How to Determine the Arch Size for a Georgian Door

Georgian architecture emerged in Great Britain between 1720 and 1840 during the reign of Kings George I through George IV. The style is defined by its reliance on symmetry to convey a sense of order and wealth, which is also reflected in its decorative elements. Most Georgian entry doors feature a surrounding arch, which encompasses the door and its characteristic fanlight or semicircular transom. Determining the arch size for a Georgian door is a mainly matter of personal taste, but it must also take into account the symmetry of the building's facade in order to keep with the aesthetic authenticity of the architectural style.

Measuring tape
Graph paper
Pencil
Drafting compass

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the height and breadth of the existing door using a measuring tape. Draw the dimensions of the door on a piece of graph paper. Designate a known measurement for each square on the paper; for instance, designate one square as 6 inches so that two squares equal 1 foot.
- 2
  Measure the height and breadth of any existing sidelights using the measuring tape. Draw the sidelights on the graph paper on both sides of the drawing of the door. Depict them in their orientation and size as it relates to the door and using the same ratio in Step 1.
- 3
  Position the spike of a drafting compass in the top center of the drawing of the door. Pull the hinge out toward the edge of the drawing so the pencil touches the outer edge of the sidelight or door, if there is no sidelight.
- 4
  Rotate the pencil on an even arc until a perfect circle is drawn on top of the drawing of the door. Use light pressure when rotating the drafting compass so the pencil line is very light. Carefully erase the lower half of the circle so only the top half remains.
- 5
  Measure the width and center height of the arc using the squares on the graph paper and convert the number of squares into measurements using the designated conversion decided upon in Step 1. The resulting measurements provide the basis for constructing a symmetrical and appropriately sized arch above a Georgian door.

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