Floating stairs look like they are hanging in mid-air, but the structure is solid. Each tread is anchored to a central steel stringer or cantilevered from the wall using steel mono-stringers or hidden supports bolted directly into the framing. Ryan engineers each installation for the specific wall construction, floor-to-floor height, and load requirements of your home. Before anything gets built, he knows exactly how the stairs will be anchored and what they will carry. The result looks effortless because the structure is buried inside the wall or beneath the tread. This is not a decorative trick. It is real structural work, designed and installed by someone who spent over a decade working as a union ironworker.

Floating staircases involve significant custom engineering and fabrication work, so the cost reflects that. Pricing depends on the number of treads, material choices, railing style, and complexity of the installation. A straight floating stair with steel stringers and walnut treads will land at a different number than a curved design with a more involved railing system. The best way to get a real number is to get on a call with Ryan. He will walk through your space, your vision, and what the job actually involves, and give you a quote that reflects your specific project rather than a ballpark pulled off a website.

Floating stairs can be added to existing homes, but the installation requires more planning than a new build. Ryan will assess the existing wall framing, floor structure, and ceiling height to determine how the stringers and supports need to be anchored. In some cases, a structural wall needs reinforcement before the stair can go in. That is not unusual and it is not a dealbreaker. It just needs to be figured out upfront. Ryan handles the full scope, including any prep work, so you are not coordinating between a fabricator and a separate contractor. Everything gets done in the right order by one team.

Tread material is one of the most visible decisions on a floating staircase. The most popular choices are hardwoods like walnut, white oak, and maple. Each has a different grain pattern, color range, and character. Ryan has a decade of background in high-end trim carpentry before his years as an ironworker, so the woodwork gets the same attention as the steel. Beyond wood, treads can also be done in concrete, glass, or steel plate depending on the look you are after. The tread material pairs with the stringer and railing choice to create the finished look. Ryan will walk you through the combinations that work well together based on your space.

Lead time from approved design to installation typically runs eight to fourteen weeks depending on project scope and the current shop schedule. That timeline breaks down into design, material sourcing, fabrication, and then on-site installation. Ryan builds everything in the Galena Mill and Steel shop, so he is not waiting on outside vendors for the metalwork. Installation usually takes one to three days on-site depending on the complexity of the job. If your project has a hard deadline, tell Ryan early. He will let you know whether the timeline works and plan accordingly. Rushing fabrication on a structural staircase is not something that happens here, but reasonable timelines can almost always be accommodated with enough lead time.

Yes. Floating staircases built by Galena Mill and Steel are designed to meet residential building code requirements, including tread depth, riser height, staircase width, and railing height. Code varies by municipality, so Ryan accounts for the local requirements of your specific location. Before fabrication begins, the design is finalized to spec and you sign off on the drawings. If a permit is required in your area, Ryan can work with your local building department or coordinate with your contractor to provide whatever documentation they need. The goal is a staircase that passes inspection and stands up for decades, not just one that looks good in a photo.