Squaring Off an Arch — More Popular Than You'd Think

Arched doorways and window openings were a standard feature in Phoenix homes built through the 1980s and 90s. They looked period-appropriate then. Today, many homeowners want clean square corners to match a modern interior. Squaring an arch is a framing and drywall job — not a small one, but a very doable one.

Phoenix Drywall Repair LLC handles arch-to-square conversions throughout the Valley. We frame in the curved portion, hang drywall, tape and mud the new corners, match your existing wall texture, and leave you with a clean, square opening ready for paint or a new door frame.

What the Job Involves

1. Framing in the arch — we build a new square header using lumber or metal stud, blocking in the curved space to create a flat, square top
2. Hanging drywall — new drywall is cut and fitted into the framed-off area on both sides of the wall
3. Corner bead and tape — metal or vinyl corner bead is applied to the new square corners for clean, durable edges
4. Mud and sand — multiple coats of joint compound, feathered out to blend with the surrounding wall
5. Texture match — orange peel, knockdown, skip trowel, or smooth — we match what's on the rest of the wall
6. Prime coat — surfaces primed and ready for your painter

If you're also installing a door in the newly squared opening, we coordinate the rough opening dimensions with your door supplier or carpenter before we frame it in.

Timeline and Cost

A single arch conversion — one opening, both sides of the wall — typically takes 1.5 to 2 days. Day one is framing and drywall. Day two is final coat, sand, and texture. If you have multiple arches in the same home, we can do them all in one visit for efficiency.

Cost depends on the size of the opening and the number of arches. A standard doorway arch runs $400–$800 for the full conversion including framing, drywall, and texture match. Larger openings or pass-throughs run higher. Use the instant quote tool or call for a site-specific number.

Related: Window Opening Conversions

We also square off arched window openings. The process is similar — frame in the curved portion, drywall, finish. Note that if the exterior of the window opening has stucco, that's a separate trade (we handle the interior drywall side only).