The beautiful appearance of floating stairs is one to be envied. Not only do they solve space-saving problems, but they also provide a negative space that a wall or closet would usually fill. But looking at them might make your wallet mildly upset at the thought of investing in them. So, this begs the question: are floating stairs expensive?
Depending on how far you are willing to go, floating stairs can cost upwards of $30 thousand. However, lower-end floating stairs are far more reasonable, sitting at around $5 thousand. This high price change depends on the type of material, the amount of material needed, and how complicated it is to install.
In the rest of this article, we will delve into the significant cost difference between different floating stairs types. By the end of this, you will decide if floating stairs are suitable for your family.
What is Floating Stairs?
Floating stairs are stairs built so that they appear to be receiving no support from below. They are constructed primarily from the wall, meaning that there is no touching of the floor unless it is the first step. The support comes entirely from the wall, giving them ample room for white space below.
The Cost Impacts of Floating Stairs
When it comes to cost impacts, there are three areas we will be going through:
- Distance
- Materials
- Design choice
Here’s how each area impacts cost:
Distance to the Next Floor
The “amount of material” section comes from two things:
- The distance to floor two
- Whether or not it includes a handrail
The more material you use in constructing your floating staircase, the higher it will cost. That means staircases with handrails or those who need more rises will inevitably cost more than those that require less (assuming all other things stay constant)
The Materials You Use in Floating Stairs
Contractors make floating staircases out of the same materials as regular staircases. Depending on the material you use, the cost varies heavily.
For example, glass is a prevalent material among high-end floating staircases. The glass material also extends out to the handrail, accenting the floating staircase by giving it a “lighter than air” look. However, glass treads are known to cost up to $1500 per riser, which can be incredibly expensive when installing them in an area with greater distance.
The Design You Want
The more complicated your design, the more you will spend on it. Circular staircases are one such example of expensive design tastes. However, you can choose to go with a straight or angular staircase to save some money.
More advanced design preference can include the following:
- Commercial buildings will need stairs (or an alternative) to accommodate the disabled.
- Some people install LED lights to draw attention to glasswork.
- Some stairs will require additional work to ensure they are safe to use, especially when floating.
Final Thoughts
Floating stairs don’t have to be expensive. The design of floating stairs does not use as much material. As long as you only need a single straight floating stair, you might end up saving a small amount of money. However, the opposite is mostly true given the advanced engineering required to keep these safe.
To ensure you have the floating stairs of your dreams, make sure you contact the Stair Star specialists to get you the stairs you want.