When designing and building a custom home, staircase structure and specifications are often a larger design decision than clients realize. Designs range from fully supported site-built stairs with wall mounted handrails to modern floating steel structures with open risers, and complex rail systems. Each option impacts aesthetics, complexity, and cost.

Site Built Stairs

The most traditional and cost-effective option, site-built stairs with closed risers are often adjacent to or enclosed by walls and framed by the framing carpenter. The norm for most homes of the past, site-built stairs are structured with standard lumber during framing and trimmed out with millwork, and possibly welded iron railing, during the trim-out phase. These stairs are affordable and easy to build, requiring basic framing and finishing, yet can look very elegant in a traditional or transitional home. Thoughtful millwork and baluster design can make a striking impact without ballooning the budget.

Semi-Floating

For a more modern and airier look, semi-floating staircases like this example offer a balance of economies and visual impact. They may have floating stringers with open risers to allow more light through the room, while being supported by wall-mounted or floor framed landings. This design allows sections of stairs to “float” in front of a bank of windows but still requires solid wall at the landings for structural attachment.

Defying Physics

At the high end of stair options, fully floating staircases create a dramatic, weightless visual effect. When stairs float from floor level to floor level with no wall attachment, they must be self-supported, which often involves welded steel or engineered beams in the stringers. Mono-stringer stairs with open risers are often the choice when the stairwell is encased in windows.

Another gravity defying option, cantilevered treads are a space-saving staircase option in contemporary homes. Because there is no outside stringer, each tread must be welded to a hidden steel plate in the wall. This cantilevered tread example features glass railing and integrated tread lighting; a top-shelf staircase!

The choice of staircase design and specification depends on budget, aesthetics, and architectural vision. Whether opting for a classic site-built staircase or a floating contemporary marvel, the staircase should be a thoughtful part of the home design. If budget is a concern, remember; attaching stairs to a wall simplifies construction and lowers costs by providing an anchor point that eliminates engineered spans and reducing the amount of balusters needed.