Tuesday, July 10, 2012

The Barrel Vault Definition

The barrel vault, by definition, is an arch that gets repeated over and over to form a ceiling.

You can find them in the Roman baths at Cluny in Paris and The Cloisters in New York City. What are they? Barrel vaults, of course. 
Still not clear on the definition? Okay, let’s delve a little deeper. 

Barrel vault definition: The barrel vault is essentially an arch that gets repeated over and over to form a ceiling. Have you ever seen an arched entryway? Imagine if that arch was duplicated, so it encompassed the entire room. That, in essence, is the barrel vault definition.

The barrel vault name: To understand the barrel vault definition, let’s look at the name. Why is it called a “barrel” vault? Well, because it looks like half of a barrel. If you’ve ever visited The Cloisters, you probably understand the concept. While all barrel vaulted ceilings give you the feeling of being inside a barrel, the one at The Cloisters is actually made of exposed wood, which looks an awful lot like a barrel. They don’t all have to be like this, though. Many barrel vaults are dry walled, so they are completely smooth.

History of the barrel vault: We have evidence that shows that some of the first barrel vaults were crafted by the ancient Egyptians, but it didn’t seem to be a popular ceiling at that point. They were built of sun-dried brick and spanned only two meters. Instead of being used where people could appreciate their curved appeal, they were almost always used for drains and sewers. It wasn’t until the barrel vaults made their way to Ancient Rome that they were used for more large-scale projects, but even then, it was short lived. The barrel vault was soon replaced with the groin vault, which is more complicated in construction and appearance. The barrel vault saw a huge resurgence in the Romanesque and Baroque periods.

Famous barrel vaults: These simple arched ceilings make a serious impact. That’s probably why they can be found in some seriously high profile places. Just tilt your head and look up the next time you’re at the Sistine Chapel or Vatican Grotto in Vatican City, or the Cathedral of Cortona in Tuscany, or Beverston Castle in England; well, you get the picture. The barrel vault definition may be a simple one, but when these arches are installed, they make a huge impact.

So, by now you should be intimately familiar with the barrel vault definition. You can picture them in some of the historic landmarks you’ve visited within your lifetime. Now, it’s time to picture a barrel vault in your own home.




The Barrel Vault Definition

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

How to Get Started with Arch Building


Many years ago, before Archways Made Easy hit the scene, the process of building custom arches was a chore. If a job required anything more than one or two archways, it would not only be extremely time consuming, but the job would also end up being crazy expensive. After all, time is money, right?

Because we’ve simplified what can be an overwhelming endeavor, we’ve become the go-to source for just about everyone’s arch building needs. So, let’s just say we’ve had a lot of experience with arch building. We’re often asked for advice about the whys and hows of adding arches to a home. So, here’s a handy guide that should help you navigate the curvy world of arch building.

Why Build Arches?

That’s a good question, but we often ask “why not?” Okay, so maybe you want some sharp edges in the home. We won’t go creating arches willy-nilly, but keep in mind that they add a custom feel and an air of opulence to any structure. Arches break up the monotony of a boring square room, adding texture and interest to an atmosphere that was otherwise flat. So, instead of asking yourself why, maybe you should start focusing on the more appropriate question about arch building: How.


How to Get Started with Arch Building

If you’re a new contractor, congratulations on a fine career choice and welcome to the club. We like to say that there are two ways to build arches. There’s the easy way and there’s the hard way. Which would you prefer? If you chose the path of least resistance, we can definitely help. If you chose the other path, well, you’re on your own (sorry!).


Okay, so down to business – the easy way. You first have to determine where you want to start arch building. Maybe it’s at the main point of entry to a new home, or maybe it’s to add interest to the walls in a major remodel. Once you have your space figured out, measure it. Then, measure it again. Send us your desired arch measurements, we’ll need height, width and rise, and we’ll do the arch building for you. That’s right: We do the arch building, so you don’t have to.


After we start the arch building process, you’re well on your way to making a major impact in your chosen space. We’ll deliver the arch along with some step-by-step instructions, and you’re ready to install. It’s as simple as that. You’ve just added arch building to your portfolio.