Centre Pier Removal in Wollongong

Choosing to put two garage doors together is a great way to make everyday life easier. No more tricky blind spots to negotiate, and lots more room to get your vehicle in and out of the garage. This straightforward home improvement can make it easier to access storage as well as use your garage to its full potential. You’ll find maintenance is easier too and conversion is straightforward. In fact, it's as easy as removing the central pillar! We’ll then fit a new double-width garage door that's complete with the type of finish, style and automation of your choice. 

Usually removing the central pillar means you’re removing a load-bearing wall. If this is the case, then you’ll need to install a reinforced steel joist (known as an RSJ). Our engineers and builders will carry out a survey before we start work, and you can be confident that all work will comply with the relevant regulations to ensure the absolute safety and structural integrity of your garage. 

In many cases, removing the central pier of your garage will come under exempt development. This means you can make alterations without planning permission from the city. 

There are variations to this though, and if the width of your garage will exceed 3.2 m on lots that are between 8 m and 12 m wide, or over 6 m on lots that are more than 12 m wide, you will need to apply for planning permission. To check if you’ll need planning permission for this kind of alteration, just head to the council planning portal for clarity and advice. It’s always best to be absolutely sure of what is and isn’t permitted before you undertake this kind of work. 

If you simply want to convert your garage from a multi-door to a single-door, then it’s pretty easy to tell if it’s suitable for conversion. We just need to assess whether the central pillar is load bearing and put the necessary support in place as well as being sure about the relevant planning permissions. If you are hoping to convert your garage into dwelling space, then things become a little more complicated and you’d need to look at things like insulation, damp proof courses, fireproofing, fire escapes and ventilation, as well as getting additional permissions from the planning authorities.