Buying a pool table presents a wide range of options, table designs, and customizations. Some of the best pool tables are those that are handcrafted and custom-made to fit your unique needs, room decor, and other such requirements.
Having the right pool table can be a showpiece in your game room not only to impress but enjoy with friends and family. Essentially, you are only limited by the size of the room where you want to place your pool table.
What to consider before purchasing a pool table?
There are five important considerations that you need to evaluate once you have made the decision you want a pool table in your home.
#1: What size pool table do you want?
Pool tables are available in multiple sizes: seven-, eight-, eight and half, nine and ten foot. Seven-foot size tables are the ones you often find in bars, clubs, arcades, and luxury resort game rooms. Eight-foot tables are considered full-sized tables most people purchase for use in their homes. Nine-foot tables are the current tournament size pool tables and 10 foot were originally used in tournaments and on interchangeable pool / carom tables.
#2: What style of pool table do you want?
There are several different styles of pool tables available, such as billiards tables with rubber bumpers, English style tables, American style tables, MDF wooden tables, slate tables, etc. There are also combinations of the styles, such as an English-style table with a slate bed.
The style also refers to the design of the pool table. For instance, some people like traditional styles of pool tables with ornamental woodwork, while others prefer more modern styles that are sleek. There are even pool tables made from various metals for the base. You could even go all-out and get a marble pool table.
#3: What pool table features do you want?
Standard pool table designs have standardized features you may choose from like the felt color, leg style and finish. On the other hand, custom pool tables allow you to select a variety of different options, including the color and material of the felt used for the playing surface, the type of drop pockets, the type of material used in construction, the type of ball return, the type of rubber cushions used, finish color and so on.
Some people also want more than just a pool table. They will get a special cover made so they use the pool table as a poker table, blackjack table, or ping pong table. So, if there are games you enjoy playing when friends and family are visiting, you will want to consider designing a multipurpose pool and game table.
#4: What pool table accessories do you want?
You will need to choose various accessories for your pool table, such as pool cues, pool balls, bridges, pool cue storage racks, etc. Some people want their accessories to match their pool table, as in having similar carvings or the same finish.
#5: How much do you want to spend on a pool table?
While you are thinking about the other considerations, you need to decide how much you want to spend on a pool table. Pool table prices range from as low as $500 and go as high as $100,000. Why is there such a big difference in how much a pool table costs?
It has to do with the quality of the pool table. The ones on the low end are nothing impressive. For example, one of the cheaper tables is a folding pool table. This might be great when you are a student living in a fraternity house, sorority house, or university dorms, but not if you want to have a statement piece to impress and enjoy with friends and family.
On the other end of the price range you will find the most elegant and gorgeous tables around. These tables have custom designs that include custom cabinet materials, thicker slate tops, superior felt, intricate hand carvings, and a host of unique features and customizations.
Why Are Custom Pool Tables the Best Pool Tables?
Custom pool tables are considered the best pool tables because each one is handcrafted and unique. No two tables will be exactly the same, as each person will have their own ideas, styles, tastes, and preferences. The only thing that is the same is that everyone enjoys playing pool.
How Are Custom Pool Tables Made?
At Blatt Billiards, our custom pool tables are made following a specific set of steps. It all begins with a sketch of what you want. We have clients that come to our showroom or schedule a virtual showroom visit to check out all of the different styles, designs, features, and options available.
From choosing the inlays and carvings to the leg shape and felt color, all the details of their custom table will start to take shape in the sketch we create. The second step is to take the client’s vision and transform it into reality.
We have our own in-house design team to handle specific tasks. For instance, we have one person that does any carvings and ornamentation the client desires. This person also places the inlays into the table by hand one at a time. They create elaborate patterns by placing multiple pieces of wood together to create these beautiful inlays..
Each pool table’s legs, joints, and connecting pieces are hand-carved and fitted before being sanded, stained and finished. Some of our hand-crafted tables can weigh 2,000 pounds or more!
We always recommend that our clients have the flooring in their homes reinforced to prevent sagging for our heavier tables. The pool table must sit flat. Otherwise, the pool balls will not roll evenly.
We can even do a lot of little things when clients request them. For example, some clients like to have LED lighting around the openings on the drop pockets in a complementary color that matches their table. Others want an LED light strip around the outside of the table as a trim piece.
We can do a lot of things to put the finishing touches on our clients’ custom pool tables. The final step is to assemble the pool table in our workshop and verify with the client it is everything they envisioned and more. Once they are satisfied with their pool table, we take it all apart and carefully pack it up for shipping to the client.
We have teams all across the country that set up the tables in our clients’ homes. Depending on the intricacies and features the client selects, some tables can take as long as six hours to assemble.
How long does it take to build a custom pool table?
Each of our handcrafted pool tables can take between six months to a year to build. It depends on the intricacies and complexity of the pool table design. Our artisans are able to create around three hundred tables annually. Even though it can take some time to finish the table, our clients are always happy with the results.
Who are some of our high-profile clients?
We have handcrafted pool tables for many high-profile clients, including celebrities and sports stars, such as:
- Justin Bieber
- Scarlett Johanasson
- Bobby Flay
- Tom Hanks
- Denzel Washington
- Arnold Schwarzenegger
- Alex Rodriguez
Yet, we do not limit our clients to just celebrities and sports stars. We are happy to custom handcraft a pool table for anyone.
We also understand that handcrafted pool tables are not for everyone. You are purchasing more than just a pool table; you are purchasing a table with the highest-quality materials that will become a family heirloom to pass on to your children, grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.
Purchasing a custom-made pool table should be considered an investment. When you want the best pool table for your home, Blatt Billiards and our artisans are here to help transform your vision into reality.
Please feel free to explore our website to check out some of our custom designs or contact us at 212-674-8855 for further information or to schedule a showroom or virtual design consultation today!
Back to News