Floating Staircases Designed & Installed
Wall-fixed cantilevered treads, open risers and frameless glass balustrades — the purest expression of contemporary staircase design. Engineered in steel, glass and timber. Designed, manufactured and installed across the UK by Continox.
A floating staircase creates the most open, light-filled staircase aesthetic possible — treads that appear to hover without visible support, open risers that allow light to pass through the full height of the stairwell, and a frameless glass balustrade that maintains a barrier without interrupting the visual flow. Every Continox floating staircase is designed from scratch for the specific space, structurally engineered for the wall substrate, and installed by our in-house team.
Floating Staircase Design Options
Floating staircases are available in several structural configurations — the choice depends on the available wall substrate, the staircase layout and the desired visual result. All configurations are available with oak treads, walnut treads or steel plate treads, and with frameless or framed glass balustrade.
Wall-Fixed Cantilevered Floating Staircase
Each tread is independently fixed into the structural wall using embedded steel brackets — creating the purest floating effect. The wall is the only visible support. No stringer, no spine, no visible structure. Requires a solid masonry or concrete wall with adequate load capacity at each fixing position.
- Individual tread fixing — no stringer visible
- 40mm solid oak or walnut treads
- Open risers — 100mm sphere rule compliant
- Frameless glass balustrade one side
- LED under-tread integration available
- Part K compliant — structural calculations included
Steel Plate Floating Staircase
Flat steel plate treads — typically 10mm plate in powder-coat black, grey or any RAL colour — on a wall-fixed steel stringer system. The most industrial-contemporary interpretation of the floating aesthetic. The stringer is minimal and close to the wall, maintaining the open riser visual while providing a robust structural platform for the plates.
- 10mm steel plate treads — any RAL powder coat
- Wall-fixed steel stringer
- Open risers — non-slip surface standard
- Frameless glass balustrade
- LED base channel integration available
- BS EN 1090 structural certification
L-Shape Floating Staircase
A floating staircase with a 90-degree turn — the most common layout for UK homes where a straight run along one wall is not available. The turn is achieved with an intermediate landing platform that can be wall-fixed or structurally supported from below. Glass balustrade runs continuously along both flights and across the landing edge.
- 90° turn — intermediate landing
- Wall-fixed or supported landing platform
- Continuous glass balustrade
- Oak, walnut or steel plate treads
- Part K compliant including landing balustrade 900mm+
- 3D design visuals of exact layout included
LED Floating Staircase
Every floating staircase design can be specified with integrated LED lighting — either recessed under-tread strips that cast light onto the tread below, or a LED base channel running the length of the glass balustrade at floor level. During the day the staircase reads as glass, steel and timber. After dark the LED lighting becomes the dominant visual — particularly effective in open-plan spaces where the staircase is visible from the main living area.
- Under-tread LED — recessed, warm white 2700K
- LED base channel option — along glass balustrade
- Dimmer compatible — smart home integration possible
- Both systems can be combined
- Available on all floating staircase configurations
- +£600–£1,200 on base specification
What's Included in Every Project
Every Continox floating staircase includes the full project — from the first site visit to the final step signed off by Building Control. The following is included as standard in every fixed-price quotation.
Free On-Site Survey
Site visit to assess wall substrate, measure the opening precisely and confirm fixing positions. Structural substrate confirmed before any design work begins. No charge, no obligation.
3D Photorealistic Visuals
Full photorealistic renders of your floating staircase placed accurately in your actual space — including material finishes, glass balustrade and lighting if specified. Produced before fabrication begins, at no charge.
Structural Calculations
Full structural engineering to BS EN 1090 — covering cantilevered tread loads, wall fixing design, pull-out values and material specification. Signed by a qualified structural engineer. Required for Building Control submission.
CAD Drawings — PDF & DWG
Detailed as-built drawings showing all dimensions, fixing positions and Part K compliance notes. Provided in PDF and DWG format for your architect or Building Control surveyor. Suitable for Full Plans submission.
UKCA Marking & Declaration of Performance
All structural steel components carry UKCA marking and a Declaration of Performance under UK Construction Products Regulations — a legal requirement and increasingly required by Building Control and commercial insurers.
Professional Installation
Installed by Continox's in-house team — no subcontractors. Typically 1–3 days on site for a straight or L-shape floating staircase. Site left clean on completion. Full compliance documentation handed over on the day.
Wall substrate must be verified before design begins. A floating staircase with wall-fixed cantilevered treads transfers all structural loads into the supporting wall — typically 1.5–2.0 kN per tread. This requires solid masonry, reinforced concrete or a structural steel frame within a stud wall. Metal stud (drywall) walls are generally not suitable without structural intervention. Continox assesses the wall substrate as the first step of every floating staircase survey — before any design work is committed to. If the substrate is inadequate, we identify the correct structural solution before providing a fixed-price quotation.
How It Works: From Enquiry to Installation
Every Continox floating staircase follows the same four-stage process — from the free site visit to the completed, Building Control signed-off installation.
Free On-Site Survey
We visit your site, assess the wall substrate, take precise measurements and confirm the structural fixing positions. No charge. All dimensions are taken from site — not from drawings.
3D Design & Fixed Price
Photorealistic 3D renders of your floating staircase in your actual space — produced before any commitment. Fixed-price quotation covering design, manufacture and installation, confirmed within 24 hours.
Manufacture
Your staircase is fabricated in our workshop to exact dimensions — steel structure, treads, glass balustrade and handrail. Structural calculations and CAD drawings produced concurrently for Building Control submission.
Installation & Sign-Off
Installed by our in-house team — 1–3 days on site. UKCA documentation and compliance schedule handed over on completion. Total lead time from order: 6–10 weeks.
Building Regulations: Part K Requirements
Every Continox floating staircase is designed and installed in full compliance with Approved Document K. The following are the key dimensional requirements for a private domestic floating staircase. For full details see our UK Staircase Building Regulations guide.
| Requirement | Specification | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Max Rise (per step) | 220mm (private stair) | Approved Document K |
| Min Going (tread depth) | 220mm (private stair) | Approved Document K |
| Max Pitch | 42° | Approved Document K |
| 2R + G Formula | 550–700mm | Approved Document K |
| Min Headroom | 2000mm throughout | Approved Document K |
| Handrail Height | 900–1000mm above pitch line | Approved Document K |
| Open Risers — Sphere Rule | No opening may pass 100mm sphere | Approved Document K |
| Landing Balustrade | 900mm (GF) / 1100mm (above GF) | Part K / BS 6180 |
| Balustrade Load | 0.74 kN/m residential | BS 6180 |
| Structural Standard | BS EN 1090 — structural steel | BS EN 1090 |
Floating Staircases Across the UK
Continox designs and installs bespoke floating staircases across the UK — from Hampshire, Surrey and London to the Midlands, East of England and beyond. Based in Gosport, our in-house team delivers the same standard of craftsmanship on every project regardless of location.
Every floating staircase project is priced following a free on-site survey — the only way to produce an accurate fixed price for a wall-fixed cantilevered design where substrate conditions, precise dimensions and floor finish thickness all affect the specification. We never issue estimates from floor plans alone.
For design inspiration across all staircase types, see our Modern Staircase Ideas UK guide. For full pricing information including worked examples, see our Bespoke Staircase Cost guide.
Glass Balustrade on a Floating Staircase
The frameless glass balustrade is the natural complement to a floating staircase — both are defined by the absence of visible structure. A frameless system uses 17.5mm toughened & laminated glass (BS EN 14449) fixed with near-invisible patch fittings or a base channel at floor level. No visible posts, no visible rails — just glass, steel handrail and timber treads.
The alternative — a framed glass balustrade from £350/m — uses thinner toughened glass within a steel post-and-rail frame. More cost-effective over larger linear footage, and easier to retrofit on existing structures with varied substrates. Both are Part K and BS 6180 compliant when correctly engineered.
For full glass balustrade specifications and pricing see our glass balustrade range. For compliance requirements see our Glass Balustrade Regulations guide.
Floating Staircase Installation Areas
Continox designs, manufactures and installs floating staircases across the UK. Based in Hampshire — regularly installing across London, the South East, South West and East of England.
Floating Staircase — FAQ
Common questions from UK homeowners about floating staircase design, specification, cost and installation.
Free on-site survey including substrate assessment, photorealistic 3D visuals of your exact design, and a fixed-price quotation within 24 hours. Floating staircases from £7,900 — designed, manufactured and installed across the UK.