What is floating stair?
Floating staircase, also known as a cantilevered staircase, is a super modern staircase design. Its key feature is that one end of each step is fixed to the wall, while the other end is completely suspended in the air, with no visible support structures (such as traditional stringer or columns etc ), creating the visual effect of the steps “floating” in the air.
It is highly favored by modern, minimalist, industrial, and other interior design styles.
The Key Components of floating stair
Although floating stair maximizes minimalism,their internal structure is highly sophisticated and relies on the following key components:
- Wall Mounting System (Core):
This is the “lifeline” of the entire staircase. Each step is connected internally to high-strength cantilever steel stringer.
The side-mounted invisible stringer is deeply embedded and securely fixed within the load-bearing wall (or reinforced wall), typically connected to embedded anchors within the wall via welding or high-strength bolts.
All weight and force are transmitted to the wall through this hidden steel stringer.
- Tread:
Tread materials are typically chosen for their high strength and aesthetic appeal, such as solid wood, tempered glass, or marble. These materials are not only durable but also enhance visual appeal.
The steps are tightly integrated with the internal steel stringer structure, giving a misleading visual effect as if they were directly embedded into the wall.
- Handrails (optional but recommended):
To maintain an ultra-minimalist visual effect, many designs initially do not include handrails. However,they are typically added later from safety perspective.
The most common handrail option is 12mm clear tempered glass railings secured with extremely thin metal clamps, ensuring safety while minimizing visual interference and maintaining openess.
Pros of Floating Stair
1.High aesthetic appeal, minimalist modern design:
- The biggest advantage is its visual appeal. It breaks away from the bulky look of traditional staircases, featuring sleek, clean lines that exude artistic and design sense, instantly elevating the overall ambiance of the space.
2.High transparency, enhancing spatial openness:
- Since there are no traditional visible stringers or risers, the space beneath the staircase and between the steps is completely open. It allows light and air to flow freely, making small spaces more spacious and airy.
3.Easy to clean:
- Without visible complex support structures, the space beneath the staircase is easier to clean.
- The open space below can be freely utilized, such as for bookshelves, plants, artwork, or creating a comfortable reading nook, avoiding wasted space.
4.Excellent natural lighting:
- The open structure allows light to shine down from above the staircase or through side, creating rich light and shadow effects that enhance indoor brightness and depth.
Cons of Floating Stair
1.High cost:
- This is the main drawback. Floating staircases have extremely high requirements for structure, materials, and craftsmanship. They require sturdy load-bearing walls and complex internal steel structures as a foundation, and construction costs are much higher than those of traditional staircases.
2.Strict requirements for wall structure:
- Treads must be deeply embedded into load-bearing walls with sturdy steel stringers, which poses a significant challenge to the material, thickness, and load-bearing capacity of the walls. Non-load-bearing walls or lightweight brick walls are simply not feasible.
3.Safety and psychological perception:
- For households with children, the elderly, or those with a fear of heights, the open design may instead create a sense of insecurity. The absence of full-side visible support may give a feeling of “instability,” necessitating the installation of additional handrails for safety.
Tips for choosing floating stair
If you are attracted by the aesthetic appeal of floating staircase and decide to go for it, here are some practical tips for you:
1.Professional structural assessment and design are of utmost importance:
It is essential to hire a qualified structural engineer to conduct a rigorous assessment of the walls on the fixed side. Confirm whether they are load-bearing walls and calculate whether they can withstand the significant bending moments and shear forces generated by the staircase.
Design drawings must be completed by professionals, and it is crucial to ensure that the production and installation team fully understands and strictly adheres to the plans.
2.Select an experienced contractor:
Never hire a team without prior experience in floating staircase installation. The precision of installation also impacts the staircase’s safety and final quality.
3.Material selection is critical:
- Tread materials: Popular durable material options include solid wood, steel, glass, marble, etc. The thickness and strength of the materials must meet the required standards.
- Fixed components: The invisible side-mounting stringer or steel structures are the core components and must be made of high-quality steel. All welds and fixation points must be perfect.
4.Safety handrails must be considered:
From safety perspective, it is strongly recommended to install handrails that match the design style,for example:
- Ultra-clear tempered glass railings: These maximize transparency and are currently the most popular choice.
- Steel wire cables: These have an industrial aesthetic and also provide some protection.
- Minimalist metal handrails: Elegantly designed metal handrails can balance safety and aesthetics too.
If handrails are not installed, at least a sturdy handrail must be installed on the wall side.
5.Pay attention to details for a better experience:
- Anti-slip: The surface of the steps should be come with anti-slip treatment, especially when choosing marble or glass materials.
- Compatible Lighting: Plan for embedded LED light strips in advance (typically installed below the steps or on one side of the wall). This not only enhances nighttime safety but also reinforces the visual effect of floating and the beauty of light and shadow.
- Workmanship: The joints between the steps and the wall should be clean and neat, reflecting high-quality craftsmanship.
TBM is on the market for custom staircase with endless tread types, stringer materials, handrails, mounting options, wood species, finishes, powder coats, configurations.There are so many ways to make it yours.
What’s more,Free sample,Free Design and Free Installation Guidance is available to ensure hassle-free staircase customization.
Ready for your next step?Contact us for more inspiration or quick quote.
