pivot point or a fulcrum?🤔🤦🏻‍♂️🛠️👌🏻🎯🤣

    The arch did come out nice. I really like how you incorporated so many different roof pitches, angles and curves in your façade! Its gonna look really sweet when all wrapped in finish materials, especially the stone on the bottom!

  6. The new guy works hard and it looks like he plays hard 🤷‍♀️ He always has the right gear – I’d keep him😂

  7. That house is built using the same types of shitty wood i used in my dog house.
    American houses never stop amazing me with their cheap materials.
    An arch made of plywood. Definitely going to last a lifetime 😂😂

  8. Hi ! How do you calculate the distance of 60cm from the top to be the center of the arch?

  9. Bro.. The "New Guy" you keep giving chance after chance,, he is a Dog!! ya.. he isn't even human. Plus. He is probably an illegal.

  10. We legit have someone who is like the new guy who missed atleast 1 day a week last year and still has a job somehow

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