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Pool tables are about 7 to 9 feet long, weighing no less than 700 pounds. Moving a pool table, therefore, can be a stressful and time-consuming experience without the right tools, skills, and information.
It is imperative to learn how to move a pool table, especially if you are buying one for your home. After all, you might want to move out in the future or use the space for something else. If you run a recreational business, such as a club, you might want to include a pool table in the premise. Whatever your reason for owning a pool table, we are here to make sure that you get the tips and information that you need to move it safely.
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Moving a Pool Table
Before you decide whether to move a pool table by yourself or hire professional help, you need answers to such questions as how much does a pool table weigh. As earlier stated, a pool table may weigh anything from 700 pounds.
However, if it is an 8-foot pool table with a slate top, it could weigh up to 1000 pounds. As a result, moving a pool table without professional help requires careful preparation, appropriate moving equipment, and labor.
We do not recommend that you attempt to move a pool table without any professional help or skill. Doing so may put you at great risk of injury and might end up damaging the table.
Can you move a pool table without taking it apart? Keep reading to find out.
Below are steps to take when moving a pool table:
Measure exits
In order to have a smooth process with the pool table, you need to measure exits to determine how to move it across the room. Taking apart a pool table and moving it safely needs detailed planning to avoid damages to your home or injuries to yourself.
We urge that you first measure the width of doors, hallways, and staircases if any, especially if you are moving the pool table within your home. Once you get the measurements, you will be able to know whether to position the pool table parts across, vertically, or slanted when moving them.
Here is a safety tip from us: Ensure that you cover the sharp corners of the pool table with childproof foam bumpers or simple towels to prevent chipping or scratching of the walls.
Get the right equipment and moving supplies
When moving heavy furniture such as a pool table, the right kind of equipment [1] can really come in handy. We recommend the safest way of moving a pool table: disassemble it. In order to take the pool table apart, you will need:
- A socket wrench, screwdriver tool set, and a drill [2] – to take the pool table apart
- A staple remover- to use on the felt of the pool table
- Bubble wrap and moving blankets [3] – to help prevent damage during the move
Take the pool table apart
We strongly suggest that you take the pool table apart before moving it, since pool tables are not designed for moving as a whole. You will have to disassemble the felt, legs, slate, and rails for easy mobility. Once you take the pool table to its new location, you can reassemble the parts together.
However, if you want to move the table without taking it apart, we advice you use furniture sliders. Please use this method only when you need to move the pool table a short distance across the room or into the next room. For a long distance transfer, take the pool table apart for safety issues.
In most cases, a pool table manual comes with a new pool table after purchase. If you still have access to the manual, you can find some helpful information in there about disassembling and reassembling the table.
Remove the rails and pockets
The first step in disassembling a pool table is removing the ball pockets of the table. Normally, staples or screws hold the ball pockets in place. Use screwdrivers to remove the screws, and then take out the staples if any.
After you have detached the ball pockets from the pool table, you can use a socket wrench [4] to get rid of the bolts within the side rails. Place the pockets and rails in a safe place that you will not forget , where they will not cause any accidents by being stepped on or kicked.
We recommend you place the screws and bolts in different plastic bags instead of mixing them up. Label the bags and indicate the part of the pool table they belong.
Remove the felt and slates
A great way of moving the pool table without causing any damage to the slate is by removing the felt first. Use a staple remover to remove the staples that attach the felt carefully. The felt is reusable, so ensure that you do not damage it.
Once the felt is out of the way, you will come across the slate. The slate is a soft rock that can crack or chip easily, so proceed with gentleness. Using a drill, remove the screws holding the slate in place, then remove the slate carefully and place it on a secure place.
A slate weighs about 450 pounds or more, so ask someone else to assist you with lifting it from the table.
Remove the legs
Get help to turn the table frame gently to its side, or upside down. Use a drill to remove the screws attaching the legs to the frame, and then set the legs and the screws in a secure place.
Wrap and label the parts
After you have detached everything, wrap the legs, rails, and pockets with a thick blanket or any other thing that can provide protective cushioning. Do the same with the slate, then use stretch wrap to hold everything in place. Label the components, and then carefully load them to a track or van.
Cost
How much does it cost to move a pool table? The average estimated cost of hiring a moving company for a pool table is 369 USD. The prices tend to range between 200 USD and 600 USD.
Depending on your preferences, you can hire professional moving services or follow the above steps to move a pool table.