What size of room do I need for a Snooker or English / American Pool table?

Since most full size snooker and pool cues are 57" or 58"” in length, around five feet of space is needed between the cushion rails and the surrounding walls or furniture. However there are very few recreational rooms that do not have some sort of obstacle that interferes with play. Sideboards, fireplaces, sloping walls and furniture often interrupt and affect perfect cueing room.

In some instances a shorter cue may enable play where room space is at a premium. These are available upon request manufactured in all sizes with the 36, 42, 48 and 52 inch cue sizes the most common. As snooker and pool tables are available in several sizes we have prepared a chart that shows the recommended room sizes for the most popular sizes of tables>>>>>>>>>>please click here for further information.

For general information purposes it is advisable to get the largest size of table that the room will allow. Larger playing surfaces make for a much more enjoyable game play with greater potting and positional optons available to the person playing. Equally you should not consider a table that is too large for the room it is to be housed in, as this will have a deleterious effect on playing enjoyment, aesthetics and manouevrability around the table.

What should I look for in a Snooker table?

A solid hardwood snooker table is a piece of furniture on which you you undertake leisure and entertainment in the form of various games. Look for the same things in your snooker table that you would look for in fine furniture, then look for those things that impact on the functional enjoyment of the table. Fine furniture should be well built, look great, fit the room décor and last for generations.

The quality of component parts, construction and manufacturing build specification are all vital to consider, recognising that your table should last forever. The aesthetic appearance of the table is also very important and should be viewed in accordance with your requirements in the chosen room for delivery.

Snooker tables are available in different solid hardwoods, with darkwood Mahogany and light Oak the most popular.

Please click here for the snooker table introduction page>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

What Cloth Colours are Available for fitting to my table?

Once upon a time the majority of snooker and pool tables supplied were manufactured from Mahogany and were fitted with Olive Green cloth. There is now a far greater choice of cloth colours available with Burgundy, Royal Blue, Purple, Black and Cherry Red the most popular alternatives to traditional Olive Green. Please click here to view the various cloth colours available>>>>>>>>>>>.

Is a veneered laminate pool table as good as a solid hardwood table?

The majority of English Pool tables are manufactured on production lines from veneered laminates. Dependant on the table design, various laminates are available including, Mahogany, Oak, Ash, Beech, Black Ash and Walnut.

Veneered laminate provides a highly desirable cosmetic appeal. With a high quality pool table, other woods provide the structure and strength. It is important however, to know what material (wood) is under the veneer. In some cases, only veneered laminate can provide a specific grain pattern. The use of veneer also preserves our natural fine wood resources.

Solid hardwood pool tables are available from fcsnooker for those who wish to source a better quality of product. Available in Mahogany, Oak and Ash hardwods. Please click here for the English Pool Table intorduction page>>>>>>>>>>>>>

What is the weight of a Snooker table?

Snooker tables are available, in 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 foot table sizes. A full size snooker table weighs between 1000 and 1150 kilograms, dependant on the make, model and build specification of the item. Smaller tables decrease in weight due the table size and reduced components used in the tables production.

Please click here for the table weight breakdown>>>>>>>>>>>>

How heavy is an English Pool table?

A Pool tables weight will vary between manufacturer and across table styles. The table will weigh between 225 and 300 kilograms, dependant on whether it is a freeplay item or coin operated.

Please click here for the English and American Pool table weight breakdown>>>>>>>>>>>>

What happens when the snooker or pool table is delivered?

The table is delivered in its component parts and then assembled in the room where it is to be installed. Some tables will arrive in boxes and others have pre-assembled parts and cabinets. The legs and table frame are bolted together and installed. The table is positioned in the exact location required. The slate is installed and levelled. The cloth is applied across the slate. The rails (with matching cloth) are installed with pockets.

Please allow at least two hours for the erection, balancing and marking of your pool table. For larger tables then a few hours should be allowed on site for the table to fully installed. A full size snooker table will take between four to five hours to install subject to the access available.

What are the playing and size differences between 6 and 7 foot pool tables?

The 7 foot x 4 foot external measurement pool table is the one that most people will be familiar with as it is used in the majority of pubs and clubs across England. This table size is the most popular and has a internal playing surface of 6 foot x 3 foot from the nose of the rubber on all sides. The 6 foot x 3 foot table is great where a 7 foot table will not fit, however it provides a less challenging gameplay.

Please click here for table measurements>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

What maintenance is needed for a snooker or pool table?

With reasonable care, a snooker or pool table should last several generations. The slate will outlast all of us.. The wooden components need to be kept dry and free from atmospheric moisture. Except for cosmetic bumps and scratches, there is very little maintenance required. The cloth will need replacement every few years, depending on how much it is played on and how dirty and soiled it gets. There are fabric treatments specific for pool cloth that will extend its life. The cushions will deteriate about every 10-15 years and will need to be replaced as the rubber perishes. This would also be a good time to replace the cloth, as the existing cloth will have to be removed to get to the cushion rubber.

How hard is it to move a snooker or pool table?

Depending on the manufacture and style of the table, moving can be difficult or may damage the table if attempted by the homeowner. To properly move a snooker or pool table, it should be disassembled, moved, assembled and re-leveled. When a table is installed it is made level to earth and each piece of slate is registered to its mate. If a table is moved without realignment, it will loose accurate playability and in some cases will be damaged. The table is designed in such a way to support its weight and to be completely stationary. Therefore only an experienced table technician should move and realign the table.

Why do some tables cost more than others?

Buying a snooker or pool table is like buying furniture. In general, higher priced tables have more carving or intricate details or may be manufactured from raw materials that are more expensive to source. Other factors that impact the price are construction quality, wood species used, finish, pockets and other options. It is important to note that the price does not necessarily translate to a better playing surface.

What makes a slate bed playing surface better than other materials?

Slate is a natural stone, known for its strength and stability. It has become the primary material used for snooker and pool table playfields because it reliably provides good playability for many years with little to no maintenance. It is unaffected by temperature and humidity like many of the other materials used on low quality pool tables, such as wood, particle board, and other synthetics.

What is the difference in grades of cloth?

There are two basic grades of cloth for a pool table. The pool table ‘felt’ is not felt at all, but rather a woven fabric.

Some cloths are available with a wool / nylon blend, with speed cloths normally developed in this way. These cloths would typically comprise of about 80% wool and 20% nylon content. Wool / nylon mixed cloths are normally used on American Pool tables only and are often known as speed cloths.

100% English wool cloth is also available and is fitted to all new fcsnooker English pool tables as standard. This cloth would also be used on all snooker tables.

The higher grade cloth has a higher thread density, allows the ball to move about 8% faster and provides greater durability. The color of cloth is cosmetic. The only colour concern is related to color blindness. It may be difficult to differentiate the ball colours against certain colours of cloth if one is colour blind.

Please contact info@fcsnooker.co.uk if you have a question or query that is not featured on this page.