Moving a billiard table is a delicate operation for several reasons. Like a piano, a billiard table is heavy, bulky and fragile. So you need to take many precautions when carrying and transporting your billiard table. But how can you facilitate the handling and transport of your billiard table? Can a billiard table be dismantled for moving? Here are our tips for moving a billiard table without risking damage.
Why is moving a billiard table complicated?
Whether you have a French, American or English billiard table, the problem of moving a table is always the same. You need to be able to manage the weight, volume and fragility of its various components.
The different parts of a billiard game
To play billiards, you need a table, balls and one or more wooden cues to hit the balls. The number of balls used and the playing surface differ according to the type of game played: French billiards (or Carambole), American billiards (or Pool), English billiards (or Snooker) or Blackball (or English Pool).
While the size of the playing surface varies from one type of billiard table to another, all tables are made up of the same components:
- a wooden stand of various widths, lengths and heights according to the rules of the billiard game concerned;
- one or more slate slabs resting horizontally on the frame and covered with a mat on which the balls roll;
- side strips, now made of rubber, where the balls bounce before eventually falling into a pocket located in the corners or at the edge of the playing surface.
Some billiard tables are also equipped with a heating system to improve the movement of the balls on the cloth.
The billiard table: imposing, heavy and fragile
Table sizes vary according to the type of billiards played. For example, the length of a table can range from 1.87 m to over 3 m. In width, tables can range from 1.07 m to 1.55 m. And the larger the table, the heavier it will be, notably because of its slate...
Depending on their size, billiard tables can weigh from 150 to over 800 kg. In other words, moving a billiard table requires specific means of handling and even transport.
As billiards is a game played socially, its aesthetics are very important and particularly meticulous. The structure is made of thick solid wood to resist warping, with finishes such as moldings or marquetry in antique models chosen for their elegance and according to decorative styles (Empire, Napoleon III, Charles X...). These are all fragile elements that need to be carefully protected during a move.
Can a billiard table be dismantled for moving?
A modern billiard table can indeed be dismantled for a move. It was probably assembled in your home when you bought it. However, this is a job for specialists, and it's best to avoid undertaking it without knowing the rules for assembling the table's various components.
The dismantling of a billiard table must be carried out in a certain order to avoid damaging certain parts. In particular, the slate may be made up of several blocks joined together with wax, which need to be fixed and assembled together. What's more, the mat is always stapled to the table, which generally complicates disassembly and reassembly.
It is therefore not advisable to dismantle a billiard table and move it without consulting a billiard specialist. This is even more true if you have an old billiard table whose various components may have been weakened by the passage of time.
How do you move a billiard table without dismantling it?
Tip 1: Protect your billiard table before moving it
To move a billiard table without dismantling it, you first need to protect all the fragile areas that could be damaged when you pick it up: the corners and legs of the table, but also the cloth.
It's best to protect woodwork with blankets: avoid bubble wrap, which can damage the wood by transfer. Wood and plastic don't always mix, especially when it comes to old wood.
Tip no. 2: use suitable equipment to move the billiard table
You'll need boards on wheels to move the billiard table carefully. Be careful not to hit the corners, or your billiard table will be damaged. If you're upstairs and have a balcony, a furniture lift may be the simplest solution.
Tip 3: Secure truck loading and transport
For transport, you'll need a sufficiently large truck and straps to secure the billiard table during the journey. A hatchback truck will also make it easier to load your table into the box. Balls and cues should be separated from the table and moved to their case if you have one.
Tip 4: Don't forget to set up the billiard table after the move
A billiard table must be installed in a space large enough to allow you to turn around freely and handle the cue with ease. After moving, the table legs must be precisely adjusted to ensure that the playing surface is perfectly flat. These adjustments are essential before you can play again.
Why use a removal company to move your billiard table?
By entrusting the removal of your billiard table to a professional removal company, you can be sure that your table will be properly protected, moved with care by a sufficient number of well-equipped staff, transported in the best possible conditions, and reinstalled without risk.
What's more, moving your billiard table with a removals company means you'll benefit from insurance cover for the transport of your valuable possessions. While every effort is made to avoid damage, a problem during the move can never be ruled out. By filling in the declaration of value before the move, you benefit from specific insurance coverage for your goods in the event of damage.
Contact us to find out more about our rates and how much it costs to move a billiard table with Les Gentlemen du Déménagement.