Pool Table Weight ?

jstevens

19 years ago

Building a new home in NC with a hurge Bonus Room on the second level.

I might want at some point to put a standard pool table up there.

With normal construction will the wieght be supported if legs are placed on the floor joists?

Experience? - Thanks

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soonermagic

19 years ago

We had our builder build in additional support to accommodate a second floor pool table, which we know we're doing, and a second floor piano, which we may do in the future. I know the post above says building to code will support the table, but when we mentioned to the builder, he wanted to put in additional support. All he did was add something to the joists that were already in place by the time we decided we needed a pool table.

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Comments (6)

remodeler_matt
19 years ago
Any home built to code today will handle the weight of any pool table, no problem, and you don't have to worry about getting the legs exactly on joists. Most new homes will have some movement/flex in the floor, but the table should settle it right down. You may have to re-level the table a few times in the first few years as the house settles, but the weight should never be a problem.
anthem
19 years ago
Make sure they aren't building the "bonus room" as unfinished storage space. If its built like the rest of your house, then it should be fine. I would stay away from the thicker slate tables like the 1 1/4" or 2" slate ones as they add considerably more weight (albeit static).
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mightyanvil
19 years ago
The building code assumes a maximum live loading of 30 PSF uniformly distributed over the entire second floor and a deflection limit of L/360 is allowed. One end of a pool table will weigh between 300 and 375 lbs. which is no more of a problem than two men standing side by side. But since the loading will be at the center of the span and for a long duration it could cause some long term permanent deflection damage.

I would consider using a 1" T&G plywood subfloor and a joist deflection limit of L/800. The building code sets a minimum to ensure that the floor won't collapse and is not greatly concerned with deflection. This is why it should never be considered as a design guide.

You should really be talking to a structural engineer.
dragonfly_
19 years ago
Our pool table will be delivered next week. It will be placed in our bonus room. I never thought of the weight issue. I will let you know if it ends up on the fist floor ;)
mightyanvil
19 years ago
The issues are long term deflection (sag) of individual joists and subflooring under the table supports rather than structural failure. You could fill the room with pool tables with no fear of overall structural failure. If the floor feels bouncy now then it was designed to a code required deflection limit of L/360 which is not very stiff for a big room and the joists under the table supports might develop a sag after a few years.

If the floor is not bouncy, thicker subflooring or hardwood finish flooring may be all that is needed.

Pool tables and even cars are not very heavy loads if distributed over their entire area; it is their support points that can cause trouble.