Investing in a pool table is investing in years of entertainment and friendly competition. But even the finest table won’t deliver the optimal playing experience without proper setup. Incorrect assembly or leveling can lead to frustrating gameplay and even damage your investment. That’s where professional pool table installation comes in. Understanding what’s included in Pool Table Store’s expert service ensures your table is ready for perfect play from day one. This guide breaks down our comprehensive installation process, factors that influence it, and the guarantees we offer.
The Anatomy of a Professional Pool Table Installation
A professional pool table installation is more than just putting pieces together; it’s a meticulous process honed by experience. Our authorized technicians follow a detailed procedure to ensure your table is assembled correctly and calibrated for peak performance. Here’s what you can typically expect:
- Careful Placement: Moving the created or boxed table components safely into your designated room.
- Frame Assembly: Constructing the foundational structure – legs, cabinet, and corner frames – according to precise manufacturer specifications.
- Support Beam Installation: Fitting the inner frame beams securely within the cabinet to support the playing surface.
- Slate Installation (for Slate Tables):
- Mounting slate support blocks onto the inner frame.
- Carefully positioning the heavy slate pieces (often three) onto the supports, ensuring precise alignment.
- Sealing the seams between slate pieces with wax or specialized sealant and allowing it to cure for a perfectly smooth surface.
- Felt Application:
- Thoroughly cleaning the slate surface of any dust or debris.
- Stretching the felt taut across the slate, section by section, using industrial adhesive to eliminate wrinkles.
- Carefully wrapping and securing the felt within the pockets for a seamless finish.
- Rail Attachment: Affixing the rails (often with pockets pre-attached) over the felt, aligning them precisely, and bolting them securely to the slate frame.
- Precision Leveling: The crucial final step, involving meticulous adjustments using shims and specialized tools to ensure a perfectly horizontal playing surface. This is essential for accurate ball roll.
- Debris Removal: Cleaning up and removing all packaging materials, leaving your space tidy and your table ready for play.
This detailed pool table setup typically takes between 4 to 8 hours, reflecting the care and precision involved.
Special Considerations for Slate Pool Table Installation
Slate pool table installation requires particular expertise due to the material’s weight and the need for absolute precision. Slate offers unparalleled durability and the flattest playing surface, but its weight (often exceeding 600 lbs for an 8-foot table) makes professional handling essential. Our technicians have the tools and experience to safely maneuver and perfectly level the heavy slate sections, ensuring the superior gameplay slate tables are known for.
Key Factors Influencing Your Pool Table Setup
Several factors can influence the specifics of your pool table assembly and setup:
Slate vs. Wood/MDF: How Table Type Impacts Installation
The material of your table’s playing surface is the most significant factor affecting installation complexity.
| Feature | Slate Pool Tables | Wood/MDF Pool Tables |
| Weight | Significantly heavier (>600 lbs) | Lighter, easier to maneuver |
| Installation | Complex, requires professional skill | Less complex, DIY sometimes possible |
| Leveling | Critical, requires high precision | Important, but less critical |
| Durability | Highly durable, resists warping | More prone to warping over time |
| Playability | Superior, true ball roll | Less consistent ball roll |
While Pool Table Store offers high-quality options in various materials, slate pool table installation inherently demands more time and expertise.
Carpet vs. Hardwood: Flooring Considerations
The type of flooring in your game room can affect the long-term level of your table:
- Carpet:
Offers stability and protection but can compress under the table’s weight over time, potentially requiring re-leveling. We recommend allowing the carpet to settle before final leveling adjustments and using furniture coasters under the legs. - Hardwood:
Provides a more stable foundation less prone to compression. However, care must be taken during leveling to avoid scratching the floor with shims; protective measures like area rugs under the legs can be used.
Our installers are equipped to handle installations on various floor types, ensuring the most stable and level setup possible.
Delivery & Logistics
Pool Table Store offers nationwide shipping across Canada. While the physical installation process remains consistent, delivery distance from our Mississauga showroom or warehouse can influence overall scheduling and potentially transportation costs, especially for remote locations. We strive to provide clear communication regarding delivery windows (typically A.M. or P.M. slots within the GTA, and a broader window for outside areas).
What to Expect from Pool Table Store’s Installation Service
We aim for transparency in our pool table services. Understanding what is typically included and excluded helps set clear expectations.
Core Components of Our Service
Our standard professional pool table installation includes:
- Complete assembly of the table components.
- Meticulous pool table leveling using specialized tools – this is a guaranteed part of our service.
- Secure attachment of pockets and rails.
- Removal of all packaging debris.
What’s Not Included
Standard installation generally focuses on the table itself. The following are typically not included:
- Accessory Assembly:
Assembly of items like cue racks (wall-mounted or floor-standing), furniture, or dartboards is usually not part of the standard pool table setup. Please inquire if you require assembly for these items. - Fixture Installation:
Due to insurance limitations, our installers cannot install items requiring attachment to walls or ceilings, such as pool table lights or wall-mounted cue racks.
Choosing Your Service Level & Understanding Guarantees
We may offer different service tiers to meet varying needs, and we stand behind the quality of our work.
Service Options: Standard vs. White Glove Installation
- Standard Installation: Covers the comprehensive assembly and leveling process described above.
- White Glove Installation: May include premium handling, such as direct shipment to the installer, pre-installation inspection for transit damage, and potentially more meticulous service coordination. Specific inclusions can vary.
Please note that installations requiring navigation of stairs often incur additional charges due to the increased labor and complexity involved.
Installation Warranty: Our Commitment to Quality
Pool Table Store, often working with trusted installation partners like Hallmark Billiards, typically provides a warranty on the installation service. This often includes:
- Leveling Guarantee: Assurance that the table will remain level for a specified period (e.g., 90 days to one year) under normal conditions. If settling occurs within this period, we will return to re-level the table.
- Workmanship Guarantee: Covers issues arising directly from the assembly process.
It’s important to understand that warranties usually have limitations. They may not cover issues arising from customer misuse, pre-existing table conditions, extreme environmental factors (like uncontrolled humidity), or if the table is moved by someone other than the original installer. This installation warranty is separate from the manufacturer’s warranty on the table itself, which often requires installation by an authorized dealer like Pool Table Store to remain valid.
FAQ
Q: How long does a typical pool table installation take?
A professional installation usually takes between 4 and 8 hours, depending on the table type and complexity.
Q: Is pool table leveling included in the standard installation service?
Absolutely. Precise leveling is a critical and guaranteed component of our standard installation, often backed by a warranty period.
Q: Do you assemble accessories like cue racks or chairs during the installation?
Accessory assembly is generally not included in the standard pool table installation service. However, please inquire about potential add-on services if you require assembly for other game room items purchased from us.
Conclusion: Trust the Experts for Perfect Play
A pool table is a centerpiece for fun and entertainment, but its performance hinges entirely on proper pool table installation. Choosing Pool Table Store’s professional service ensures your table is assembled correctly, meticulously leveled, and ready for countless hours of enjoyment. From handling heavy slate to ensuring a perfectly smooth felt surface and guaranteeing level play, our experienced technicians provide a comprehensive service. Understanding the process, the factors involved, and the guarantees offered gives you peace of mind. As the authorized Brunswick dealer for the GTA and serving customers across Canada, we have the expertise to ensure your investment is set up for success.
Contact Pool Table Store for expert pool table installation services in the GTA and across Canada.
