How to Bend Drywall

Curving Drywall

Curved drywall wall Overview: Frequently a curved wall option is a good choice when framing and finishing walls. A curved corner is certainly more attractive than a plain 90 degree corner. But the problem arises for DIY homeowners on how to bend drywall. Actually bending drywall is much easier than one would think.

The size of the curve or radius that is being covered will determine what thickness of drywall is best to use. A radius of two feet or smaller may require multiple layers of ¼ inch thick drywall or a layer of ¼ inch plywood and a layer of 1/4 inch drywall on top. Normal residential drywall is 1/2 inch thick drywall. If the curve radius is two feet or less then two layers of 1/4 inch works best. If the radius is more than two feet then regular 1/2 inch drywall can be used.

The trick is how to bend the drywall without breaking it. The drywall needs to be wet, very wet, to get it to bend without breaking it. The best way to wet the drywall so it will bend is to put water on it with a garden hose. The easiest way to control the bending of the drywall is to lay it in a form approximately matching the radius of the wall but that is not always necessary for large radius bends.

To make the bend a little easier for a radius less than two feet is to make some partial cuts about a 1/4 inch deep on the backside of the drywall using a drywall knife. Just make top to bottom slits with the knife about every inch or so apart in the center of the radius. For the drywall to bend the outside radius must stretch (that is why it must be wet) and the inside must compress. The slits in the backside will make the process easier without breaking the drywall.

Another method of making curved drywall walls for small radius curves is to put a piece of 1/4 inch plywood on the wall first and overlay it with 1/4 inch drywall. The 1/4 inch drywall will bend much easier than the ½ inch because there is less material to stretch and compress to make the curve.

The best way that I have found to bend the drywall is to set blocks under the outside edges to allow the drywall to droop as the water penetrates the surface. When it bends to the radius you want pick it up, very carefully so it doesn’t break, and put it in place on the wall. Let the drywall dry in place. Because the drywall is wet you may have trouble screwing or nailing it to the wall. If this is the case use a couple of pieces of strapping on the outside edges of the piece and place a screw at the top and bottom so the screw will go through the drywall and into the top and bottom 2 x 4 plate behind the drywall. After the drywall dries, about twenty four hours, install the rest of the screws or nails and remove the strapping.

That’s all there is to it. Curving drywall really is not difficult at all. It may take a couple of attempts to get it right if you are new at it. I have used this technique many times to bend drywall to make a curved wall and it has always turned out fine, giving the wall a curve effect rather than a having a 90 degree corner.

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