About Us

Who We Are

Floating Stair is a highly specialized architectural division with a singular focus on modern staircase design. Our work centers on floating staircases, open-riser designs, and stair systems built for contemporary homes and thoughtfully renovated spaces.

Our roots run deep into real metalwork and fabrication. We operate as a dedicated staircase division of Capitol Iron Works, a well-established leader in custom metal fabrication across the DMV region. Capitol Iron Works has built a large portfolio of successful projects for homeowners, businesses, and institutions throughout DC, Maryland, and Virginia. That foundation is the backbone of everything we do.

Capitol Iron Works has earned a strong reputation across the DMV for precision metalwork, code-compliant installations, and projects that range from neighborhood homes to government buildings. Our staircase division carries that same standard into every modern design we develop.

What We Believe

We believe a great staircase earns its place in a home. It should be beautiful to look at, safe to use every day, and built to hold its form for decades. When one of those three things is missing, the whole design falls short.

Modern stair design has moved far beyond the purely functional. Homeowners today want stairs that feel like architecture. We share that view. We also believe that visual ambition should never come at the cost of structural honesty. Every cantilevered step, every open-riser tread, and every glass panel we work with has to perform under real load conditions, not just look good in a photograph.

How We Approach the Work

We do not separate aesthetics from engineering. When we think about a floating staircase, we are thinking about the load-bearing systems that make it safe, the connection points that carry the structural load, and the material properties that determine long-term performance.

Material selection matters at every level. Stainless steel behaves differently from mild steel. Glass panels introduce different load considerations than solid treads. Aluminum brings weight advantages in certain applications. We think through these differences because they directly affect how a staircase performs over time.

• Structural integrity is planned before any aesthetic decision is finalized

• Load-bearing systems are sized for real-world use, not minimum code thresholds

• Material choices account for finish durability and long-term maintenance

• Connection details are designed to handle both static and dynamic loads

Floating staircases rely on cantilevered design where each tread transfers its load back into a central spine or side stringer. The adequacy of that connection is what determines whether the staircase stays rigid over years of daily use. Getting that detail right early in the design process is what separates a staircase that holds its form from one that develops unwanted flex.

The Experience Behind Our Work

Our understanding of staircase design comes from direct exposure to fabrication, installation, and the challenges that arise when a design meets real-world conditions. We have seen where designs succeed and where they create problems during installation or over time.

Through the Capitol Iron Works network, we have access to certified welders, structural engineers, and experienced fabricators who have worked across a wide range of residential and commercial projects in the DMV area. That collective knowledge informs how we think about design guidance and technical recommendations.

• Fabrication knowledge including material tolerances and weld specifications

• Installation awareness of common fit-out challenges in residential settings

• Design understanding of how form and structure interact in modern stair systems

• Regional knowledge of building codes and permit requirements across the DMV

How We Help Homeowners

Most homeowners begin their staircase journey without a clear picture of what is involved. They have a style in mind but are uncertain about materials, costs, structural requirements, and how to communicate clearly with a contractor or fabricator.

We focus on closing that gap. Our content covers staircase ideas across different styles and spaces, material comparisons for treads and railings, planning considerations that affect both budget and timeline, and the key questions to ask before committing to a design. We want you to feel informed and confident as you move through the process of planning a staircase that fits your home and your expectations.

Explore staircase ideas based on your location and discover solutions that match the scale and character of your space.