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drywall Mud Specialist Working on Spanish Arch in Montecito California

Insightful Tips for How To Make a High Quality Spanish Arch

Jeff Doubet shares an exclusive look at Spanish arch construction, and how expert drywall specialists apply drywall mud to it. See first hand, the techniques and skills this team use to handcraft interior design elements within an estate home being built in Montecito, California.

Framing a Spanish Entry Foyer High End New Construction in Montecito California
Framing a Spanish style Arches and Interiors

Framing the shot: For context, this is the large entry foyer during the framing stage of the project. Large archways were designed to define different wings of the home. A graceful staircase with subtle arch is another interesting focal point. The gentle stairway enhances the entry experience, and adds to the charm of the space leading up to second story bedroom suites.

the Framing of a Thick Archway in a Spanish Style Home  New Construction in Montecito California
Framing a Thick Arched Passage in a Spanish Home

Non-structural, thick decorative archways such as this one are typically double framed with 2 x 4’s. Structural plywood is installed as an effective way to define the shape and geometry of the arch. Short lengths of 2 x 4 lumber are used to block the thickness of the arch. Your architect and structural engineer will provide construction details for your own specific project requirements.

Young Drywall Specialist Applying Drywall Mud to a Thick Spanish Style Archway in Montecito California
Drywall Specialist Working on a Spanish style Archway

A few weeks after the framing was completed I checked in to see the progress. The drywall had been installed, and the mudding of the decorative Spanish arches had begun.

Young Man Drywall Specialist Working on a Spanish Archway in Montecito Ca  the Drywall Mudding Stage
Drywall Expert Working on a Wide Arched Opening

Spanish Arch Drywall Mudding Tips

One technique the drywall experts use when developing specialty design elements such as arches is to mud wall and ceiling areas in sections. Allowing small sections of the component(s) to dry enables the team to “fill” in between the sections the next day. This is because wet drywall mud is easier to control when applying it up to a cured section of a wall, ceiling or both.

Young Drywall Specialist Working on Short Ladder As He Applies Drywall Mud to a Spanish Archway Being Built in a High End Spanish Style Estate Home in Montecito California
Drywall Mudding a Spanish Arch

I have done a lot of drywall work in my life and can say it is both an artistic craft, as well as a physical sport. It requires excellent hand eye coordination, balance, strength and stamina. It is a skilled trade for real go-getters. Lazy folk need not apply.

High-end Spanish homes: How Iconic Images Are Made

Glossy magazine articles showcasing high-end Spanish home interiors often feature a glamorous photo or two of arched passageways that frame beautiful aspects of the home.

Two Drywall Specialists Applying Drywall Mud on a Thick Arch in a Montecito California Spanish style Home
Drywall Team Working on Spanish style Arch

Indeed, shapes and curves within a well crafted archway are works of art within a Spanish home interior. Drywall teams on large projects such as this often work in coordination with one another when building them.

Expert Drywall Trades Applying Drywall Mud to a Decorative Archway in a Spanish style Home in Montecito California
Drywall Specialists Working in a Spanish style Home Interior

The cadence and choreography of the moves the drywall teams make is mesmerizing to watch. And there is a practical side to all of this. Once the material sets up, it will no longer be workable.

More Process Photos for How a Spanish Arch Can Be Handcrafted

a Young Drywall Expert Spritzes and Trowels All Purpose Drywall Mud on a Thick Decorative Spanish Arch in Santa Barbara California
Drywall Expert Troweling and Spritzing a Spanish Arch

Here the drywall expert works with a spritzer tool to apply thin mist of water on the drywall mud as it quickly cures. This technique helps him manage and control the mud, troweling it into the decorative finish the homeowner has requested.

a Talented Young Drywall Expert Trowels a Semi Smooth Wall Texture in a Santa Barbara California Area Spanish Style Home montecito
Expert Drywall Specialist Troweling a Thick Spanish Arch

These successful techniques and processes for applying drywall mud have been honed over time. Many of these tricks of the trade have been handed down from one generation to the next.

More interesting photos inside a Spanish house Under Construction

I wanted to share a couple more images of the Spanish Colonial Revival interior as it nears completion. From the framing photos at the beginning of my post, to these final drywall finishing touches- I hope you feel that you have learned insightful tips on how your own project can benefit from these types of architectural details.

Two Drywall Experts Applying Finishing Touches to Spanish Archways in a Spanish style Home in Montecito California
Building a Spanish Home in Montecito Ca

This is a view through another archway at the end of the entry foyer. When designing your own project, consider how you might incorporate a thick arch (or two). If strategically planned, they can frame special views within your home, as well as to the outdoors.

Two Young Drywall Artisans Working on a Spanish Style Archway in New Construction of a Home in Montecito California
Two Drywall Artisans Apply Finishing Touches to a Spanish Interior

As the expert drywall Artisans focus on applying the finishing details to this interior, you can see why the homeowners were so happy with their efforts. To grasp how talented and diverse this team really is, check out the exterior stucco they masterfully worked on, here.

Well friend, this wraps another site visit episode in beautiful Montecito, CA. I hope you enjoyed learning how to infuse more Santa Barbara Style into your own Spanish home design project with interior arches. Scroll to explore more helpful links and resources for designing and building your own Spanish-style home and landscape.

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