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Archway & Window Arch

Fitting Premade Archway Doors and Window Arches

Our solution for premade archway doors and window arches Installing arched windows or doors. We've got the hard part of the framing covered for you. We can fit any arched window or arched door frame. And we've developed some slick tricks to make installation a snap---even if you're working with a replacement unit.

The first thing is getting us a "cut sheet" from the manufacturer. It usually just takes a phone call to the window or door maker. Have your order info on hand so they can look it up and ask them to send it to us.

As an alternative, you can simply trace the arch of the door or window frame onto a piece of butcher paper. Call us and we'll walk you through the process...it's simple and doesn't take much time.

As soon as your cut sheet arrives, we'll put it into production and you'll get your arch shipped out within our normal 48 hours - 5 days if it's something really large.

Trying to retrofit an arch into a window or door that's already installed? People will think you're a genius when you use our slick installation method - you won't need to pull any exterior finish to get the job done!

Here are some examples of of how we've made framing for premade Archways and Window Arches easier:

Ellipse Arch

Fast Arch of America's Eclipse Arch Ellipse arches are similar to flat arches but curve to a vertical direction at the outside edges instead of joining the uprights at an angle. An ellipse is really half of an oval. It's a polished look that can be used in arched passageways and passthroughs.

Ellipse Arches are very complex mathematically with a layout that uses two center points. The traditional method of laying one out involves a loop of string, a couple of nails and a drawing tool. Of course, that's a very time consuming and inaccurate solution.

At Fast Arch, we've done all the computations, all you need to do is give us a few simple measurements for your arch. Tell us how wide your arch needs to be and what the drop is going to be. We'll run the numbers and create a perfect ellipse arch for you. And if your project needs more than one arch, they'll all be consistently right...even if they're different sizes.

How to Measure and Order a Fast Arch

How to Measure for a Fast Arch

WIDTH:

Measure the actual width of the opening from side to side (as you look through it) of the rough frame opening.

"Flat" and "Ellipse" are usually patterned in 2" increments to allow for adjustment during installation. This won't affect the appearance of the final product and makes installation much simpler. In other words, 36-3/4" opening would take a 36" Flat or Ellipse Arch.

Half-Round Arches require a closer tolerance and should be measured to within 1".

DROP:

This is the measurement between the top or peak of the arch and the lowest portion of the arch. Other terms you may have heard are the rise, leg, spring, or slope of the arch.

A good rule of thumb for an unspecified drop is to use a 6:1 ratio to the Width. In this case, a 48" wide arch would have a drop of 8".

The drop of a half-round or half-circle arch should be 1/2 of diameter of the circle, In other words, the drop of a half-round arch with a width of 72" would be 36"

DEPTH:

The measurement of the thickness of the opening or niche (as you look through it). Usually it's the depth of the framing member. The measurement should be accurate to 1/4".

TYPE:

Will this be an Arch or a Niche. Arches are passage type openings and Niches have a closed back. The difference is in the direction of the back flange and the cost is the same.

STYLE:

Flat, Ellipse, Half-round? Take a look at the various types of Arches to see what styles are available. Or call us for something unique.

Installing an Eclipse Arch

How to Install an Eclipse Arch

The Arch Code is written on the throat of each arch and it will tell you the size of the arch. For example, an Arch Code of 42/8 is meant to fit a 42 inch wide opening and create an arch with an 8" drop.

Installing a Fast Arch is quick and easy:

Get the Drop measurement from the Arch Code. It's the second number in the code. Measure down from the bottom of the upper framing member the distance of the Drop plus 1/2 inch. Draw a squared line across the inside face of the vertical framing member.
Repeat on the opposite side framing member.
Slip the half-arch over the framing members and align the 1/2" tail with the squared line. Make sure the arch is snugged firmly to the framing members at both the peak and tail.
Insert a screw or drive a nail through the nailing flange near the bottom (indicated as Nail #1 in the illustration).
Again making sure that the half-arch is snug to the horizontal framing member, place a screw or nail through the top nailing flange near the peak (indicated as Nail #2).
Place a third nail or screw at the outermost corner (indicated as Nail #3).
Move to the backside of the opening and repeat the procedure with 3 more fasteners.
Slip the second half-arch over the framing members, aligning the tail with the squared line.
Drive nails or screws at points 4, 5 & 6 (as indicated by the illustration above)
Repeat on the back side.

Important Notes:

ALWAYS WORK FROM THE BOTTOM TO THE TOP
There may be an overlap or gap of up to 1" between the two half-arches. The final appearance of the arch will not be affected.
For even easier installation on wood framing, Fast Arch has designed a double-faced magnetic hammer. A 3/4" roofing nail can be driven through the arch nailing flange and into the wood with a single stroke. This tool allows even very large arches to be installed by a single person and speeds installation time. For more information on this tool and its availability, please call us.

What You Get In An Arch Kit From Fast Arch of America

The Fast Arch of America Arch Kit. The fastest arch you can buy. What exactly comes in our Arch Kit? Because our Fast Arch System is designed to take all the work out of building an arch, the Arch Kit itself is really quite simple. In most cases it's simply two half arches and one sheet of very simple directions.

But there's a lot more to it than that.

At Fast Arch of America we keep things simple for you. Don't let our Arch Kit fool you. Inside the box - and at no extra cost - is some very advanced thinking on how to make your life easier and how to put more money in your pocket.

First, you'll find a pair of arch halves. These two halves make up the entire arch. We make them in halves so you can fit them easier on site. Our design is engineered so the two halves can overlap or stretch apart over a variation of two inches, so installing them is easier. It also means you don't have to wait until the framing is done to place an order.

Second, you'll see an instruction sheet. One sheet. We don't even use the other side. It's that simple. In fact, after you've put up one or two, you'll be an expert and can install them in about 2 minutes - and that will save you money by finishing your project that much faster.

Your Arch Kits has some hidden items as well.

You might not notice that the box is fairly light in weight. Our design, using sheet metal fabrication, results in the lightest weight arch on the market. That means you save money on shipping. And, depending on how many arches you order, you might find as many as ten arches in that box. Our patented design also allows us to nest them together to get more arches in the same box, which also saves you money on shipping.

Now look at the UPS label. Is it shipped from our main office in Phoenix? Or did we ship it from one of our other plants around the country that are closer to you and make the shipping cheaper?

And speaking of UPS, that's another secret benefit of using Fast Arch of America: speed. All orders are custom built and most leave our plants within 48 hours. Unusual or more complicated items go out within 5 days. If you're in a hurry, you have the option of UPS Overnight or one of their other fast shipping methods so your project isn't held up waiting for us.

Our Arch Kits look simple, but there's a lot more in the box than you first see.

Flat Arch

The Flat Arch from Fast Arch of America

The Flat Arch from Fast Arch of America A Flat Arch is a curve extends beyond the ends of the opening. It joins the uprights at a sharp, nearly perpendicular angle. It's often used for wide openings. We also have Ellipse Arches and Half-Round Arches.

Fast Arch of America makes creating a flat arch a simple process. It starts with just 3 simple measurements. There's no computation involved - we handle all of that for you.

When you get your Arch Kit, you'll find two halves to the arch. Just 12 nails later and you're done. After you've put in one or two, it'll be easy to put them up in under 2 minutes each.

Of course, at Fast Arch of America we're always ready to do something a little unusual. Need a really big arch? Our motto is "Any, Size, Any Shape, Any Time." Give us a a chance to prove it.