10 Questions to Ask a Floating Stair Company | TF Stairs

Before hiring a floating staircase company, ask who will engineer the system, what the quote includes, who will fabricate and install it, and how the company will handle warranty service. Request written answers and examples of completed work before paying a deposit.

A floating staircase brings wood, steel, glass, and sometimes lighting together in one highly visible part of your home. A finished photo can show the look you want. It cannot tell you whether two proposals include the same materials, structural coordination, installation work, or aftercare.

Whether you are building a new home or renovating an existing staircase in Florida, these ten questions will help you compare stair companies and understand what you are buying.

1. Are signed and sealed shop drawings included in the quote?

Ask whether the price includes project-specific shop drawings and coordination with a licensed structural engineer. If signed and sealed drawings are part of the scope, confirm who provides them, what they cover, and when you will receive them.

Shop drawings should make the proposed layout, dimensions, materials, and connections clear enough for review before fabrication. Ask how the staircase connects to the building and who confirms that the supporting structure is suitable for the approved design.

Do not assume a rendering includes engineering. A three-dimensional image helps communicate appearance; it does not replace structural documentation or project approvals.

Ask directly: “Does your price include signed and sealed staircase shop drawings, and who coordinates the connections with my builder and engineer?”

2. Do you offer a five-year warranty covering the entire staircase system?

Ask about a five-year system warranty, then request the actual terms. The length of a warranty is only one part of the comparison.

Find out which components are covered: steel stringers, wood treads, glass, railing hardware, installation labor, finishes, and any LED lighting. Ask whether components supplied by another manufacturer have separate coverage and whether the warranty includes the labor needed to address a covered issue.

Also clarify exclusions, maintenance requirements, the start date, and the process for requesting service. “Five-year warranty” should lead to a written explanation of coverage, rather than leave you guessing what happens after installation.

Ask directly: “Can you provide the written warranty and explain which parts of the staircase system and installation labor it covers?”

3. Do you have a local production or fabrication facility I can visit?

A facility visit gives you an opportunity to understand where the work happens and how the company organizes fabrication. Ask which components are made there and which come from outside suppliers.

During an arranged visit, look at examples of work in progress, finished components, and how materials are identified and protected. Ask who checks dimensions and workmanship before delivery.

A company may use specialist partners for certain components. What matters is a clear explanation of that arrangement and who remains responsible for the finished result.

Ask directly: “Where will my steel and wood components be fabricated, and can I arrange a visit to see your production process?”

4. Do you have a showroom or physical samples I can inspect?

Photos are useful for narrowing down a style. Physical samples help you compare grain, stain, finish texture, glass appearance, and metal color before making a final selection.

Ask whether you can see a full-size tread, a railing mounting detail, and representative finish samples. If a showroom visit is unavailable, ask how the company supplies samples and records your approvals.

Bring a flooring sample when discussing stain matching. Different woods and grain patterns can respond differently to a finish, so review the proposed stair sample alongside the actual flooring.

Ask directly: “Where can I inspect your materials and workmanship, and will I approve physical finish samples before production?”

5. Who designs, fabricates, and installs my staircase?

Identify the people responsible for the design, engineering coordination, fabrication, and installation. Find out who your main contact will be and how questions move between the shop and jobsite.

Ask who takes final measurements and who verifies them against the approved drawings. For projects involving glass, steel, and lighting, clarify how the different trades coordinate their work.

Learn about the team and background behind TF Stairs as part of your company research.

Ask directly: “Who manages my project from measurements through installation, and who is responsible if a component needs correction?”

6. What exactly is included—and excluded—in the proposal?

A useful staircase proposal identifies the components and services you are purchasing. Compare the written scope, including:

• Stair layout, tread quantities, dimensions, wood species, and finish.
• Steel stringer configuration and coating.
• Glass type, thickness, mounting hardware, handrails, and top caps.
• Railing quantities for stairs, landings, and open-to-below areas.
• Lighting components and electrical responsibilities.
• Drawings, delivery, installation, and any stated permit responsibilities.

Ask about demolition, framing modifications, patching, electrical work, temporary protection, and other work outside the stair company's scope. For material selection, browse custom hardwood stair tread options and confirm the exact specification in your quote.

Ask directly: “Can you walk me through everything included in this price and the work my builder or other trades must provide?”

7. Can you show completed projects similar to mine?

Look for experience with the configuration you want. A straight mono-stringer staircase, a curved stair with curved glass, and a wide double-stringer system involve different design and fabrication details.

Request completed project photos, including close-ups of tread finishes, railing connections, landings, and transitions. Ask what the company supplied and installed on each example.

The TF Stairs project gallery includes different staircase layouts and combinations of wood, steel, and glass that can help you explain your preferences.

Ask directly: “Which completed projects best match my layout, materials, and installation conditions?”

8. What determines the schedule, and when must my site be ready?

Ask for a timeline that separates measurements, drawing review, engineering coordination, material approvals, fabrication, and installation. Clarify what starts each stage and what could change the timing.

Discuss site readiness before booking installation. Finished floor heights, structural preparation, access, and coordination with other trades should be resolved at the appropriate stage.

If you want steel installed before finished treads and permanent railing, ask how temporary components, return visits, and protection of installed work will be handled.

Ask directly: “What approvals and site conditions do you need from us, and how will changes or delayed construction affect the installation schedule?”

9. How do payments and design changes work?

Ask how each payment connects to a defined project milestone. Understand what must happen before fabrication begins and what approval is needed before materials are ordered.

Discuss how changes to tread sizes, glass quantities, finishes, or structural details affect the price and schedule. Request written change orders that explain the revised scope before additional work proceeds.

When comparing costs, read our guide to evaluating floating staircase options for your budget, then compare the actual scope of your proposals.

Ask directly: “What does each payment milestone cover, and how will you document and price changes after approval?”

10. Who handles service after the installation?

Before signing, ask who you will contact if you notice a problem after completion. Confirm how to report an issue, what information the company needs, and how it evaluates service requests.

Request care instructions for the wood, glass, metal finishes, and lighting supplied on your project. At completion, review the work together and keep your approved drawings, finish selections, warranty, and project correspondence.

Ask directly: “Who handles aftercare, and what documents and maintenance instructions will I receive at completion?”

Compare the complete staircase system before choosing a company

A lower quote may be suitable for your project, but first establish whether it includes the same design, materials, engineering coordination, installation, and warranty coverage. A meaningful comparison starts with written specifications and clear responsibilities.

At TF Stairs, we welcome questions about your proposed staircase. Share your plans, project location, preferred style, and inspiration photos so we can discuss the scope and material choices with you.

Planning a custom staircase? Email gary@tfstairs.com or call 386-405-4281 to discuss your project. For staircase photos and behind-the-scenes content, follow @tfstairs on Instagram.