Install billiard table: after or before the carpet?

[arm2000]

I am thinking of installing a billiard table in my basement. The problem is I need to install carpet too. After searching the Internet and asking some carpet installers I am still in doubt: how is it better: to install the carpet first and then the table on the carpet, or to install table first and the carpet around the table? What do you think?

[coolspot]

After - the less stuff you have to move, the easier the carpet install will be.

You may want to buy some carpet feet for your billard table, so it doesn't squish your carpet too much.

[CSK'sMom]

Definitely install table after carpet. If you do it the other way around you're going to pay more for install due to the PITA factor and will never be able to move the table due to no carpet under the legs. Forget about ever selling the house without installing new carpet in that case.

[arm2000]

Thanks, however one carpet installer told me that if I use an underpad (which is a must in my case) it will create wrinkles/waves around the table. Installing the table before the carpet will cost more indeed but not much more I was told. Anybody tried this?

[CSK'sMom]

If the carpet is kicked in properly you won't have waves or wrinkles. That is a tell tale sign of a crappy install where the installer couldn't be bothered to really kick the carpet in tight. Think about it logically for a moment, if that was the case everyone with a heavy piece of furniture would have a rippled carpet..

[3weddings]

If the carpet is kicked in properly you won't have waves or wrinkles. That is a tell tale sign of a crappy install where the installer couldn't be bothered to really kick the carpet in tight. Think about it logically for a moment, if that was the case everyone with a heavy piece of furniture would have a rippled carpet..

Absolutely correct!!

Also...when you move (and you decide not to sell the table with the house), you can easily get the carpet fibres to come back up. Use a damp cotton bath towel and your iron on steam...the fibres will be good as new!

[arm2000]

...you can easily get the carpet fibres to come back up. Use a damp cotton bath towel and your iron on steam...the fibres will be good as new!
Thanks, but are you sure? The tables weights about 800lb and also I have serious doubts that the underpad will come back up.

[dolphie]

so you're worried that a small dent in the carpet is going to devalue your home, when your other option is four perfectly round holes in your carpet?

[arm2000]

so you're worried that a small dent in the carpet is going to devalue your home, when your other option is four perfectly round holes in your carpet?
Not at all. In fact in my opinion both options will lead to damage to the carpet (dents or holes) but that's not really a problem because selling the house is not an issue.
I just wanted to make sure they know first hand about the troubles involved.

[CSK'sMom]

Thanks, but are you sure? The tables weights about 800lb and also I have serious doubts that the underpad will come back up.

I would hope I'm sure. Hubby has been a flooring installer for 25 years. ;) If you asked him to install around the legs of the billard table he'd walk out because he won't piss-ass around and only installs the proper way. The underpad will come back up, that is what it's designed to do. A damp cloth on it overnight or a shot from a steamer or steam iron and the indent in both the pad and carpet will be gone. People deal with indents all the time from heavy furniture, lots of it weighing more than a billard or pool table.

IMHO, you should be more worried about the traffic pattern around the table and wear issues surround that as well as the tell tale dirty traffic marks.

[coolspot]

Thanks, but are you sure? The tables weights about 800lb and also I have serious doubts that the underpad will come back up.

There are pad designed to distribute weight on carpet, you can always get a couple of those.