We’re killing our Fixed-Price CDC Wall Removal Service (And What You Should Know Before Taking a Wall Down in an Apartment)

When we launched our Remove-A-Wall service last year, we were trying to solve a real problem we saw again and again in renovation projects: people wanting to create open-plan living by removing a wall—often between the kitchen and living area—only to discover that structural changes in apartments quickly push their project into the realm of Complying Development Certificates (CDC) and extra complexity.

We saw a gap: what if we packaged everything required to remove a structural wall legally and safely - engineering, certification, and Class 2 Registered Design Practitioner involvement - into one fixed-price, end-to-end service?

It made sense.
It was repeatable.
It had a clear market.
We thought it could reduce approval times and provide value to homeowners and builders.

But like many good ideas in business, the outcome didn’t match the vision.

The Reality: Builders Just Want to Build

While we positioned the service to make life easier for builders -by taking care of all the compliance hurdles -what we learned is that most builders are focused on construction, not paperwork. And they’re often happy to start work without formal approvals in place.

In one memorable case, a builder proudly sent us photos of a completed wall removal to show off the quality of his work. Unfortunately, I’d only just finished telling him - two days earlier - that the work was illegal without a CDC.

Honestly, if that isn’t a clear signal that our service isn’t going to take off - what is? 

So… Was the Service a Failure?

Not entirely. We still offer it, and when it’s used the way it’s intended, it works well. But we didn’t get the volume or workflow rhythm we were hoping for. And the idea that we could “streamline the CDC process” into something fast and predictable? That’s still a challenge in today’s regulatory environment.

But we’re not ashamed to say it didn’t take off the way we planned. That’s the nature of business.
You try things.
Some stick.
Some don’t.
You learn, you adjust, and you move forward.

What You Should Know Before Removing a Wall in an Apartment Renovation in NSW

If you're thinking of removing a wall in your apartment, especially to create a more open-plan living space, here's what you need to know:

1. If it's a structural wall, you need a CDC.

A Complying Development Certificate is required for structural changes. This is not something you can skip, and it’s not something that can be sorted out after the fact.

2. You need professional design and certification.

This includes structural engineering and a design prepared by a Class 2 Registered Design Practitioner, like us.

3. Builders aren’t responsible for compliance—you are.

Even if your builder says “we do this all the time,” the legal responsibility for approvals sits with the owner. The builder is for sure putting themselves at risk of a strike against their license but it’s the homeowner who carries the most risk.

4. The approval takes time.

Two months is still a typical timeframe for CDC approval. So plan ahead. Rushing or skipping steps doesn’t pay off in the long run.

The Bottom Line

Removing a wall can dramatically improve how you live in your apartment—but it comes with real compliance obligations. If you're planning a wall removal and want to do it the right way, we're still here for that job. The Remove-A-Wall service lives on—not as a business breakthrough, but as a helpful tool for the right kind of renovation.

Thinking of taking down a wall?
Start by talking to someone who can tell you whether it’s structural—and what needs to happen next.