Wall Removal & Load Bearing Walls
Opening up the interior of your home is one of the most impactful renovations you can make. Creating an open-plan kitchen, dining and living space can completely transform the way a home feels and functions. But before any wall comes down, you need to know whether it is load bearing — carrying the weight of the roof, floor or wall above — and if it is, how to replace that load safely with a properly designed beam.
At Brisbane Structures, our RPEQ structural engineers assess load bearing walls for homeowners, renovators and builders across Brisbane and greater Queensland. We inspect your home, determine how loads are distributed through the structure, specify the correct beam and support, produce council-ready engineering drawings, and sign a Form 15 certificate — giving you everything needed to proceed with confidence and get your building approval.
We are experienced with all types of Queensland residential construction: timber-framed Queenslanders, post-war homes, brick veneer, double brick, and modern steel-framed construction. We understand how older homes behave structurally and know what to look for when the load path is not obvious.
Queenslanders, post-war homes and all timber-framed residential structures — including complex split-level layouts.
Single brick, brick veneer and double brick construction — including older homes with complex internal load paths.
Kitchen-dining-living open plans, gallery hallways, and large-span openings in any residential setting.
Wall removals in two-storey homes and units where loads from upper floors must be carefully redirected.
What's Included
A wall removal engineering package from Brisbane Structures covers the full scope — from initial assessment through to certified drawings. Here's what is included:
Why It Matters
Every year in Queensland, homeowners and DIY renovators remove walls without understanding whether they are load bearing. The consequences can range from hairline cracks in ceilings and doors sticking in their frames, through to severe structural movement and, in extreme cases, partial building collapse.
Even walls that appear to be non-load-bearing can be carrying significant lateral loads — wind bracing — that is critical to the building's ability to resist cyclone and storm forces, particularly in South East Queensland. Removing a bracing wall without replacement can leave a home vulnerable to storm damage.
Engaging an RPEQ structural engineer before wall removal is not just a formality — it is the only reliable way to understand the risk, design a safe solution, and protect yourself legally. If an unlicensed wall removal causes damage or injury, home insurance may not cover the claim.
Brisbane Structures makes the process straightforward. We tell you definitively whether your wall is load bearing, exactly what beam you need, and how to construct the opening safely — backed by a signed RPEQ certificate that satisfies your building certifier and your insurer.
From first contact to RPEQ-signed certification
Describe your project or send photos. We'll quote a fixed fee within 24 hours — no surprises.
Our RPEQ engineer visits your property to assess the structure, confirm wall type and measure the opening.
We calculate the correct beam size and material, and produce certified structural drawings and specifications.
You receive RPEQ-signed drawings and a Form 15 certificate — ready for your certifier and builder.
Common Questions
Common indicators include walls running perpendicular to floor joists, walls in the centre of a building, walls aligned vertically from floor to floor, and walls above beams or footings. However, the only reliable way to confirm is a structural engineer's assessment — appearance alone can be misleading.
Yes. In Brisbane and across Queensland, removing a load bearing wall is building work that requires a building approval. You will need RPEQ-signed structural drawings and a Form 15 certificate from a building certifier before work begins.
Cost depends on project size and complexity. A single wall removal in a standard residential home typically ranges from a few hundred dollars for a desktop review to around $1,500–$3,000 for a full engineering package including beam design, drawings and certification. We provide a fixed-fee quote within 24 hours.
Beam size depends on the span, the loads above (roof, floor, upper walls), the beam material (LVL, steel or flitch), and support conditions. A structural engineer calculates this to AS 4100 or AS 1720 standards. Never install a beam without an engineer's specification — an undersized beam is a serious structural risk.
Yes. We have extensive experience with Queenslanders, post-war homes and brick construction from all eras. We also flag asbestos risk in older wall sheeting and linings so you can arrange testing before work begins — this is especially important in homes built before 1990.
Brisbane Structures typically delivers a complete wall removal assessment, beam design and certification within 3–7 business days of the site inspection. Expedited turnaround is available for urgent projects — contact us to discuss your timeline.