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how much load usually can a game room carry? 3

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GreenMan1978

Civil/Environmental
Jun 3, 2009
12
i am not designing any house but plan to buy a house..
and wants to put a heavy billiard table on the second floor..

can a typical 2 story house built by builder carry that loads?

am still wondering how i become an engineer.. hahaha

thanks,
 
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I would worry more about the joists than the walls or anything below.
 
If I remember correctly, most pool tables are 600 to 1000 pounds, spread over an area of 4 X 8 feet, that's roughly 30 psf average, or four 250# point loads excluding you. Residence floors are designed for 40 psf live load, which would be you and the pool table here.

The deflection of the floor joists to maintain the levelness of the table should be considered here too though.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
 
so basically i shouldnt put a billiard table on the 2nd floor.. right?
 
I don't think I would worry too much about levelness - you can shim the table to level (this will need to be done regardless of how stiff the joists are), so the only deflection that could impact the levelness is the deflection from occupants.
Wait a second. That first paragraph was my engineer's response. My poolplayer's response is - If you're a fairly serious poolplayer (like I am), and don't just have it so there is something for your 10 drunk friends to do, then the aforementioned deflection would be a consideration.
Put it in the basement. Get a dehumidifier, though - the humidity in the basement slows the table - ESPECIALLY if you don't have Simonis cloth (or some other worsted cloth).
 
GM...one other consideration...even though the design might handle it, don't bet on the construction. Before putting that kind of weight on a 2nd floor, I would want to see the joist connections. We often find joists that are not adequately connected or that have been cut for ducts, etc.
 
GM-
What kind of poolplayer are you (serious or recreational)? What's your game? Do you play on amateur tours. I used to play in several tournaments on the Tim Scruggs tour (it's an amateur tour in the northeast).
 
professional.. i play against top players like Bata Reyes, ronnie alcano, francisco bustamante, dennis orcollo, etc... hehehe joke

structuralEIT... will a full size pool fit in a 2 car garage without problems?
 
It should. A 2-car garage is typically 24'x24', at a minimum. At least that's what mine is, and it seems small compared to some of the newer garages I've seen. A regulation size table is called 4 1/2' x 9', but the out-to-out dimensions are actually a little bigger. You need a minimum of 5' all the way around the table for clearances (A normal cue is right around 59"), so the minimum room dimensions want to be 14.5'x19', just for the table. If you want a bar, air hockey, t.v., darts, etc... you'll need more room. A 2-car garage should do it.

I'm impressed with the names you know - Bata is not commonly thrown around in place of Efren by the casual fan. That means you do more than watch on t.v. Some of those names come from reading BD or books on the characters of pool (Byrne has several good ones).
Do you already have the table? I would love to get a 9' table, but my basement won't accomodate it until I beef up the girder and move the posts. I enjoy the authenticity a 9' table brings, but enjoy playing on an 8' table the most. A 9' table is pushing the limits of shot-making, but a barbox causes too many balls to get tied up. An 8' table is a perfect compromise for me - The balls stay open, and a length of the table shot isn't too oppressive!
 
It should. A 2-car garage is typically 24'x24', at a minimum. At least that's what mine is, and it seems small compared to some of the newer garages I've seen. A regulation size table is called 4 1/2' x 9', but the out-to-out dimensions are actually a little bigger. You need a minimum of 5' all the way around the table for clearances (A normal cue is right around 59"), so the minimum room dimensions want to be 14.5'x19', just for the table. If you want a bar, air hockey, t.v., darts, etc... you'll need more room. A 2-car garage should do it.

I'm impressed with the names you know - Bata is not commonly thrown around in place of Efren by the casual fan. That means you do more than watch on t.v. Some of those names come from reading BD or books on the characters of pool (Byrne has several good ones).
Do you already have the table? I would love to get a 9' table, but my basement won't accomodate it until I beef up the girder and move the posts. I enjoy the authenticity a 9' table brings, but enjoy playing on an 8' table the most. A 9' table is pushing the limits of shot-making, but a barbox causes too many balls to get tied up. An 8' table is a perfect compromise for me - The balls stay open, and a length of the table shot isn't too oppressive! That being said, when I do move the posts in my basement, I'll be looking for a 9' table the next day!!
 
well i should know him i came from the philippines.. and he is very famous there..

no i dont have a table yet.. i dont have a house yet.. am just about to buy.. i would want to put it on the 2nd floor.. but since it cant take the load.. i'll put it in the car garage..

thanks for your help..

you should visit philippines one time.. billiard is like one of the top sports there.. aside from basketball and boxing..
 
Nice, have you met them before? What about Alex Pagulayan? He was born in the Phillipines, but lives elsewhere now. Good luck with the house, and the pool table.
 
no, i have not met any of them personally..
yeah alex i believe lives in canada
 
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