Arched Doorways

[jdarmstrong]

Hi, I am hoping someone can help me. We bought a house that has arched doorways. My partner and I love the arched look but not the total openness. So we got a quote for arched french doors. $21500 for 5.
Everyone recommends we cut the arch out of the wall and insert normal french doors. We don't want to do this. So I want to do it myself. I have some basic handyman skills. So to make this long story short, how do I bend the wood around the inside of the arch to make the door frame?

[Flowboy]

Hi JD,
I'm not an expert, but you may be better cutting the arch from straight timber rather than bending it. In any case, it sounds like a big and complex job, which may require more than just basic handyman skills (no offence) as may be reflected in the price of having them made professionally. Even setting up the steam bending unit and frames will require some work.

Good luck and Welcome,

Rob

[Harry72]

$21K faaaaark!
Be a fair amout of work, but do'able.
Like Flowy said would be made from straight sections then cut to shape... definately not your average handy mans job... no harm in trying with some elcheapo pine 1st tho!
So what machines you got... you'd need a bandsaw, tablesaw, thicknesser, jointer and a router at least.
It would be possible with hand tools but it would be a monumental job to do 5 door sets.

A question how high does the arch start to form? If high enough(2040mm+)you could build in the top section as an arch with glass then install normal shaped doors.

[craigb]

I'd echo what the others have said.

I don't think "basic handyman skills" will cut it on this job though.

"Advanced woodworking skills" would be more like what was required imo.

Good luck.

[journeyman Mick]

I'm sorry, but basic handyman skills are generally not even enough to hang a hollow core door properly. Making and hanging arched french doors are going to be a very steep learning curve. There's an alternative though: Get an arched transom window made (a fanlight) which will sit above a pair of normal frnch doors. You'll still get the arch but the price tag will be considerably less.

Mick

[sawdustmike]

I did a similar job for a customer. I'd never done it before but had a bash anyway, did it out of recycled jarrah and the doors weighed a ton but came up a treat - then the customer painted them ... aargh. Its not that hard but you do need to have good jointing skills and you definitely need jointer, thicknesser, bandsaw, accurate mitre saw, good 1/2" router and sundry other things that make up a reasonable workshop. I would question as to weather I really wanted to fill in the doors, spend twenty something thousand or spend the next four years in the workshop (be a good reason to get them tools and machines 21 grand goes a long way). If the height allowed it I would go the way in the last post - put in a fanlight type of infill.

good luck

[Tool-Horder]

I am assumming you are talking about the actual door styles by the sound of it. Traditional method and surprisingly the easiest method for someone with little experience is to laminate the arches. Lets say you need style thickness of 38mm. Cut the shapes of the arch from 3 layers of 13mm thick stock allowing joins in layers to overlap. Usually you plan the inner laminate to be the same thickness as the tennons required for rails and rebates for panel inserts.

[dirtgirl]

Hi jd, have you considered using fretwork in the arches and regular french doors underneath. That way you retain the arch and the openess/ventilation, cheers, M