Arch template

[mickcoulson]

Hi..... I have built a 4 and half inch wall with two nine inch pillars and a twenty seven inch opening. I want to build an arch over the opening but am having trouble making a template for the arch. Can anyone point me in the right direction to work out the curve of the arch it seems twenty seven inches is a bit narrow for a half circle arch
cheers mickcoulson

 

[stuart45]

If you want a half round arch the striking point is at 13.5 inches. The smaller the radius the bigger the wedge joints will be, unless you cut the bricks.
Arches in garden walls often fail if there is no brickwork over the top.

 

[^woody^]

The load from an arch goes sideways. 9" piers may not be big enough.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Hi..... I have built a 4 and half inch wall with two nine inch pillars and a twenty seven inch opening. I want to build an arch over the opening but am having trouble making a template for the arch. Can anyone point me in the right direction to work out the curve of the arch it seems twenty seven inches is a bit narrow for a half circle arch

I suspect the weight of the arch will force the two pillar tops apart. You could get around it by adding a reinforcing bar between the two pillars, just below the arch, or....

Find some way to make the arch a rigid structure, so there is no sideways force on the pillars.

 

[mickcoulson]

I suspect the weight of the arch will force the two pillar tops apart. You could get around it by adding a reinforcing bar between the two pillars, just below the arch, or....

Find some way to make the arch a rigid structure, so there is no sideways force on the pillars.

 

[mickcoulson]

The pillars are tied in with the 4.5 brick work which is tied into the side of my house

 

[mickcoulson]

The pillars are tied into the wall which is tied into the house

 

[stuart45]

Many years ago I had quite a few gardens arches to build, many similar to yours. I found that putting reinforcement mesh into the joint between the brick rings helped hold it all together. Long time since I've done one.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

The pillars are tied into the wall which is tied into the house

Both pillars?

 

[mickcoulson]

Both pillars?

Yes both pillars and tie irons every other course tied into wall