A full-size pool table looks like furniture, but it is closer to a machine: a wooden frame, a heavy stone bed, rails with cushions and a stretched cloth. Moving it as one piece is not an option. The crew treats it as a take-apart and rebuild job, and the quality of the setup at the other end decides how it plays.
What the table is made of
Most tables have a wooden frame and legs, a slate bed in two or three sections, cushion rails with the felt stretched across them and pockets at the corners. Some home tables have a single slab or a composite bed.
Knowing what you own helps your estimator plan. Take photos of the table and note the brand and the size, such as seven, eight or nine feet.
Taking the table apart
The crew removes the pockets, rails and the felt, then unscrews the slate from the frame. Each slate section is lifted by the edges, set on a pad and moved on edge with a moving cart.
The frame comes apart into its main parts and the legs are unbolted. Every piece is wrapped in pads, and the hardware goes in labeled bags.
- Rails and pockets: padded and stacked together.
- Felt: rolled or folded flat to avoid creases.
- Slate: wrapped and moved on edge, never flat.
- Frame and legs: wrapped and loaded against a wall.
Moving the slate
Slate is heavy, brittle and easy to chip at the edges. It is carried on its edge by a team, secured to the wall of the truck and never stacked with weight on top.
Plan the path in advance. Stairs, turns and tight doorways are the real obstacles, and an estimator who has seen them can plan the team.
Rebuilding and leveling
At the new house the frame goes up first, followed by the slate, which is shimmed and leveled with a level on every section. The seams between slate pieces are filled and smoothed, and the felt is stretched tight and stapled.
A pool table needs a stable floor and enough space around it for a cue. Measure the room and allow clearance on all sides. Many tables need new felt after a move, and your estimator can tell you what the job involves.
Related items and next steps
Pool tables are part of O'Brien's pool table moving. Other heavy specialty items are covered in how pianos are moved and in specialty item moving. Mention the table at the free in-home estimate so the crew arrives with the right gear.