This my be the wrong forum but I figured there are some smart engineers patrolling this board so I would give it a shot.

Structually speaking, does anyone know if it is ok to put a full size pool table in an upstairs gameroom.

I seem to remember my builder saying the structure warrantly would be voided if a pool table or waterbed was put upstairs.

tia

Probably not a good idea unless you have some stout flooring/framing.

A pool table is massively heavy. It's a solid (at a minimum) 4'x8'x1.5' inch thick piece of slate.

Weight of the slate (just the slate, not anything else) at various sizes:

5'x10': 1,050 lbs
4.5'x9': 850 lbs
4'x8': 668 lbs.

I've had several friends over the years that had pool tables upstairs.

I don't know anything about their structural sub floor, but just that they had it.

My parents & grandparents both have pool tables in their upstairs game room.

Grand parents have had their for ~20 years; Parents for ~10 years.

Both houses were built in the 80s.

Pull up carpet.
Find location of beams (where the screws/nails are)
Make sure legs hit beams

Cody
Fightin Texas Aggie c/o 04

I had a slate table in an upstairs gameroom for 5 years with no problems.

past performance is not a predictor of future success.

Consult with your builder if at all possible. In general, I find it hard to believe building code would allow a 2nd floor that wouldn't support 1000 lb dead load.

I know live load doesn't equal dead load, but imagine four 250 lb guys standing at the approx locations of the pool table legs... Or even a couple heavier guys. Any second floor should handle this.

Try do do a quick Google search for max dead loads of second floor for residential building codes.

What does your existing floor framing consist of? 2x's? Trusses? Depth? Span length? Spacing? What size plywood?

Also your floor was probably designed for L/360 deflection. Typically a floor with a pool table is designed for L/480 or higher depending on member type. Be prepared for the possibility of vibration in the floor system during a game, messing with your shot. Just something to consider.

I'm also assuming this isn't a habitable attic or a sleeping room. Those are designed for less weight than a game room.

[This message has been edited by Agineer (edited 3/21/2012 6:31p).]

quote:

---

I know live load doesn't equal dead load, but imagine four 250 lb guys standing at the approx locations of the pool table legs... Or even a couple heavier guys. Any second floor should handle this.

---

Problem is, 1,000 lbs. of pool table isn't much fun unless there's people around to play. So the table vs. people analogy isn't really accurate since in reality it would be table + people.

quote:

---

Problem is, 1,000 lbs. of pool table isn't much fun unless there's people around to play. So the table vs. people analogy isn't really accurate since in reality it would be table + people.

---

My analogy my be off but my point remains. I would still think standard building code would require a second floor in a residential building to maintain the total load from a pool table + people + other furniture + a safety factor.

Jmo.

Quickly glancing through the IRC shows a minimum live load of 40 lb/sqft for rooms other than bedrooms, or 1.916 kPa to keep it Nerdery related.