Staircases have a big impact on defining the aesthetic look of your home. Whenever people walk into a home, the first focal point that typically meets their eyes is the staircase. It’s a structure with both function and presence that when customised, threads seamlessly into the architectural style of any modern or traditional home.

While some homeowners opt for standard staircases, others transform the look of their home with floating stairs.

What is a Floating Staircase?

A floating staircase is a staircase with minimal or no visible support between the treads. It has no risers, creating the illusion that it is floating. In some cases, the treads cantilever from the wall and are supported on the other side by a balustrade. In others, the floating staircase has a single spine running below the treads.

Floating staircases, which are of European design, are one of the more stylish staircases in the market that enhance a home’s interior design. A lack of structure beneath each step creates the illusion of floating treads.

This floating illusion is further enhanced by other stair features such as glass balustrades and minimalist treads.
The light yet sturdy appearance of floating stairs appeals to many homeowners as they can be a dramatic accent to a room’s design. When used in an open floor plan, the staircase allows light to stream into the home, creating a relaxing and natural environment.

Benefits of Floating Stairs

Floating staircases go beyond aesthetics. Having these stylish pieces installed in your home provides you with a number of benefits such as:

• Versatility

Floating staircases are more versatile compared to standard ones as they can be fitted in more areas. As they only require a strong wall, they can be installed anywhere, even in the middle of your floor plan. It’s also possible to create half-landing staircases that are both beautiful and functional.

• Adding an eye-popping accent piece

Floating stairs go beyond traditional stairs as they add a dramatic touch to any room, making people stop and stare at its architectural appeal. A floating staircase can become a centrepiece, so to speak, that provides a timeless simplicity to any interior space.

• Opening up the room to give more space

Traditional staircases tend to block out the view to the other side, preventing you from seeing the next room. With floating stairs, you don’t have to worry about blocked views as they open up the space and make it seem like you have more space than you actually do. This works extremely well with smaller homes that don’t have a lot of floor area to work with.

• Creating an added storage compartment

Depending on the location of the stairs, you could use the space below as an added storage area. This works great if you don’t have ample storage in your home and you’re looking for a convenient compartment to put away your belongings and avoid clutter. You can have the floating stairs designed in such a way that it maximises the floor area and creates additional storage space right where you need it.

Are Floating Stairs Safe?

Architects and interior designers do not have an issue with the safety of floating stairs — this kind of staircase is safe for both homes and offices.

Floating stairs feature a load capacity that’s as high as other kinds of staircases, due to robust steel spines or a well-made cantilever support. All Ackworth House floating stairs meet safety codes to ensure that the floating stairwell can manage the weight.

Moreover, the absence of risers does not mean it is any less safe for small children or pets. Our designers see to it that the gaps between two treads are narrow enough to eliminate the risk of falling.

Style Considerations

Floating staircases come in a variety of styles. Designs range from simple timber treads with glass balustrades to sophisticated steel treads with elaborate handrails. Selecting the right floating stairs depends on the style of your home interior, the available space and if your wall is able to support the weight of the stairs.

Some of the staircase’s weight can be spread through the stringers. For example, some floating stairs are supported by a single welded steel spine that runs underneath the treads and attaches to the existing wall.  To further share the load of the treads, you can add a second stringer on the other side of the treads. The extra bracing strengthens the structure and transfers some of the load to the floor.

To know if your home’s wall is able to support floating treads, or if the floor is able to support the extra load, contact our floating stair specialists.

Safe Landings

Some floating stair designs include landings ‒ sections of flooring between turns of a staircase. Landings do not only enhance style, but are a safety feature. They provide space to rest if carrying heavy items and reduce the length of a fall if someone trips down the stairs. If you live with pets, children or elderly people, consider adding a landing to minimise the risk of serious injury. To further enhance safety include proper balustrades and hand railings.

Choosing Material

The most popular and contemporary materials used for constructing floating staircases are glass, timber and stainless steel. For a modern look, you can use glass balustrades to give a more spacious look by allowing more light around the stairwell.

For a more traditional look, consider using solid timber treads. The treads are available in a variety of timbers to match the colour of the existing floor timber; a stainless steel handrail gives a subtle appearance that complements most interior décor.

Installation

Floating staircases are modern solutions that can be installed as quickly as one day. Instead of having two stringers to support the stairs on both sides, floating staircases use a single central stringer for the necessary support. The use of one central stringer makes the staircase more aesthetically pleasing.

Floating staircases do not feature risers, allowing each tread to stand on their own. This enables air and space to travel through the staircase. A bracket then securely fastens each tread to the mono stringer.

The railing system is the last component of a floating staircase. The railing system includes the handrail, infill and posts. Railing systems are built from various materials and constructed with varying degrees of detail.

Ascendo Floating Stairs

At Ackworth House, we offer you the complete staircase solution. We offer various handrails and balustrades that complement our floating staircases. Our Ascendo stair series features a choice of six floating staircase designs. Each design has its own distinctive functionality and aesthetic quality. If you want a robust emphasis on your staircase, you can select our Dualis floating stairs. It features broad treads and dual welded spines underneath to give a sturdy look. They are available in various types of timber and other materials such as granite.

We provide floating stairs construction in Auckland, Whangarei and other cities in New Zealand. For any inquiries about our Ascendo floating stairs, call 0800 225 967.