If you’ve finished your basement and converted it into a carpeted man cave, you might be looking to add a pool table.
While this appears to be a tremendous idea, adding a pool table to a carpeted room has its own complications.
No doubt, a carpet keeps your basement warm during winters and adds to the comfort of the environment, but it presents challenges for pool tables.
Your pool table requires a stable, level floor for proper positioning, which not easily achieved on a carpet.
However, it doesn’t mean you just can’t combine pool tables with carpeted flooring. Let’s dig deeper into whether you can install a pool table on a carpet.
Can You Install a Pool Table on a Carpet?
Basements are often characterized by concrete subfloor that feels hard underfoot and has moisture issues.
Carpets typically make use of a carpet padding or foam underlay, which adds to the level of comfort for anyone walking on it as well as protects the carpet fibers from moisture underneath.
Since the padding is made from foam, it will compress down when you place the pool table on the carpet. It can take weeks or perhaps months to fully compress, depending on the thickness and type of the padding.
Remember, your pool table needs a leveled floor to ensure stability. Before you level the table, you must wait all this time for the padding to completely settle.
Keep in mind that once the padding settles, the indentations or divots produced by the pool table on your carpet will remain permanent. These noticeable dents show up when you move the pool table to a different position.
Thus, from the very beginning, it’s critical to position the table on the spot you want it to stay.
In short, you can certainly install a pool table on a carpet, but you will need to know exactly how to install and manage the table so that your carpet remains undamaged and your playing experience stays consistent.
How to Install Your Pool Table
On top of that, installing a pool table on the carpet itself is a tough job. Dragging the table to its position is not an option at all. This will most certainly damage the delicate fibers of the carpet, leaving marks from the entrance to the table’s ultimate position.
In other words, carpet padding is great for comfort and carpet protection but doesn’t get along well with pool tables.
To avoid damage to carpet, lay a heavy cloth, a drop sheet, or a tarp on the carpet and slide the table dolly to its position.
Remove the tarp when it reaches its spot.
How to Level Your Pool Table
Before you can proceed with leveling, you will need to wait two to three days after placing it in position. That’s exactly what professionals do. They will install a table and return after a few days to level it when it is settled.
Settling of the pool table means it compresses the carpet padding to a point that it won’t press down any further. Every pool must be leveled once it has settled onto a carpet.
If you choose to level the pool table before it has settled, you will need to re-level it to ensure perfect stability and best gameplay.
The type of carpet, the thickness of the underlay or padding, and the type of underlay or padding are some key factors determining the time it takes for the setting to complete. It typically takes a couple of days to a few weeks for pool tables to settle after being placed.
Use wooden shims to level the table in its current placement. This involves trial and error, so try different adjustments until the table is leveled.
Once you have leveled the table, test it by placing a marble right at the center of the playing surface, and see if it moves. If the table is properly leveled, the marble will not roll or move in any direction.
However, leveling is not a one-time process. Your table will lose its level status as the carpet settles further. When you begin to notice changes in the quality of play, conduct the marble test again to test the degree of change in leveling. Every time your table needs leveling, you will need to adjust the shims, making leveling an ongoing process.
An important factor that impacts the leveling of your pool table is carpet seams. It’s important to understand that there’s no way you can eliminate the seam.
So, do not attempt to move the table to a different position. It will only exacerbate the problem by damaging the carpet.
The only viable solution is to live with the carpet seam and keep making adjustments to level the pool table. If you’re are struggling with pool table leveling, call a professional to handle the process for you but don’t consider shifting the table at any cost.
Using Floor Protectors
Over time, the wooden legs of pool tables may release some stain on the carpet.
To prevent this, consider adding a square or round floor protector under each leg of the pool table. These are rubber tips that protect your carpet from wooden stains.
Let’s now take a look at some of the best flooring options for a billiard table:
Best Flooring to Use Under a Pool Table
If you don’t wish to take on the hassles associated with carpeted flooring, look around for alternate flooring options that prove more compatible with pool tables.
The following are some of the best flooring options to use under a pool table:
Area Rug
The best flooring option for a pool table is one that will not move around.
That’s exactly what a thick area rug is all about. It not only helps your pool table stay level, but it also protects the balls from getting damaged should they knock off from the table during play.
If you decide to go with this option, search for an area rug that will complement the felt and the overall pool table.
It must also be easy to clean in case of spillage.
Tile
If aesthetics is your priority, tiles are an ideal flooring option for you. It allows you to leverage creativity and incorporate a unique design that resonates with your pool table and the entire room.
Not to forget the ease with which tiles can be cleaned if food or drink spills on the surface.
However, what’s undesirable about tiles is that it may damage the balls that are knocked off the pool table while playing. Also, tiles are comparatively more expensive than many other flooring options.
Linoleum
Another viable flooring option for pool tables is linoleum. It’s incredibly firm stability allows for perfect leveling for pool tables, making it an excellent choice.
Not only is Linoleum flooring long-lasting and durable, but it is also very easy to clean. They don’t pose any damage threat to the balls either.
Since linoleum flooring is easy to cut, you may even choose to install it yourself. If you decide to hire a company for installation, look for the one that offers a warranty and charges a reasonable price.
Rubber Mats
The durability and flexibility of rubber mats make them a great investment when it comes to choosing pool table flooring.
Since rubber mats are available in different colors, you can choose one that matches well with the décor of your playroom.
Rubber mats are affordable and cleaning is easy in case of spillage. If you ever feel like switching the flooring later, rubber mats can easily be removed and replaced at any point.
Final Word
By now, you should have developed a clear idea about how carpets work with pool tables. Since proper stability is crucial to gameplay, you need to put in the effort to level your billiard table against the carpet from time to time.
If you can’t commit to this ongoing task, it’s best to choose an alternate flooring option that ensures stability, lasts longer, matches well with the surrounding décor, and won’t damage the balls that fall on them.
We hope that this guide helps you choose the right flooring option for your billiard table.
Other Pool and Billiard related articles:
- How to Clean Felt on a Pool Table?
- What Is the Weight of a Pool Table?
- How to Replace Pool Table Pockets
- Can You Paint a Pool Table?
- Can You Stand On a Pool Table (or Billiard Table)?
- Can a Pool Ball Crack Tile?
