Bending Drywall Panels

A curved wall can create a sense of motion within a room, and a barrel-vaulted ceiling can make a ho-hum hall into a pleasant passageway. Look around your house, and you may discover several opportunities for creating curves.

When you're planning the project, consider the minimum radius that you can achieve with various thicknesses of drywall. If you must use 1/4- or 3/8-inch panels, install at least two layers to make your finished wall a minimum of 1/2-inch thick. When framing the project, close stud spacing will make your wall smoother and stronger.

One manufacturer cautions against wetting the 1/4-inch flexible panels to achieve a tighter curve; the panel is likely to crumble. Instead, design your project within the bending limits of the panels.

Thin panels can be difficult to handle by yourself without damaging them, so it's a good idea to recruit a helper or two for this part of the project.

Checklist

Time
Wetted panels require at least one hour of soaking time

Tools
Drywall screws or nails

Skills
Driving fasteners

Prep
Wall is framed.

Materials
Drywall panels in a thickness appropriate for the radius of your project