making a curved wall

[Mr Downtown]

I want to put a curved wall behind my sofa, and I'm looking for ideas on what material to use.

This would be a gentle curve, approximately one-eighth of a circle 16 feet in diameter/50 feet in circumference. So the material would be six feet wide, and eight feet tall. I won't be mounting anything on it, nor will anyone lean very hard on it, and I'd like something that doesn't involve much structural change to ceiling or floor. The material must be paintable.

Drywall seems hard to work with and messy. At the moment I'm thinking about thin masonite, two 3 x 8 panels, drawn tight to studs at both ends with drywall screws every six inches, with seam and screws filled with drywall compound and sanded before painting. Is there some other easily curved material? Any ideas on steaming the masonite in order to curve it? Whatever I do has to be done in my living room; I have no garage or back yard.

[BigGuynRusty]

They make a MDF product that has kerfs already cut into it, ready to be curved.

BGnR

[macphanatic]

It can be done with 1/8 inch drywall. Typically, one would use a few layers to get a good thickness. Someone manufactures flexible metal channel to use as top and sill plates with metal studs. Definitely speeds the framing process.

[Paul F.]

It's probably more involved than you want, but old fashioned lathe and plaster would work...

Frame a wall with 2x4's, cover with lathe, rough coat of plaster, couple finishing coats... if you survive the process, it could be a thing of beauty.
Lot of work though... I'd investigate the MDF and 1/8" drywall.

I'm a little dubious about the masonite, but it might work.

[voodoopenguin]

Here's a good curved wall, maybe not ideal for a living room though.

[Ombligo]

Drywall would handle that curve fine and could be done with two sheets. Just frame up the wall and put the bottom sheet against the curve, apply pressure at both ends then screw both ends into place at the same time (you'll need a helper). I'd put 4-5 screws in each end and then 3 into each interior stud. Repeat with the upper level. Use the left over 2' ends to make wall caps if needed.

skim the nail heads and spray the texture (you can buy aersol texture cans at Lowes or HD, you'l need 4-5. Let dry, then paint.

[lafinfil]

Actually drywall works well if you use two thinner sheets (1/4") and pre-curve it.

If you have the space - lean it against a wall with the bottom a few feet out from the wall
(you will need something to block it from moving. If you have an unfinished floor where
you are working, screw 2x4 blocks to the floor.

The weight will curve it for you - may take a week or so,

I have seen people back score it to0 - shallow slits along the back at regular intervals.

[Kraniac]

two layers of 3/8 or 1/4 drywall will work fine...I really cant see using masonite unless you want a cheesy wall.

Couple of layers of thin drywall will curve easily...do yourelf a favor...wet down the drywall with a sponge...not soaking wet, just nice and damp so the paper stays dark...it's gonna absorb quite a bit at first but it should stay damp.

Let it sit for a bit and test it's temperment. You should be able to install it easily as long as your radius isn't to extreme. Drywall can handle more than you think. You should NOT have to score the d-wall for this...for the thin stuff I would avoid scoring as much as possible.


Either way...Mudding your masonite (not a great thing) or mudding your drywall..you're gonna make a mess...

mud the drywall because the seams are already tapered and the bond will be btter, it's made for mud...Drywall's the way to go here, a mess is a mess, you might as well use the proper material for the job.

The suggestion for a plaster wall good in heart but plastering properly is an art and you have to really want to do this...I love plaster.

[Mr Downtown]

Thanks to all. I must say, that bendy MDF looks really easy. Any drawbacks to that?

[MikeF]

Add some extra studs to the wall to make the distance between them less than the standard 16 inches and you'll have more attachment points for whatever material you use. I would think using two layers of quarter inch drywall would be pretty easy...