On windows, doorways or between several vertical columns. Many people associate this element with Ancient Greece or Byzantine culture, however, this is not entirely true. Our Slavic ancestors knew for a long time how to lay an arch out of brick or stone and actively used it.
Such elements can be found in almost all buildings, from ordinary stoves for cooking to the grandiose arched vaults of royal chambers and temples. The arch has always served as a decorative element of any design.
In modern construction, this decorative element has not lost its relevance and is used everywhere. From a technical point of view, it is a curved lintel that is installed above two supporting structures or above door and window openings from both the inside and outside of the room. In order to build such an element with your own hands, it is not at all necessary to have special technical skills; it is enough to study the technology of its construction and prepare in advance the necessary tools and materials used.
Main types of brick arches
Before you make a brick arch on your own, you need to find out what types they are. exist and make decisions based on the information received. The design itself is based on a lateral bracing system, that is, as a result, they support themselves and do not require additional reinforcement. In modern construction, all arches are conventionally divided into three main types:
Once you have finally decided on the type of future design, you will also need consumables. Each of the listed designs has its own positive features and disadvantages, which are based on the complexity of manufacturing, manufacturing technology and time costs, however, the sequence of actions performed is almost the same for all.
Tools and materials
At the first stage, we prepare the necessary tools. For high-quality and fast production you will need:
Prepare the following supplies in advance:
- cement mortar for masonry;
- brick in the right quantity;
- wooden beams for making a supporting frame;
- chipboard sheets for making a circle;
- self-tapping screws or regular nails for fastening all frame elements.
Depending on the chosen type of arch or its design features, the list of tools and materials may be supplemented.
Sequencing
The entire procedure for constructing an arched structure depends on the type of arch chosen and your individual capabilities. Before making a brick arch, it is necessary to clearly divide the production process into several main stages:
- design and construction of an arch template;
- installation of the template in place of the proposed arch;
- laying bricks relative to the selected type of structure;
- securing the structure;
- dismantling the wooden template;
- arch surface.
The template for the future structure is made from wooden beams and chipboard sheets. This element should be given special attention, since the appearance of the arched structure depends on the quality of its manufacture and strength. The beams are used as a supporting frame, and a circle of the required shape is cut out of chipboard sheets.
When making a template, it is important to consider the possibility of its free dismantling and reuse after laying the brick. To do this, the template itself needs to be made slightly smaller than the size of the opening, since under the influence of moisture the wood can swell and its dismantling will become significantly more difficult.
Before building a brick arch, the markings of the future structure are transferred to chipboard sheets. To do this, mark the lower and upper points of the proposed design on the sheet, then use a pencil or marker in the form of a semicircle.
Using the existing markings, cut out two circles using a saw or jigsaw, then fasten them together using wooden beams so that you get the full-size arch you need. The manufactured template is installed in a door or window opening, then fixed in the desired place using supports made of beams, so that after removing the supports it can be easily dismantled.
Before laying the arch, it is necessary to install special grooves along the edges of the door or window opening. They will allow you to clamp the structure with a lock and prevent the masonry from moving in different directions. Laying the brick begins from the opening to the center of the arched structure and this must be done simultaneously on both sides. In order for the pressure on the template to be uniform and the masonry to converge exactly in the center of the top point.
Video on how to lay a brick arch:
After the brick is laid in place, the final step is installing the lock. The lock is the very last top brick, which is installed exactly in the center and hammered in with force. Thus, it expands the structure, and the arch becomes a fixed solid element.
After the lock is installed, you need a template and final refinement of the design. Refinishing means removing excess parts of the mortar and straightening the seams, giving the arch a beautiful look.
Common mistakes when creating arched structures
First, it is necessary to carry out accurate calculations of the future structure and study the construction technology in order to avoid complete or partial destruction. The most frequently made mistakes include the following:
Conclusion
Having mastered the technological process of creating an arch yourself, you can make various decorative changes to the design and decorate your home to your liking. Such a structure will add elegance to the building and will favorably emphasize those elements of the building that have an arch.
Everyone knows perfectly well that a doorway arranged as an arch looks much more interesting than a regular rectangular entrance. By using arched vaults, you can resort to extraordinary design solutions. One of these unusual solutions in interior improvement can be a brick arch built with your own hands. This decorative element, which has served more than one generation of architects, harmonizes perfectly with the interiors of old buildings, and also fits perfectly into more modern designs.
However, keep in mind that arched forms in construction are quite complex, so to obtain a decent result you should have some skills in the field of construction.
An arch is a kind of semicircular lintel that connects two vertical supports. The arch gains strength due to the distribution of the load in different directions. As a rule, arches are used to decorate door and window openings, as well as barbecues and stoves.
Nowadays, 3 forms of brick vaults are considered the most common:
Types of brick arches.
- Full arch. During its construction, the semicircle is shaped to be half the diameter. Such a vault can be arranged by, perhaps, any craftsman with minimal skill.
- Rectangular vault. This arch looks like the letter “P”. This type of construction is considered the most complex.
- Truncated arch. In such a structure, the vault is made low, less than half the diameter of the circle, and the brick is laid along a truncated arc. In terms of labor intensity and complexity, a truncated arch occupies a middle place between wedge and ordinary arches.
In addition to all the listed types of brick arches, the following vaults are known: modern - arranged in the shape of a truncated cone, in the romantic style - a rectangular arch with rounded corners, an ellipse - usually used in postmodern interiors, a portal - a classic rectangular one. However, each of the described designs has its own advantages and some disadvantages. For example, a brick arch in the Gothic style requires a ceiling height of at least three meters. And the arrangement of an ellipsoidal vault requires a sufficiently large section of the wall, devoid of any openings and decorative details.
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Tools and materials for laying brick arches
Having decided to build a certain type of vault that will harmoniously combine with the style of the room being designed, you should prepare all the necessary building materials and tools.
The installation concepts for all brick arches are not much different from each other. You just need to stock up on all the necessary tools and materials to build this masterpiece with your own hands.
So, for work you will need:
- solution,
- circled,
- nails and slats,
- wedges,
- bricks,
- meter and level,
- hammer and sledgehammer,
- trowels,
- bowl for preparing the mixture,
- jigsaw,
- pencil,
- chisel.
In order for the vault to look aesthetically pleasing, and for the masonry itself to remain smooth and sufficiently reliable, wedge bricks are used. This material has a trapezoidal shape, due to which it provides the most durable fastening of the entire structure. You can find wedge bricks in construction stores, but if you still couldn’t do it, you can make such material yourself. To do this, trim the side walls of an ordinary brick on both sides, thus bringing it to the required dimensions. The brick is laid using special mixtures. For example, for the improvement of stove arches, as a rule, a solution is used that includes fireclay sand, fine gravel and clay. For laying, you can also use solid brick, concrete blocks or natural stone. When constructing the vault, try to leave the minimum possible thickness of the seams.
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Preparatory work
The laying of vaults in each situation will be individual, taking into account the planned type of structure, however, under any circumstances, the process can be divided into several main stages:
Arch formwork design using circles and racks.
- drawing and making of an arched arc;
- installation of a template in the opening;
- direct laying of bricks;
- strengthening the arch;
- removal circled;
- decorative cladding.
Every arch must begin with the installation of heels, which are prepared according to a template. Since the height of the arch varies, the angle of the heel also changes. You cannot use the same heel shape for all arches. Sometimes a simplified triangular vault is arranged, laying the material flat, after which they continue laying the walls, which will firmly press the heels to the underlying masonry lines.
In old buildings, the foundation of the brick arch should be additionally strengthened, because additional loads on the walls contribute to the deformation of the openings.
The template for the future vault is made from chipboard and wooden beams according to pre-calculated dimensions. The more accurately you make the template, the more aesthetically pleasing the brick arch will ultimately look. Sometimes, if a more stable and durable structure is needed, the usual chipboard is replaced with a frame made of reinforcement. This frame is also made according to the dimensions of the arch and is connected by welding. Prepare a template slightly smaller than the width of the span - and you will not encounter any difficulties when dismantling it.
On the chipboard panel, draw a line along the entire width of the span and mark the extreme points of the arch, then connect them with a clearly drawn arc. Using the drawn stripes, cut out two equal semicircular parts of the arch and fasten them with screws and bars. As a result, you will have a template the real size of the arch. Then mount it into the opening being constructed and secure it with spacers and supports.
For a more reliable installation, install grooves on both sides of the opening at the lower edge of the arch, which will clamp the structure and guarantee it sufficient strength. In the middle of the upper arc of the vault, carefully drive in a key brick, which will secure the form. After this, you can begin laying out the side parts of the opening, but keep in mind that the number of building parts on both sides should remain odd.
Then build the columns on which the formwork will then be placed. They are usually built from concrete or brick, but the foundation is installed first. In order for the lines of the columns to coincide with each other, they must be aligned using a cord. In addition, be sure to check the accuracy and correctness of the distance between the posts using a pre-prepared board, which will be equal to the required span width.
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Laying bricks for the arch.
On the pre-fixed template, mark the brick laying lines, and do not forget about the seams. The installation should be checked at all times. To do this, you can use a cord coming from a brick hammered in the center of the arc, a ruler or a level.
If you plan to arrange a vault of several rows, then carefully monitor each level in the same way as the first, so as not to destroy the arrangement of the brick.
Lay the material in transverse strips on both sides from the heels to the interlocking brick. In this case, the seams must correspond to the radius of the template. In addition, please note that the seam at the bottom of the arch must be at least 5 mm, and at the top no more than 2.5 cm. The arches are laid on both sides of the arch at the same time. Upon completion of the process, it is necessary to lay support beams on both sides of the arch. Between the rounded chipboard parts and beams, special wedges should be placed, which will be useful in the process of leveling the structure. In addition, these wedges will ensure easy dismantling of the template later.
Be sure to fill the transverse and longitudinal seams entirely with the solution. Take into account the fact that masonry works in both bending and compression. If you forget about this nuance, the arch may eventually collapse. Don't try to upholster the material to accommodate it. If such a need arises, then simply increase the layer of the mixture. Be sure to control the filling of the seams; they should be free of voids and gaps.
If you want to look at the arch first, you can lay bricks without mortar on wedges.
When laying the material, be sure to ensure that it remains level on both the front and back sides. The bricks must be correctly combined with each other, laid clearly according to the drawing. Lastly, the keystone is placed, which should be positioned vertically.
When laying out the arch, it is necessary to maintain the thickness of the seams.
Carefully check the masonry again using a ruler or level.
Laying out the final row requires a special approach, since the keystone must be clearly in the middle.
After the solution has hardened, its surface must be cleaned with a dry brush. Remove stuck lumps of the mixture with a damp brush until the solution has completely hardened.
After the brick laying process is completed and the mortar has dried, you can remove the template.
At this point, the arrangement of the arched opening can be considered complete.
In order to decorate the facade of a house, decorative architectural components are often used, which can give it special color and originality.
Today it is considered fashionable to build brick arches. Gates and interior doors can be made in the form of arches.
Among such elements are arches, which are often used in modern construction of both industrial buildings and country houses.
An arch is a shaped lintel that can be mounted both above window and door openings.
Classification of brick arches
A bow arch is a shape of arch that is only part of a circle.
Types of brick arches:
- Onion arch (another name is truncated or incomplete; it is an arc whose height is less than the radius).
- Full arch (regular, half a circle, that is, its height is equal to the radius).
- Wedge type arches (bricks above a rectangular window are placed in a wedge, while they fix themselves, leaning against each other).
Each of the above types of arches has advantages and disadvantages.
Laying a brick opening
This technology may include several stages:
- Creating a template.
- Template installation.
- Kit .
- Arch compression.
- Disassembling the template.
- Clean finish.
High-quality brick arch masonry involves the use of the following construction tools:
- trowel (leveling the mortar, trimming excess mortar on the seams and high-quality filling of vertical seams);
- shovel bucket (used for feeding, shoveling the solution and spreading it);
- instrumentation to determine the current quality of the structure (m, plumb line, level, rule, triangle);
- hammer-pick;
- roulette;
- mortar shovel;
- mooring twisted cord.
Risk of breakage
There are several reasons why a brick arch can burst:
- Small radius (height) of the structure with a fairly large width. Such a structure absorbs heavy loads, but does not distribute them. As a result, cracks may form, but the massif will not collapse. To create a template, you can use corners or metal bases. They are used to additionally attach the structure, but sometimes this can lead to very unfavorable consequences. After all, when using a wooden template and after its dismantling, the brickwork shrinks and becomes compacted. However, if a metal base is used, the masonry does not sag. Thus, the structure will be very strong, but also with some cracks.
- The template was preserved in the arch for quite a long time after its creation. For example, they might not have picked him up right away, but left him overnight. During this time, the tree absorbed moisture, swelled, and the masonry of the arch could not withstand the stress. Despite the fact that such cases are rare, it is still recommended to be careful at this stage. It is better to cover the arch with polyethylene.
- Subsidence of the base. The formation of cracks near window openings is one of the signs of an improperly constructed foundation. At the same time, cracks in the arch structure are no exception. In this situation, it is necessary to strengthen the foundation.
Arched opening calculations
1. rotating rack or cord;
2. a board located at the level of the center of the arch circumference.
The first step is to create a template using a sheet of chipboard. Wooden blocks and fiberboard are used here. At the same time, the quality of the template, the correspondence of its sizes and shapes to specific parameters largely determine the future quality of the arch.
The first step is to determine the size of the template. To do this, it is necessary to calculate the width of the opening (as an example, a window with a width of 1500 mm). The width of the template is taken 5 mm less, that is, 1495 mm. Subsequently, it is possible to dismantle the template at the final stages without much difficulty, even if it swells from moisture. The height of the template must match the selected arch height (for example, 168 mm). It is advisable to place a whole face brick in the upper area of the arch. Thus, to determine the height, you need to calculate the number of bricks. The height of one row should be around 72 mm (the height of the seam and brick), and the total number of rows should be 4. That is, the arched height: 72*4-120=168 mm. Hence 120 mm is the height of the shaped brick laid on edge.
Calculation of arch parameters: Ha – Arch height, lpr – Span width
The height can be smaller or larger, but it must be borne in mind that if the arch is too low and the width is too large, then there is a risk of the brickwork sagging under the influence of load.
The thickness of the template is selected based on the thickness of the wall. It should be specific so that you don't have to create an auxiliary template. After all, there are only two arches: the back arch and the front arch. The acceptable thickness here is 200 mm, which is half the thickness of the cinder block. A larger template will be heavier, which is naturally undesirable.
The template characteristics can be as follows:
- height – 168 mm;
- thickness – 200 mm;
- width – 1495 mm.
Accordingly, after the calculation, you can start creating the template itself. The chipboard sheet is used to mark the center of the arch, the lower and upper points. In order to obtain a truncated semicircle, the lower and upper points are connected to each other using an arc. For this, you can use a thread or a wire with a metal peg tied to it on one side and a pencil on the other (this way you will get a kind of compass, the radius of which will be many times greater than the standard one).
For more efficient and convenient installation of the template, it is necessary to retreat approximately 100 mm from the lowest extreme points of the arc. This is done so that the arch includes supports for fastening the bars. Use the resulting outline to cut out the circle. This operation is performed using a jigsaw.
Next, you need to cut out the arched template, which consists of two circles, which means you will need two copies of them. At the same time, you can make your task easier by first cutting out the first one (circle it, placing a sheet on the chipboard) and cutting out the second one along the resulting contour.
To add volume to the arch template, it is necessary to fix wooden blocks between two circles. After performing this operation, the template structure is secured using nails or self-tapping screws. The upper area of the template arch is equipped with a strip of fiberboard using nails (20 to 25 mm). The template will have a smoother and more regular shape and will also be able to hold the bricks laid in the upper area.
The template is mounted in the window opening, under which supports made of boards 20 mm thick are installed. A spacer is attached between the latter to secure them. The template is mounted on boards at the same level with the shaped brick of the front sample. At the same time, its height must correspond to the frame of the window.
Laying a bow-type arch to a wall involves trimming the window frame and top brick using a grinder. Thus, the arch is mounted lower, and the brick moves towards the inner corner.
Usually the front arch protrudes in relation to the wall. The protrusion should be small (less than 60 mm). Otherwise, there is a risk of the arched bricks getting wet and gradually collapsing. It is recommended to cover even small protrusions with a certain material, for example, tiles or a metal sheet. However, the larger the protrusion, the more colorful the future arch will look, so you will have to make the choice in favor of beauty or practicality personally.
Laying facing bricks to the wall involves some nuances. In the process, it is necessary to pay due attention to the fact that the brick includes two front sides. In the case when the material protrudes strongly in relation to the wall, the front and “back” sides are visible, the plane of which is rough and uneven.
Masonry construction
Before laying the arch, it is necessary to install grooves on both sides, making it possible to simply and quickly clamp it.
The creation of arches must begin with the “heels”, on which it will subsequently rest. After their installation, the height of one row of masonry is calculated, and the number of rows around the arch is also measured. After that, it is necessary to apply marks to the template that will mark the positions of the rows.
It is necessary to make a set of brick arches simultaneously from both sides from bottom to top. The final brick, called the “key” brick, is installed directly in the center of the upper area of the arches. It fixes other bricks, of which there may even be two if their total number is even. The driving of the key brick must be done tightly enough so that it not only holds on its own, but also holds the entire brick structure of the arches.
After building the arch, it is clamped with a brick. It is advised to do this on the same day and not postpone it until a later time, otherwise it may burst.
The template can then be immediately removed and the plane cleaned. If the weather is decent and the air temperature is high, the solution will quickly harden on the same day, which will make it possible to remove it without damaging the masonry. If the solution is left for a day or two, then it will be very difficult to clean the seams from the solution.
During the laying process, the seams are not always perfectly clean and even, so cleaning them is necessary. The mortar can be squeezed out of the seams and onto the face of the masonry, or completely fill them. The first case involves cleaning the seams with a dry cloth, and the second involves auxiliary lining of the seams from the bottom up.
After 24 hours, the wall with the arch must be raised by a certain number of brick rows.
Masonry of backfill analogue
The backing arch is a structure that is located behind the front part of the arch.
After completing all the steps described above, you can proceed to the backfill arch. To create these arches, the same wooden template is used, but with some changes in its design. Due to the fact that arched windows have a quarter of 5 cm on the sides, both the arch and the template must include a similar detail. Thus, the template must be increased by this amount. In order to do this, the fiberboard sheet is equipped with wooden blocks with a section of 45x45 mm and a length of 200 mm. The distance between them can be approximately 70 mm.
The sheet is very flexible and therefore the resulting tape is easy to bend and attach to the upper area of the arched template.
Features of work
The technique for creating backing arches is an analogy for making front arches. First you need to mount the “heels”, from which you need to reach the top of the arch. Typically, single backing bricks mounted on an edge are used for this purpose.
Before starting the process of creating an arch, it is recommended to prepare all the most necessary building materials and tools, make a template, cut spacers, wooden blocks and supports. In general, creating an arch will take approximately 8.5-9 hours a day, so it makes sense to start work in the morning and finish it by evening.
At this point, the work of creating a brick arch can be completed. The main thing in the masonry process is to prepare all the necessary construction tools and strictly adhere to the established rules. Thus, you will get a very high-quality and effective result.
Architects often use architectural design elements in their work that give the building originality and beauty. One of these decorative details is the arch. Internal structures are easily decorated using plasterboard. Brick is used to construct external geometric elements. Many novice craftsmen are interested in the question: how to make a brick arch with your own hands?
Types of arches
Arches in architecture are used in the architecture of different nations. Accordingly, their shape was influenced by the cultural heritage of the countries. An example of this is the Arabian arch, widespread in the architecture of Middle Eastern states.
The most common types of arches are:
- semicircular or semicircular: has the appearance of a semicircle, the center of which is at the same level as the heels of the arch. This design is most often supported by pylons. This type of arch can be considered a classic;
- beam: in shape it is an arc equal to a quarter of a circle. Arches of this type decorated the window openings of residential buildings in Ancient Rome;
- a pointed or broken arch formed by two arches intersecting at an angle.
In modern architecture, the first two types are used as a decorative element - semicircular (they are now called full) and arched. Wedge arches are no less popular - they received this name thanks to the construction technology: bricks are laid out with a wedge and then secured with a “lock.”
General technology for laying brick arches
Laying a brick arch, regardless of the type chosen, is done in the following order:
- The general appearance of the arch is being developed.
- Its parameters are calculated.
- A working drawing is drawn indicating all the required dimensions.
- A template is made, which is then installed in the opening.
- The opening lintels are laid out.
- The brickwork is secured and fixed.
- The template is dismantled.
At the last stage, the formed opening is finished.
Template calculation
Before making a brick arch, you need to make an auxiliary structure - a template. Its quality has a direct impact on the final result. For this reason, it is necessary to carefully calculate its dimensions. As an example, we can consider the design of a window with a width of 1500 mm using a beam type.
Please note: for designing an arched opening, it is not its width that is important, but the length of the arc along which the brick will be laid. In order not to create problems for yourself in the future, you need to adjust this size at the calculation stage so that it is a multiple of 70-75 mm.
The width of the template should be 5 mm less than the opening. This small gap will make it easier to install and disassemble (even if it gets damp).
The height of the auxiliary structure must coincide with the same parameter of the arch. By the way, it should not be too low - this is fraught with subsidence of the brickwork under the influence of load.
Now it remains to decide on the thickness of the template. If it is too large, the weight of the structure will complicate the work. In our example, the optimal thickness can be considered 200 mm.
Making a template
We begin the work by marking the arch on a sheet of chipboard. To do this you need:
- mark the center line;
- symmetrically axial draw the boundaries of the opening;
- mark the top point of the arch on the axis;
- From the highest point, set down a size equal to the height of the arch, and draw a straight line perpendicular to the axis through the resulting mark. Mark the intersections of the auxiliary line with the right and left boundaries of the opening with dots;
- from the same (highest) point, lay down a segment equal to the radius of the arched arc - this way the center of the circle is found;
- install a metal rod (peg) at the central point and tie to it a piece of knitting wire equal in length to the radius of the circle;
- Attach a pencil to the second end, and using an improvised compass, connect the three previously marked points.
The template consists of two such parts - circles - connected to each other by bars. If the circles are cut exactly according to the markings, then the sharp corners will not make it possible to fasten them to each other. Therefore, before you start cutting, you need to move 100 mm down from the lower points of the arched profile, thus increasing the body of the part.
After this, you can cut out the part with a jigsaw.
Marking the second circle is much easier: to do this, you need to use an already cut piece as a pattern. Just lay it on a new sheet of chipboard and trace along the outline.
The bars intended for fastening the circles must correspond in length to the specified thickness of the template. Twist the prepared parts with self-tapping screws. A strip of fiberboard is nailed along the top of the template - in this way, all possible irregularities in the device are smoothed out.
Circling in a window opening for laying a brick arch
Installing the template in the opening
Supports made from edged boards 20 mm thick are installed under the edges of the template. To prevent them from falling, a spacer is inserted between them.
The template is installed on top of supports flush with the edge of the shaped face brick. One nuance should be kept in mind: an arch that is too protruding (more than 60 mm) will be destroyed by frost and rain during operation. If you still decide to take this step, cover it on top with ceramic tiles or metal.
Laying a brick arch with your own hands
First, lay out the right and left heels of the arch. After this, you can begin marking the order. This is done using a tape measure. For convenience, markings are made on the template every five bricks.
The thickness of the seam is decided on site.
After this, you can lay out an arch from the heels to the highest point - on both sides. The last one or two bricks (depending on whether the number was even or odd when marking) are called castle bricks. After they are put in place, the seams are carefully filled with mortar. If this is not done, the arch may “sit down”.
The arch - front and backing - must be laid out in one go. The template can be removed two to three hours after the masonry is crimped. If it is not possible to remove the auxiliary structure on the same day, protect it from possible rain with plastic wrap. Otherwise, the swollen tree may undermine the fresh masonry, and the work will have to be completely redone.
An arched opening is an architectural element that is made in the form of a curved connection above a door or window opening in a wall or is a span connecting the supports of building structures. A brick arch can effectively decorate the facade of a house or complement the interior of an apartment.
Of course, it is better to leave the construction of such a structure to professionals, but let’s try to figure out whether it is realistic to build a brick arch with your own hands.
Variety of arch shapes
1 – pointed arch, 2 – equilateral; 3 – high pointed; 4 – rounded trefoil; 5 – pointed
There are several types of structures that correspond to a specific architectural style. Before you make a brick arch, you first need to decide on the style of the overall decor of the facade or apartment design.
The types of curved openings differ in the execution of the masonry:
- Wedge– the brick is laid in the form of a wedge, and is fixed at the top point with a locking element. Such elements are often found in Gothic architecture;
- Onion-represent a truncated cone. This architecture is characteristic of the oriental style;
- Full semicircle or “classic”– the height of the semicircle should be half the width of the door or window opening;
- Modern– brick arches have an arc in the shape of a truncated cone;
- Romanticism– a rectangular opening with slightly rounded corners;
- Ellipse– when calculating the structure, a regular or irregular ellipse shape is performed, depending on the design style. Most often used in new wave or post-modern style decor;
- Portal– rectangular design.
But each of these designs has both its advantages and disadvantages. Laying a brick arch in the Gothic style requires a ceiling height of at least three meters. And the ellipsoidal shape requires a large wall area free from windows and other architectural elements.
Having decided on the type of structure, it is necessary to prepare tools and building materials.
Design calculations and work sequence
Laying brick arches consists of several stages.
The work is carried out in the following sequence:
- Calculation of the sketch and drawing of a template for the future design;
- Installing the template on the wall;
- Laying an arched lintel;
- Fixing and securing the arch;
- Delete a template;
- Decorative finishing lining of masonry.
Advice. Before starting work, prepare all the necessary materials.
And also decide on the shape of the bend, which should harmoniously combine with the architecture of the facade or with the design style of the room.
Calculation and production of a template
When starting to calculate the structure, it is necessary to measure the thickness of the wall, the height of the ceilings and the expected width of the opening.
The calculation of a brick arch begins with a preliminary sketch made on paper at a scale of 1:50.
- Determine the radius of the circle and the width of the opening;
- Using a compass along the axis of symmetry, as shown in the drawing, we select the optimal radius of the arc;
If the project requires the construction of an arched structure in the Gothic style - with a curly bend along the edges or the presence of several arcs of different radii, then each element must be calculated separately. Let's consider the simplest design option that a do-it-yourself brick arch can have.
Using the Pythagorean theorem in the calculations, we calculate the dimensions of the arch using the following formula:
where R is the radius of the circle, L is half the chord, H is the height of the arch rise
After the calculations, we enlarge the drawing and make a template from chipboard, on which the arched ceiling will be laid.
Important. When making a template from chipboard, it must be taken into account that the width of the opening on the template should be two to three centimeters less in height.
This is necessary in order to easily remove the chipboard after installing the brickwork.
The procedure for carrying out construction work
Knowing the dimensions of our arched lintel, you can begin directly installing the template and laying bricks:
- Brickwork of arches involves first installing a supporting structure made of chipboard, 10 millimeters thick. The circles are cut out according to a template according to preliminary calculations.
Advice. In some cases, when a more durable and stable structure is required, chipboard is replaced with a frame made of reinforcement.
The frame is also made according to the dimensions of the arch and fastened together by welding.
- The chipboard template is attached using self-tapping screws and wooden spacers to the door or window opening;
- Fines are installed on the sides of the opening;
- Brickwork is done from bottom to top, alternately on both sides of the opening;
The main mistakes made when constructing arches
There are several common mistakes that almost everyone makes when building arches. How to make a brick arch reliable and beautiful, and also prevent destruction and cracking of the structure?
It is worth considering the following advice from professionals:
- The height of the arch should correspond to the width of the opening, this contributes to the uniform distribution of loads;
- If you use metal as a frame, then during operation the walls will naturally shrink and the masonry may crack. Therefore, it is better to use chipboard as a frame;
- Avoid wetting and swelling of the wooden frame and protect the arch from moisture with polyethylene. The template must be dismantled immediately after the masonry mortar has dried;
Important. In old buildings it is necessary to further strengthen the foundation.
Since additional loads on the walls can lead to deformation of walls and openings.Conclusion
It’s easy to build a simple arch yourself, but it’s better to entrust more complex architectural forms to professional craftsmen. In the video presented in this article you will find additional information on this topic.
