That custom archway I built from drywall is sagging after a month.

I really wanted to add some character to my hallway, so I decided to build a curved archway out of drywall. It took me days to cut the right shapes and get the mud smooth. I used flexible corner bead and figured it would stay put. But now, after just a month, I can see it starting to droop in the middle. It looks bad, and I'm mad at myself for not making it stronger. I got too focused on how it looked and skipped some important steps. Has anyone dealt with this kind of thing before? I will probably have to take it all down and do it again, which stinks.

4 comments

4 Comments

sean_green441mo ago

Gravity always wins when you cut corners.

grant_knight791mo ago

What did you use for the frame under that drywall arch? Curved shapes need solid backing or they will always sag over time. Did you only rely on the corner bead and mud to hold it up? When I tried something similar, I learned the hard way that you need wood blocks cut to the curve for real support. So did you skip putting in any kind of structure behind the drywall itself?

oliverrobinson1mo agoMost Upvoted

Read that CURVED frames prevent sagging better than just mud.

smith.nancy5d ago

Yeah, it's like what grant_knight79 said. You see it everywhere, people trying to skip the support structure... then they're shocked when things fall apart.