Doorway Arch Styles

Flat Arches

• The most basic and easiest-to-build doorway arch is called flat arch, although it is often slightly curved. A flat arch is supported by a solid beam cut into a wedge shape or by a collection of wedge-shaped bricks, blocks or stones.

Segmental Style

• This arch style has a distinctive, subtle curve at the top, like a perfectly arched eyebrow. One of the first uses of a segmental arch is on the Ponte Vecchi Bridge, built in the 14th century in Florence, Italy.

Gothic Arches

• Gothic arches, which are narrow and pointed at the top like a maple leaf, first gained popularity in the 12th century and were used in European architecture up until the 16th century. The style was revived in America in the late 19th century and continued to be incorporated into commercial buildings and homes for several decades.

Tudor-Style Arches

• Around the same time Gothic arches gained favor with American architects, Tudor-style arches emerged. Their form is based on Tudor-style roofs of the 16th century and displays a slightly pointed apex with gently sloped sides.

Roman Arches

• Roman arches have semi-circular shapes first designed by early Roman building engineers using concrete, which gave them more flexibility in designing and constructing contoured arches. Today, Roman arches are most prevalent in modern Spanish Colonial-style buildings.

Moorish-Style Arches

• Also known as horseshoe arches, this unusual style is typically found on large doorways and entrances to theaters and movie houses. The style was introduced in the first century and had subsequent spikes of architectural favor in residential and commercial buildings up through the early 20th century.

Archway Trim Styles

• Modern doorway arches are enhanced by various styles of columns and molding. Continuous molding surrounds the archway with an unbroken segment of trim. A pedestal-based style has lower supports larger than the side columns of the archway. Column leg archways are surrounded by three-dimensional columns. A pilaster leg archway has ornamental rectangular columns on either side that extend outwardly 2-to-3 inches from the wall surface.