Straight Talk on Self-Supporting Stairs

Here at Great Lakes Stair, folks often ask us about a special kind of staircase—one that really opens up a room. You might’ve heard it called “floating” or “open,” but what it really comes down to is a good, solid self-supporting staircase. We’ve been building ’em for over 35 years, and we’re happy to share what makes them special.

So, What Is a Self-Supporting Stair, Anyway?

Well, it’s pretty much what it sounds like. It’s a stairway that stands on its own, without needing a bunch of walls boxed in underneath it.

It hooks in securely at the bottom floor and fastens right up to the top floor. But that whole space underneath? It’s wide open. You can see right through or even walk under it.

Sometimes the staircase is completely open on both sides. Other times, it might use a wall for one side, while the other side just… well, supports itself.

Why Folks Love ‘Em

The main reason people get so excited about these stairs is how they change a room.

• Opens Things Right Up: Getting rid of that solid wall underneath just makes a space feel bigger, brighter, and a whole lot grander.
• A Real Showpiece: That new open space is the perfect spot for things that matter to you. We’ve seen folks put a grand piano, a nice water feature, or just some lovely house plants under their stairs.
• Any Style You Like: You’re not limited to one look. We can build self-supporting stairs that are straight, curved, spiral, or circular.

Building It Right Takes Know-How

Now, we’ll be straight with you: building a self-supporting staircase isn’t a job for beginners. They can be tricky to figure out, which is why a lot of other manufacturers might shy away from them.

But for us, they’ve become a specialty.

After 35 years of designing and building stairs, our team has pretty much mastered the art. We know what works, what doesn’t, and that experience saves our customers a heap of time and money.

We’re not just builders; we’re partners. We’ll ask the right questions—even the ones you might not think of—to make sure the job’s done right the first time. We handle all the tricky building code requirements and explain in plain English what needs to be done to your home to properly support the new structure.

Even if you’re renovating an old, boxed-in staircase, give us a call. We can take a look and see if we can open things up for you, maybe by taking out a wall you don’t need.

Let’s Get Started

We take a lot of pride in our work and would be honored to build something extraordinary with you.

If you’re ready to chat, give us a ring at 330-225-2005 or fill out the Free Project Review form on our website.