Arches and Other Styled Openings
Ossett
Mouldings Limited arches are most frequently used to "beautify" existing
rectangular openings between areas of homes. Most typically to conceal a
supporting steel joist (girder).
There are very many options available. We have some "standard" moulds.
Our unusual, unique production moulds will produce a variety of curved
openings to suit many homes - more about these below.
Also we can produce any style or design you wish, your choices are truly
infinite. Believe me, our skills are more than adequate for whatever
scheme you might dream up. However unusual it might be!
Please
remember these do not have to be smooth finished plaster, we can imitate
timber, brick or many other materials / finishes - very convincingly!
While our showroom / premises are relatively small, we have nevertheless
managed to include two examples of arches, also other possible openings
into the space available. One arch is shown here - above. This is semi
elliptical, complete with side cheeks, archivolts, smooth soffite,
keystones if required, supported by fluted pilasters.
To the left is another arched opening. This has a narrow span, semi
circular opening - also with all the features noted above.
Don't worry about this jargon / technical stuff, there is a very full
explanation at the foot of this page.
Here
(on the right) is another pretty special arch, one of a group we
produced in our Dewsbury workshops and installed in France some twelve
or so years ago. As you can see, the semi circular arches are formed to
represent stonework, complete with radiating joints, as are the circular
columns and ashlar effect stub walls. There is also "brickwork" above.
To
the left you can see another specially made item. This (Victorian style)
feature also has a semicircular arch, complete with archivolts, sunken
panels to arch and the integral pilasters, finished at the base with
plinth blocks. These two items alone illustrate quite well the
possibilities our skills and abilities offer you - particularly in "one
off" or unusual situations.
If you are not certain just what would work in your home or on your
project, please either call in to our showroom to discuss the
possibilities. We can also call out to visit your project and discuss
possible designs in person with you.
Prior to commencing manufacture of arches, we often need to produce a
workshop drawing / scale sketch. These illustrate very well some of the
numerous possible designs / arrangements that are possible. Naturally we
have accumulated many of these and will be pleased to show you some,
either at our showroom or your home, please ask.
CHOICES,
as always - there are numerous, very numerous choices with Ossett
Mouldings products.
For instance, curved, arched openings can be "supported" by pilasters,
columns, half columns, corbels, brackets, trusses or impost mouldings.
There are very, many other options and choices available with other
opening or arch elements.
Any
member of our staff will be pleased to discuss design features and
elements of your possible arched opening to your home or other project.
In our view, these items are in your home permanently, for good. It's
therefore important to "get it right" first time - we will help you do
that.
We have the experience, we've worked on many different similar items for
other people during a period of years. We'll be very happy to help you.
WWe will ALWAYS provide a written quotation for your consideration.
Sometimes this will include (as mentioned earlier) a scale sketch to
assist "visualisation" of this important improvement. To further assist,
there is a lot of "jargon" on these items, please see below our guide to
some of the very many technical terms used:
| Arch | Curved opening |
 |
| Architrave | Straight moulding, usually "finishes off" door frames, often moulded | |
| Archivolt | Curved architrave | |
| Column | Circular (on plan / section) support. Can have semi circular, fluted or plain shaft | |
| Corbel | Also known as a "Bracket" or "Truss". Can be used in pairs to "support" an arch or beam | |
| Entasis | Some column or pilaster shafts "narrow" toward their tops. This is the term used to describe that narrowing | |
| Flutes | Upright rilles to pilaster or column shafts | |
| Keystone | Wedge shaped central feature to archivolt. Can be omitted if required. Term is also applied to central stone of stone arch | |
| Pilaster | Rectangular (on plan / section) column. Applied flat to walls, can have fluted, plain or panelled shaft. The correct item for this situation, half columns are actually incorrect | |
| Reeds | Decoration applied to base of flutes. Usually "reverse flute" in section, can be capped with a carved diminishing husk design | |
| Shaft | The central portion, between base and capping mouldings of a column or pilaster | |
| Side Cheeks | Plain, upright faces (or cheeks) of an arch or beam, above the archivolt. Can be decorated with panelling if required. | |
| Soffite | Underside of a feature. Here we usually mean the underside of an arch or beam. Can be decorated, for example with panelling, applied or sunken | |
| Springing Line | Point at base of an arch, where line changes from curve (above) to straight line (below). |