Home table...

H

HI2AZ

Registered
AZ Garage Conversion

I have looked searched through the forum for ideas and such, but wanted to ask about this directly, as some questions weren't covered in the other threads.

I just moved into a new home in AZ and wanted some input on turning my garage into a billiards room (before the wife vetoes). What considerations should be made before I start this project? I'm not looking to actually purchase the table (GC II/III - perhaps Diamond Pro-Am) for another 8 months or so. For now I'm just lining up my ducks and saving up money.

Here are things I've cosidered so far?..

Cooling - The area is roughly 20x20 with R-19 side insulation. As of now the area is mostly bare, except for the water heater / soft water system. I'm guessing that for cooling, I will need to run a free standing 10000 btu unit. I wouldn't imagine heating or humidity to be an issue. I've heard of people running ducts from their existing air systems to the garage, but based on usage (few hours a day, 8 on weekends), would a freestanding unit be better suited?

Flooring - Looking to lay down some padding and carpeting. Would there be an issues with filling in the drainage grooves? Should I even bother filling in the grooves?

Garage Door - What is the best way to temporarily seal the garage door to keep critters out?.I notice there's some space between the garage door and various spots on the floor. There are also two screened vents on the side of the garage?.I'm guessing because of the water heater? Any thoughts on what to do with those?

Any input would be appreciated. If I am missing anything key, please let me know.

Mahalo
 
I converted my garage also and installed a restored GCI.

Here's what I did:

R-30 in the ceiling, R-19 in all the walls.
Insulated garage door.
Installed a large window with blind.
Installed carpet and thin padding.
Utilized the two HVAC ducts that I installed 9 yrs ago!!
Installed a thick rubber weatherstrip under the door (does a great job keeping water out).
Installed new can lights, outlets, TV jack, elec. for fans, etc..

In your case, if you already have an exisiting HVAC system in the house, a stand alone system would work fine. Also, the ducting / venting for the water heater should remain operational, don't close them off.

The "grooves" in your concrete floor are proably not for water drainage, but are expansion joints for the concrete slab. I just covered mine with the carpet and padding, don't even know they are there.

I can post or send you pics of my garage if youy want to see it.

Good luck!!

Russ.....
 
H12AZ...

You might think again about humidity. Depending on where you are in AZ, during the monsoon season (June 15 or so thru Sept.) we get some serious tropical style rains and a lot of humidity.

Also, if your garage door is metal as most are, you'll need to insulate it as well. Otherwise it will simply radiate heat throughout the space and make your cooling system work that much harder.

Hope this helps. Have fun in your new room!
 
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=61424

Above is the thread where my garage was fully converted to a pool room. I actually walled up and completely finished the garage to make it look like it was built that way from the inside and outside.

I had the contractors build a box in the corner, and they painted and carpeted it to match the rest of the room, hiding the hot water heater. Looks like an architectural feature. :D

We replaced hte old HVAC system with a system capable of cooling the extra square footage. If you were handy, or knew some people in construction, you could probably save a bunch on something like this, but I am in Iraq and could not coordinate that sort of thing, so I just paid for it all.

This may not be what you were looking for, but I figured I'd include it as a good reference.

I will finally be able to come home and play on it in the next two months! :D :D :D

Russ
 
Last edited:
Poolhustler - Can you post the pic's on this forum please? I too live in AZ and have been thinking about the conversion.

Thanks!!!
 
How much is your budget? Do you live in a "association" area?

You may want to look at the back of your house...If you have enough yard you may be able to easily add on a room for not much more than closing in your garage.

In my case that is what I did and it only cost $15K start to finish...(including the used GCII pool table)
 
Thanks Hobbes, I'll consider humidity into it all. Any thoughts on the best way to insulate the door?
 
That looks great Russ...I've considered building something around the water heater and soft water system, but haven't decided yet.
 
BRKNRUN said:
How much is your budget? Do you live in a "association" area?

You may want to look at the back of your house...If you have enough yard you may be able to easily add on a room for not much more than closing in your garage.

In my case that is what I did and it only cost $15K start to finish...(including the used GCII pool table)
Click to expand...

My budget is really unclear at this stage of the game. Further down the line, adding on a room would definitely be a consideration. Right now though I think I'll stick to finding a way to insulate the garage door. As time progresses, I can improve on the room and potentially move it to the back. The thought of adding on to the back didn't even cross my mind...if I did something like that in the future, I could park in my garage and have less yardwork to do...win win if you ask me.
 
HI2AZ said:
The thought of adding on to the back didn't even cross my mind...if I did something like that in the future, I could park in my garage and have less yardwork to do...win win if you ask me.
Click to expand...


exactly...

I am not sure what part of town you live in..I am on the West side...If you want to come by and get an idea...send me a PM.

I live in an association area...so closing off the Garage was not even an option.
 
Heres something that may or may not be a problem. After pouring concrete for 30 years I have rarely poured a level garage floor. Most 20 x 20 garage floors will pitch 1 inch in 10 feet from the back of the room to the front, that could mean you wold drop 2 inch's. Hardly noticeable when walking on it but it would be most noticeable if your table was set up so the long direction was the same way that you would park a car. In other words while standing in front of your garage looking in you would want to see the 9 foot side and not the 4.5 foot end. Thats assuming that it was indeed sloped to drain. There are also companies and products to level floors which no longer need to drain. I have played in a converted garage and even tho I noticed it, I got used to it very quickly. I hope this helps.:)
 
Cuebuddy said:
Heres something that may or may not be a problem. After pouring concrete for 30 years I have rarely poured a level garage floor. Most 20 x 20 garage floors will pitch 1 inch in 10 feet from the back of the room to the front, that could mean you wold drop 2 inch's. Hardly noticeable when walking on it but it would be most noticeable if your table was set up so the long direction was the same way that you would park a car. In other words while standing in front of your garage looking in you would want to see the 9 foot side and not the 4.5 foot end. Thats assuming that it was indeed sloped to drain. There are also companies and products to level floors which no longer need to drain. I have played in a converted garage and even tho I noticed it, I got used to it very quickly. I hope this helps.:)
Click to expand...

Thanks Cue, luckily that's the way I will plan to set up the table. I don't think I'm going to have it leveled out since I will eventually look to add on to the home and move the table. I appreciate the insight from all who responded.
 
You can get a rubber pad to place under the garage door from Home Depot, Lowes etc. They are made specifically for garage doors.

Make sure you have enough electrical outlets. I built mine with outlets every six feet and it seems they are all in use.

If you have one or more windows consider wooden blinds. I am retired and often play during the day. The blinds help. We have french doors that close off the room from the kitchen and this is useful when she is sleeping and we are playing pool late at night.

I wired the second set of speakers from my amplifier connected to Comcast service. This allows me to select a type of music and not have to fool with CDs etc. With the rear spekers wired I can of course access all the other stuff on my amplifier if needed

Seems that several people have TVs and computers in their pool rooms. Allows for instructional videos and watching the ball games etc.

The "couch" in my room is elevated and allows the rail birds to easily see the table. Several people have commented that they like the extra height. Under the "couch" I have cabinets for storing things like the ball cleaner and other pool related things. To build the couch I made what would be a window seat by extending a part of the garage. The wife loves to sit in the pool room and read -- so do I for that matter. She also has plants in the window shelf behind the couch.

I have found that a fan (no light) above the table to be very useful for heating and cooling. The rest of the lights are on a dial and allow me to turn down the other lights and make the room more like a "real" pool room.

My table sits on a rug with pad on a concrete floor. I had no trouble leveling though you have to let it settle and adjust two or three times before it finally stabalizes.

If you play ping pong consider the idea that you need more than five feet at the ends of the table for those who play a good game of ping pong.

A smoke eater is a requirement in my room. Several people smoke and several don't. Between the fan and the air purifier everyone is happy.

I have many books and built my bookcases in such a way that one shelf allows the pool cue sufficient room for playing. The rest of the shelves are full of books. Works well for us. The shelving could of course be used for other purposes. Cabinets under the shelves are used for extra storage, something eveyone seems to need.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top