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In short: To remove a load-bearing wall, an engineer works out what the wall supports and designs a replacement beam, with posts and footings to carry those loads safely to the ground. We prepare the drawings and calculations your building surveyor needs for a permit, for homes across Greater Melbourne. Send a photo of the wall and your plans for a fixed-price quote.
Opening up a kitchen, living or dining area is one of the most common renovations in Melbourne, and one of the most common reasons a building surveyor asks for an engineer. We design the beam and supports, and document them so your surveyor can issue the permit and your builder can do the work.
In many older Melbourne homes, internal walls carry part of the roof or ceiling, so even a wall in a single-storey house can be load-bearing. We check what yours carries before designing anything.
What's included
Checking what the wall carries: roof, ceiling or an upper floor
Beam design in steel, LVL or timber
Posts or supports at each end of the beam
Footings under the new point loads
Connection details for your builder
Drawings and calculations for your building permit
Who this is for
Homeowners opening up living areas, owner-builders, and builders or draftspeople who need a beam designed and certified for a permit.
How do you know if a wall is load-bearing?
Walls that support ceiling joists, roof framing or an upper floor are usually load-bearing, and they often run at right angles to the joists above. But you can't be sure from inside the room; an engineer checks what the wall actually carries before any work starts.
Do you need a permit to remove a load-bearing wall in Victoria?
In most cases, yes. Removing or altering a load-bearing wall is structural work, and your building surveyor will normally need engineering drawings and calculations before issuing a permit. The wall shouldn't come out until the permit is issued and temporary propping is in place.
What does the engineering involve?
The design follows the load from the roof or upper floor down to the ground, so the new beam, its supports and the footings underneath work together. Getting any one of them wrong can lead to sagging ceilings, cracked plaster or sinking posts. The steps are:
Confirm what the wall supports
Size the replacement beam for the span and loads
Design posts or supports at each end
Check or design footings under the new point loads
Detail the connections, and give guidance on temporary propping for your builder
Common mistakes to avoid
Removing the wall before the engineering and permit are in place
Judging whether a wall is load-bearing from inside the room
Forgetting footings under the new posts
Sizing a beam from a span table without checking the actual loads
Getting started
What we need from you, and what you'll receive
What we need from you
Photos of the wall from both sides
A photo of the roof space or ceiling above, if you can access it
A floor plan or sketch showing the opening you want
Whether the house is single or double storey
Any existing plans
What you'll receive
Beam, post and footing design
Drawings and calculations for your building permit
Details your builder can work from
Answers to your surveyor's or builder's questions
How it works
From enquiry to finished documents in four steps
1
Send photos & plans
Photos of the wall and a sketch of the opening you want.
2
Fixed-price quote
A firm price and delivery date before we start.
3
Design
Beam, posts and footings sized for the loads above.
4
Permit-ready documents
Drawings and calculations for your building surveyor and builder.
What affects the cost of engineering for a wall removal?
Every wall is quoted individually. The main factors are:
The span of the new opening
What's above: roof only, or an upper floor
How many walls are being removed
Whether new footings need to be designed
Access to the roof space and subfloor
Whether a site visit is needed
How quoting works
Send photos or plans through the form, or call us on 03 7048 4006. We reply within a few business hours (same business day, or the next business day at the latest) with a fixed price and a delivery date.
Fixed price before we start. What we quote is what you pay, with no variations appearing at invoice time.
10% price-match guarantee. Found a lower quote for the same scope? We'll match it and take 10% off.
No obligation. Ask a question or get a quote; you decide whether to go ahead.
Client reviews
What our clients say
We hold a 5.0 rating on Google. Here's a sample — you can read every review on our Google Business Profile.
★★★★★
“Had the pleasure of dealing with Sal and the wonderful team at Melbourne Structural Engineers. Always prompt, friendly and efficient in answering every question I had.”
VVince Google review
★★★★★
“It was a pleasure dealing with these guys, nothing was too much trouble and the job was completed quicker than I thought possible.”
Can I remove a load-bearing wall without an engineer?
No. The replacement beam and its supports have to be designed by a structural engineer, and your building surveyor will need the engineering before issuing a permit.
Should the beam be steel or timber?
It depends on the span, the loads and how much depth you have. Timber or LVL suits shorter spans; steel is often used for longer spans or heavier loads. We'll recommend what works for your wall.
Can the beam be hidden in the ceiling?
Often, yes. Depending on the span, loads and existing framing, a beam can sometimes sit within the ceiling space instead of below it. We'll tell you what's achievable for your wall.
How much does it cost to have an engineer design a beam?
It depends on the span, what's above and whether footings are needed. Send photos and a sketch and we'll reply with a fixed price, usually within a few business hours.
Do you work with my builder?
Yes. We'll answer your builder's and surveyor's questions directly so you're not relaying technical details.
Do you need to visit the house?
Not always. Many wall removals can be designed from photos, measurements and plans. If what's above the wall isn't clear, or the house has been altered before, we may recommend a site visit and will tell you before you go ahead.
How long does the engineering take?
It depends on the size of the job. We confirm a delivery date with your fixed-price quote, before any work starts.
