Pool table moving is arguably the most difficult furniture-related task for homeowners. That’s because, unlike regular furniture, pool tables are incredibly heavy, fragile and precisely aligned. Even the smallest error when you are in the process of moving the pool table can potentially damage the slate, tear the felt and upset the perfect balance and level of your table.
Whether it is your intention to relocate to a new home or to reposition your pool table on your property, it’s important for you to be aware of the proper procedures for moving this massive furniture item.
In this guide, what we’ll cover will help you in every aspect that is involved in the movement of a pool table, including preparation, disassembly, transport and reassembly.
Why Moving A Pool Table Is Really Challenging?
You can’t just prop a pool table up like you could with a sofa or a bookcase and ease it through a doorway, its playing surface is one, two, or three slabs of precisely ground slate, and the slate pieces weigh between 80 and 160 kg each.
Bolted through invisible pockets of felt beneath the cloth and typically stapled or glued in place in the pockets, a wrong movement can easily lead to fractured slate, a warped frame or a ripped cloth that will effectively ruin your table.
Apart from their sheer weight they have to remain flat throughout transit and the legs/frame will not support the table on its side. Having some idea of these eccentricities is the difference between moving your pool table successfully or having a ruinously expensive disaster.
Few Things You Will Need Before Start Moving A Pool Table
- Minimum of three to four capable helpers (recommend 4 to 6 for a full-sized table)
- Staple remover or flat head screwdriver
- Socket set (typically 7/16th” or ‘for most Aussie tables)
- Moving pads or thick blankets to pad the slate
- Heavy-duty tie-down straps and furniture dolly
- Large van or enclosed truck, with a tail lift if possible
- Plastic zip-lock bags for holding any hardware (bolts, screws, staples etc.)
- Spirit level to check recalibration at final destination
Also Read: Easy Tips for Moving Heavy Furniture
Step-By-Step Guide On How To Move A Pool Table
Step 01: Remove the Pockets
Remove the leather or plastic pockets, found underneath the rails, by unscrewing, stapling or clipping them out. Keep these and any other fittings together in a labelled zip-lock bag so that they do not get lost in transit.
Step 02: Detach the Rails
Find and take out the bolts that hold the rail assembly under the table. Handle each rail gently, to prevent injury from impacts that could damage the rubber cushions and table’s wood finish.
Step 03: Remove the Felt
For stapled felt use a staple remover or gently peel the glued felt from the fabric. Roll the cloth up and keep it in a safe place and out the way to prevent creasing, tearing or soiling.
Step 04: Lift the Slate Panels
Positioning-a team of at least two, steady lifts each section of the slate keeping it parallel to the floor. The moving blankets, thick wraps should be wrapped around each individually before moving all panels.
Step 05: Dismantle the Frame and Legs
Unscrew the leg bolts and remove the legs from the frame. Take a picture of the assembly, label parts of the frame so reassembling goes easily and minimize installation errors.
Step 06: Reassemble and Level
Put the table back in reverse order making sure everything is tightly assembled. Check that the slate surface is accurately level, small fractions of an inch added here and there can affect the game play.
How To Transport The Pool Table Safely?
Ensure all slate panels are always transported on their flat side not on their edges. A tiny crack, caused by vibration in transit can be put right by professional regrinding but, more often than not, you will need to replace the whole slate panel.
Wrap slate panels with moving pads if more than one at a time is to be transported and lash together securely to prevent slipping.
The frame and legs may be transported on their sides but wrap all exposed timber or metal in padded materials to protect from scratching. Hire a truck with a tail lift, the safe and efficient transport of 120 kg slate panels is not best achieved by carrying them up a ramp manually.
The Ideal Time To Move A Pool Table
For an experienced team, dis-assembly will usually take approximately 45 minutes to an hour and re-assembly (including refelting and releveling) will usually take between 60 and 90 minutes.
For an experienced move add at least one hour onto each task. In total the whole job can be three to five hours for a local Brisbane move.
When DIY V/s Hiring Professional Pool Table Movers Is Beneficial?
Let’s be blunt – most pool tables should be moved by professionals. Have a quick look at the benefits to help you decide:
When might you DIY?
If you are comfortable dismantling furniture, you have at least four reasonably strong helpers available, have appropriate equipment, and are only moving the table over a short, flat distance – you can probably DIY a pool table move. Barsize or smaller tables (smaller than 7 foot) generally don’t have slate beds and can be removed.
When should you call in a professional?
If your pool table has a slate bed, is over 7 feet in size, or needs to travel up or down stairs, navigate narrow hallways or be moved any distance – we strongly advise calling in a professional furniture removalist.
A broken slate can cost up to $800 per panel to replace and repairing it in Brisbane would be significantly more.
Our Brisbane furniture removalists at AU Safe Removals can do so with the appropriate equipment, experience and insurance to keep floors, door frames, and your table itself safe from damage.
Check Out: Top 20 Benefits of Hiring a Local Removalists & Movers in Brisbane
Final Thoughts
When it comes to moving a pool table, specialized know-how is extremely important. From removing the slate accurately to ensuring that the table is level in its new home, all the steps are vital in order to ensure that the pool table still performs and looks good.
The do it yourself approach might look good as far as savings are concerned, but is highly disadvantageous from all other perspectives. So, it is always best to hire a professional like AU Safe Removals in order to have a peaceful move.
If you are relocating, and need professional help, you can always look to AU Safe Removals.
FAQs
Q1: Can you move a pool table fully assembled?
No. Attempting to move a pool table without dismantling it is very risky. It’s likely you’ll crack the slate, damage the frame and injure yourself or others. It’s best to take the pockets, rails, felt and slate panels off the pool table.
Q2: How many people are needed to move a pool table?
You will need at least four fit and able-bodied people to move a pool table. The individual slate panels weigh 80–160kg and you can easily have six people involved when the whole pool table is on the move, this helps to make sure the move is safe and you don’t injury anyone.
Q3: Do I need to re-felt my pool table after moving?
Yes, you almost always do. The felt often gets torn during the process and stretches, this makes it no longer suitable. Budget for $150-400, as this is how much you can expect to pay for a pool table refelted by a professional after it has been moved; this process also usually involves levelling the table.
Q4: How long does it take to move a pool table?
This process will generally take between 60 and 90 minutes for you to get it ready, this is the disassembly and assembly. Taking into consideration travelling and also any transit it will generally take a pool table to be moved from house to house about three to five hours.
Q5: Is it worth paying professional pool table movers in Brisbane?
Yes. If your pool table becomes damaged in transit, repair or replacement of the slate alone will cost you $800+ per slate. Using a service such as AU Safe Removals in Brisbane with experience, knowledge, tools and equipment will eliminate the risk of incurring any damage during the move.
