Drywall an Arch or Curve
Category: Drywall ·
Difficulty: Advanced ·
Time: 1.9h ·
Estimated cost: $30
Tools needed
- Tin snips
- Flexible 6" taping knife
- 12" taping knife
- Mud pan
- Drill/driver or staple gun
- Utility knife
- Sanding sponge (220 grit)
- Work gloves
Materials needed
- Flexible/archway corner bead (8 ft) (1 ea)
- Setting-type 'hot' compound (bag) (1 bag)
- All-purpose joint compound (box/bucket) (1 box)
- Drywall primer/PVA (quart) (1 qt)
Execution steps
Choose the bead
Use flexible/archway corner bead made to follow a radius. To bend a rigid bead around a tight curve, 'kerf' it — snip one flange every inch so it flexes to the arc.
Duration: 5 min
Tack the bead to the curve
Bend the bead along the arch and tack or staple it every few inches, keeping it centered on the corner of the curve.
Duration: 20 min
Embed in mud
Bed the bead in mud and lock it down with a flexible 6" knife, which rides the radius far better than a stiff blade.
Duration: 20 min
Coat the face and soffit
Feather BOTH the face side and the soffit (underside) of the arch in thin coats so the curve stays smooth instead of lumpy.
Duration: 25 min
Finish coat
Skim a final coat and feather. Three thin coats keep the radius true.
Duration: 20 min
Sand and prime
Sand carefully along the curve with a flexible sponge, then prime before paint.
Duration: 25 min
Safety first
- Archways are overhead work — use a stable ladder, keep your hips inside the rails, and don't overreach.
- Bead edges are sharp — wear gloves; wear a dust mask when sanding.
When to hire a pro
Large-radius archways, barrel ceilings, or curved soffits that need bent drywall are specialty work — bring in a pro.
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