Laying the arch of a window opening made of brick. How to make a brick arch yourself? The procedure for carrying out construction work

An arch is an architectural element made in the form of a curved lintel over an opening in a wall or a span between two supports. Such designs are widely used to decorate the facades and interiors of residential buildings and public buildings.

A do-it-yourself brick arch is not a problem for a home craftsman who has some skills in performing construction work.

Types of brick arches

An ordinary brick arch is a symmetrical vaulted structure, the strength of which is ensured by lateral expansion. Experts distinguish the following types of brick arches:

wedge - bricks are laid out with a wedge and secured with a “lock”;
beam - bricks are laid along a truncated arc;
full arches - bricks are laid out in a semicircle with a height of half the width of the opening.

First of all, you need to decide on the type of arch you plan to build and prepare the necessary materials and tools. Each of the described brick arches has its own pros and cons, but the diagram and sequence of work on their construction is not very different.

The sequence of building a brick arch

The technology used to build a brick arch with your own hands depends on the chosen type and design features of the architectural element. The entire process of constructing a brick arch can be divided into the following stages:

development and production of a vaulted element template;
installing a template;
laying out a brick arch;
compression and fixation of the arched structure;
disassembling and removing the template;
finishing of brickwork.

To make a template for the future arch, chipboard sheets and wooden beams are used. The appearance and quality of the arched structure depends on the quality of the template, so it is necessary to correctly calculate its dimensions.

The template is made several centimeters smaller than the width of the opening along the height of the arch, so that there are no problems with its dismantling after laying out the element.

The center of the arched structure, its upper and lower points are applied to the chipboard sheet, then they are connected to each other in the form of an arc so that the result is a truncated semicircle. Using the resulting markings, two circles are cut out, which are connected using bars and screws, forming a full-size arch. The template is installed in the opening and fixed in it using wooden supports and spacers.

Before laying out the arch, grooves are installed on both sides of the opening, allowing you to clamp the arch quickly and easily. The brick arch is set from bottom to top simultaneously on both sides. A “lock” is installed in the center at the top of the arch - a brick that is tightly driven into the masonry and secures the entire structure.

After clamping the brick arch, the template is removed and the surface is cleaned. In order for the masonry to look neat, it is necessary to carefully align the seams and remove excess mortar from the front surface of the brickwork.

Materials used for constructing brick arches

For the manufacture of arches, a special wedge brick is usually used, since its trapezoidal shape contributes to better fixation of the arched structure. You can purchase wedge bricks ready-made in stores that sell building materials. You can make wedge brick yourself by cutting ordinary brick blocks to the desired shape.

Special solutions are often used to secure arched structures. For example, for stove arches, the solution is made from clay with the addition of fireclay sand with inclusions of fine gravel, sifted through a sieve with cells up to 0.8 cm in diameter. In this case, the thickness of the seams should be minimal.

The main mistakes when building arches with your own hands

A do-it-yourself brick arch, if calculated correctly and accurately following the work production technology, will become a magnificent decoration for your home and will last a very long time. However, there are a number of reasons that can lead to the destruction of the arched structure:

insufficient height of the arch with a large opening width - with this design, the loads are distributed unevenly, which can lead to the formation of cracks;
the use of metal corners and bases as a template - metal, unlike wood, prevents the uniform natural shrinkage of the arched structure, which can cause it to crack;
untimely dismantling of the template - if the wood has time to become saturated with moisture and swell, this can lead to excess stress, so the arch should be protected from moisture by covering it with polyethylene;
weak foundation - cracks in arches often occur when the foundation subsides; in this case, it is necessary to carry out a set of measures to strengthen the foundation and prevent subsidence of the base of the arched structure.

Arches can be made in a variety of styles and used to decorate various architectural elements. A DIY brick arch will give your home an original look and create a unique atmosphere.

Video

By the way, a brick arch can be not only in a house, but also in a stove. The following story will tell you how to make such an arch.

An arch is a curved lintel that serves as an architectural element of a wall opening or span between supports. The lateral thrust of the vaulted structure ensures its strength. Brick arches differ in types:

arched arches - bricks are laid in them along a guide in the form of a truncated arc;
wedge arches - bricks are laid in a wedge with a locking “lock” device;
full arches - brickwork is done in a semicircle and has a height of 1/2 the width of the opening.

Despite the different methods of laying piece stone, the sequence and general principle of work on the manufacture of such arches are not particularly different. If you have experience in construction, any of them can be laid out with your own hands.

Materials for masonry

When installing arches, trapezoidal wedge bricks are used. The shape of such materials allows the arch structure to be securely fixed. Wedge bricks can be purchased at a building materials store or made independently by machining ordinary products to give them the desired shape.

Cement-sand mortar or special types of it are used as a binding material for brickwork of arches. For example, to decorate stoves or fireplaces with your own hands, the solution is prepared from clay with the addition of fine gravel with a fraction of less than 8 mm and fireclay sand.

The cladding of lined arches is often done using decorative stone. This finishing material is comfortable, fits perfectly into the interior of almost any room, giving it solidity.

Making a brick arch

The technology for making a brick arch with your own hands is influenced by the choice of its type and design features. The vault installation process consists of several stages:

calculation and production of an arched template;
installing a template in the opening or between support pillars;
brickwork of the vault;
crimping and securing the finished structure;
template disassembly;
arch finishing.

Each of these stages of construction requires careful execution. Therefore, let's look at them in more detail.

Making an arched template

The laying of a brick arch is carried out using a special template that follows the contour of the future opening. In addition to form-building, the arched template performs a load-bearing function during the main work. Therefore, it is important to accurately calculate and make this auxiliary element with your own hands. When calculating it, it must be taken into account that the height of the arch must correspond to its rounding radius and be equal to 1/2 the width of the opening.

The material for making the template is boards and sheets of particleboard (chipboard). On a sheet of chipboard, use a pencil to mark the center of the arch structure, its lower and upper points. Then they need to be connected with an arc until a truncated semicircle is obtained. According to the markings made, two circles are cut out, the bases of which are nailed along the long ends of the board. The length of the board section should correspond to the width of the opening, and its transverse size should correspond to the thickness of the future arch. Starting from the base of the structure, a 6mm strip of hardboard is nailed to the arc-shaped part of the circle, on which the brickwork will be made. The template is ready.

Installing a template

Installation of a self-made template is carried out using side supports. They are made of boards and installed on the inside of the opening, then they are spaced apart with beams of the required length or other boards. Then a template is installed on the upper end of the supports.

To correctly place the masonry stone on it, you need to make markings. To do this, a brick is installed in the middle of the template. Then the compass is moved apart to a width equal to the thickness of the brick plus 0.5 cm of the thickness of the masonry seam. From the laid brick, fixed distances are laid along the edge of the template with marks applied. This must be done on both sides of the template.

Execution of arch masonry

Arched masonry is carried out evenly on both sides of the template, moving gradually towards its middle. The position of each laid stone must correspond to its mark. Applying the mortar to the brick bed should be wedge-shaped - this will improve the fixation of the materials. Masonry joints should not expand by more than 25mm. After completion of the main work, the castle brick is installed vertically in the middle of the arch. It is hammered tightly and fixes the entire structure.

The correctness of the masonry and the direction of the radial seams are checked by markings and a cord, the end of which is tied to a nail driven into the center of the supporting part of the template.

The formwork can be removed after 2-3 weeks; this period is affected by air temperature and the quality of the masonry mortar. To remove the template, you need to remove the spacers and support boards, and then carefully lower it down.

Arch finishing

An impressive result can be obtained by finishing a brick arch with your own hands using decorative stone. For this process, its narrow plates are used - this makes it easier to attach them to arched curves. The order of further actions is as follows:

The surface of the arch is cleaned along with part of the adjacent walls and treated with a primer. For smooth surfaces, notches are made on them.
A solution consisting of glue, sand and lime is prepared. Its composition may vary depending on the type of decorative stone.
Usually, in addition to the arch, the adjacent parts of the walls are covered. The first row of stone is laid from below at the joints of the arch and the wall.
Laying the next row of stone also starts from the bottom, but the outermost stone should protrude slightly beyond the joint. All other stones are laid overlapping.
The finishing elements of the rounded edges of the arch are pre-cut along the arc using a construction knife and pliers.
The inner part of the arch is lined with elements of decorative stone, also by laying them overlapping.
After finishing, the resulting seams are sealed with a special solution, which is applied with a spatula.

Brick arches can be made by hand in various styles, but laying any of them will give your home an original look and a great atmosphere.

Architects often use architectural and 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 decision regarding the thickness of the seam is made 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.

Category: Doors, openings, arches

It is no secret that a doorway designed in the form of an arch looks aesthetically much more attractive than a standard rectangular one. Thanks to arched vaults, you can use non-standard design solutions. One of these options in interior design can be in your home.

Arched forms have certain complexities, so you need sufficient skill to make such an architectural structure yourself. This lesson will show you how to correctly lay a brick arch yourself, with minimal construction skills.

Types of brick arches

The arch is a semicircular lintel that connects two vertical supports. The strength of the arch is ensured by distributing the load to the sides (thrust). Typically, arches are laid over window or door openings. Arches are also made near stoves and barbecues.

In existing construction practice, there are 3 forms of brick arches:

Regular (full) arch. When erecting it, the semicircle of the arch is made half the diameter of the circle. Any home craftsman can make such an arch.
Wedge (rectangular) arch. This type of arch is shaped like the letter “P”. The arched vault is equal to the radius of the circle. This type of brick arch is the most difficult to construct.
Beam (truncated or incomplete) arch. In such an arch, the arched vault is made low, less than half the diameter of the circle. In this case, the brick is laid along a truncated arc. In terms of complexity of execution, the arched arch occupies an intermediate position between the conventional and wedge arches.

The bricklaying technology of the above types of arches differs practically little. All that remains is to prepare the necessary tools and materials to build a brick arch with your own hands, which will become part of the interior design you have planned.

At the initial stage, when the shape of the future brick arch is already known, it is necessary to develop and manufacture a template for the vaulted element. Wooden blocks and chipboard sheets are used as materials for making the template.

The template is easy to make with your own hands. A horizontal line is drawn on a sheet of chipboard, which is equal to the width of the opening, the center of the arched vault is marked, as well as its extreme lower and upper points, which are then also connected by lines to each other. The result should be a truncated semicircle (circle) of the future arch.

Next, using a hacksaw or jigsaw, two circles are cut out along the intended lines, which must be connected to each other using self-tapping screws and bars. Then the resulting template for the future arch must be installed in the opening and fixed in it with the help of spacers and supports.

Before laying begins, fines are installed on both sides of the arch at the level of its lower border, which will allow the structure to be clamped, ensuring its stability and strength.

A brick arch with your own hands must be made without interruption in work in one step. Laying is done by moving along the arc of the template from bottom to top, simultaneously laying bricks on both sides. Upon completion of the set, a brick (lock) is firmly driven into the top of the masonry, the main function of which is to fix the entire arched structure. After this, the template is removed, and the surface of the brickwork is cleaned of any remaining mortar.

To lay out the arched structure, a special trapezoidal wedge brick is used, which provides better fixation of the brick arch. Buying such a brick is not a problem. It is sold in specialized construction stores, but you can make it yourself by processing it with a grinder to the desired shape.

A correctly installed brick arch with your own hands can last a very long time, giving your home an original appearance and filling it with homely warmth and comfort. You will find additional information for the lesson by watching the DIY brick arch video.

Photo of brick arches

Arched doorways look more beautiful and stylish than a regular rectangular one.

Those who want to make their home as comfortable as possible prefer to put in more work, but then enjoy the results of their labors.

Making a brick arch with your own hands is not an easy task, but the result is worth the effort.

And if you take into account some tips when building it, success is inevitable.

Builders distinguish three main types of arches that are used in the construction of doorways.

They differ in the way the side vertical supports are connected:

Classic arched doorway. It is performed very simply, without special construction training and experience. You just need to lay it out in the shape of a semicircle equal to half the diameter of a full circle.
Wedge arched opening (rectangular). In its shape and appearance, such an arch is similar to the letter “P”. Building such an opening is the most difficult.
A beam arched opening (incomplete), with a vault equal to less than half the diameter of a full circle, is laid in a truncated arc. It is quite difficult to make such an arch, but if you are careful, a builder can do it without much experience.

These technologies are used to construct door and window openings.

In the same way, you can build a brick arch with your own hands for a barbecue, oven, or fireplace.

Step-by-step instructions for building an arch

All three of the above types of arched openings are similar in installation technology. Therefore, the process of constructing any of them will take place in stages as follows:

A template for the arch vault is developed and cut out.
It is then installed between the vertical supports.
A brick arch is laid out.
The finished structure is fixed.
The template is carefully removed.
The arched brick opening is finished for a beautiful aesthetic appearance.

Making and installing a template

The template can be made from materials such as chipboard and wood beams. You should not be negligent in the manufacture of this part, since strength depends on its quality.

Also, the template directly affects the appearance of the arched structure.

Please note that the template should be several centimeters smaller than the opening in height. This is important to avoid difficulties with removing this temporary structure when the brick has already been laid.

You should start making the template with drawings. First, you need to plot the center of the arch structure, identify and mark the points at the top and bottom, and connect them in an arc shape.

You should cut out two such structures and connect them together using self-tapping screws and beams. The result should be a frame equal to the natural size of the arch. The finished template is attached to the opening with wooden supports.

Construction of a brick arch

Before you start laying bricks, you need to install fines, thanks to which the arch will be made quickly and reliably. Bricks should be laid starting from the bottom and moving upward.

This must be done symmetrically, so that both sides move towards completion in parallel. The main brick is installed in the center of the structure, which is responsible for fixing the entire arched structure.

When the main work is done, and the arch is laid out beautifully and with high quality. And also securely fastened, you can remove the template. Then you should clean the surface of the bricks and level the seams to bring the arch to an aesthetically attractive appearance.

What to consider when building a brick arch

If you do not take into account some of the features of arched openings, the structure may simply burst. Therefore, before starting, you need to take into account the following factors:

If the opening is wide enough, then the arch should be located high. If the height and width of the structure are disproportionately determined, cracks may appear on it.
The use of metal bases can also lead to the same result, since they do not allow the arch to shrink naturally.
If you do not remove the template for too long after the arch is laid, the structure may simply fall apart. This phenomenon is not very common, but to be safe, it is better to cover it with polyethylene for a while until the template is removed.
The poor quality of the foundation of the house can also lead to cracks in the arched opening.

A brick arch can be built in one or two days, no more. The most important thing in this matter is to purchase high-quality materials and work strictly according to technology.

How to make a brick arch yourself - presented in the video: