railfirst said:
i knew you wouldnt leave that comment alone :wink:
brian
What would you do with this basement layout problem? (the dreaded pole)
- Thread starter tonmo
- Start date
i knew you wouldnt leave that comment alone :wink:
brian
Wouldn't it be possible to get a RSJ/beam to take the place of the pole and the supporting wall?? That would free up a lot of space. Remember the only good pole to have in your basement is one with girls dancing round it. :grin:
The beam is in blue, excused my terrible ms paint skills.
The beam is in blue, excused my terrible ms paint skills.
deep said:Wouldn't it be possible to get a RSJ/beam to take the place of the pole and the supporting wall?? That would free up a lot of space. Remember the only good pole to have in your basement is one with girls dancing round it. :grin:
The beam is in blue, excused my terrible ms paint skills.
brilliant. wish some else had thought of this in one of the other 62 posts in this thread
brian
I guess deep is saying that I could remove both the pole and the foundational wall with the proper support. But that side (the PF side) has concrete behind it -- I'm not likely to mess with that.
I think if I can get rid of the pole, and take a couple of feet off the wall next to it (opposite the PF wall), I would have everything I need to move the table, or even maybe get a 9'.
I'll report back when I have a couple of contractors take a look. If anyone in the philly area has a contractor reference or two, please shoot me a PM.
If this is a risky endeavor, or if it's going to do something that gives me headaches at resale, I won't be doing this. My home is primarily the place I use to raise my family. Pool is a close second
Thanks -
I think if I can get rid of the pole, and take a couple of feet off the wall next to it (opposite the PF wall), I would have everything I need to move the table, or even maybe get a 9'.
I'll report back when I have a couple of contractors take a look. If anyone in the philly area has a contractor reference or two, please shoot me a PM.
If this is a risky endeavor, or if it's going to do something that gives me headaches at resale, I won't be doing this. My home is primarily the place I use to raise my family. Pool is a close second
Thanks -
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Yes, I started after buying the house. The previous owners used the basement as a "play room" for the kids, and we did the same. Last year my wife convinced me to turn it into a pool room with a bar. I'm really glad she did.
If I were to move now, there's no question that clearance for the pool table would be among the "must-have" requirements for the new home.
Yesterday I made a video (but had trouble with editing, then ran out of batteries and I can't find my adapter) but the idea was to clear the table (running it would be nice!) breaking a rack of 15 balls and see how I did. The poll and the PF wall did not affect my game in any way -- not even shot selection. I'd say that's more the rule than the exception.
If I were to move now, there's no question that clearance for the pool table would be among the "must-have" requirements for the new home.
Yesterday I made a video (but had trouble with editing, then ran out of batteries and I can't find my adapter) but the idea was to clear the table (running it would be nice!) breaking a rack of 15 balls and see how I did. The poll and the PF wall did not affect my game in any way -- not even shot selection. I'd say that's more the rule than the exception.
Pool tables belong upstairs.
So.... an update to this old problem.
Yesterday I had a structural engineer come in to take a look (which, to the point of many on here, is the only logical first step if you're even considering such a thing).
The steel i-beam over the post is not spliced -- so I was hopeful there might be something to do here -- but it turns out per the SE that I could only move it a couple feet at best, and could not get rid of it ("they put it there for a reason"). Moving it a couple feet won't solve my problem, and would be a pain because they'd have to break ground to get it properly footed, etc. Not worth it -- the Pink Floyd wall would still be a problem, as would the opposite wall (despite the post, it's still only 12'5" across in that nook).
So -- after much discussion with the SE and some pool night friends, I've decided to cut into the wall & refinish where the TV hangs (to move it back a few feet -- I'll just lose some closet space in the room behind it), and move the table perpendicular so that it goes long-way across the room. The bar will go in the nook. The post itself will still be a problem to some extent, but it will be the ONLY problem -- and I believe it will be further away from the table than it is now (gotta measure again today to make sure).
I'm having a contractor come out to price it, but it's really a pretty limited job so it shouldn't be a big deal. Then I'll have the pool table guys come out to move and re-cloth... green or maybe tournament blue.
It's not the ideal "no obstruction" solution, but it should be a big improvement. To the point made by someone else on here, I'm finding that as my friends and I get better at pool, we're getting more skilled at playing people safe in the tough spots on the table. There are too many tough spots now... and it's getting increasingly frustrating... so I'm looking forward to the change.
Thanks for the helpful responses on here; hopefully this thread helps others who are dealing with similar circumstances / considerations.
Yesterday I had a structural engineer come in to take a look (which, to the point of many on here, is the only logical first step if you're even considering such a thing).
The steel i-beam over the post is not spliced -- so I was hopeful there might be something to do here -- but it turns out per the SE that I could only move it a couple feet at best, and could not get rid of it ("they put it there for a reason"). Moving it a couple feet won't solve my problem, and would be a pain because they'd have to break ground to get it properly footed, etc. Not worth it -- the Pink Floyd wall would still be a problem, as would the opposite wall (despite the post, it's still only 12'5" across in that nook).
So -- after much discussion with the SE and some pool night friends, I've decided to cut into the wall & refinish where the TV hangs (to move it back a few feet -- I'll just lose some closet space in the room behind it), and move the table perpendicular so that it goes long-way across the room. The bar will go in the nook. The post itself will still be a problem to some extent, but it will be the ONLY problem -- and I believe it will be further away from the table than it is now (gotta measure again today to make sure).
I'm having a contractor come out to price it, but it's really a pretty limited job so it shouldn't be a big deal. Then I'll have the pool table guys come out to move and re-cloth... green or maybe tournament blue.
It's not the ideal "no obstruction" solution, but it should be a big improvement. To the point made by someone else on here, I'm finding that as my friends and I get better at pool, we're getting more skilled at playing people safe in the tough spots on the table. There are too many tough spots now... and it's getting increasingly frustrating... so I'm looking forward to the change.
Thanks for the helpful responses on here; hopefully this thread helps others who are dealing with similar circumstances / considerations.
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OK, job in the basement is complete! Summary:
As stated above, moving the pole wasn't an option. So I had a contractor do the following:
- remove a section of wall that was formerly a closet
- convert remainder of closet into a media closet to house a/v receiver, HD/DVR box, backup PC, eMTA, wireless router and printer
- install ceiling speakers
- install bar mirror with shelves
- called in the pool table supplier to move the table and recloth it to Simmonis HR860 (green)
Now the pole is the only obstruction, and it's 14" further away from the table than it was previously. The guys in pool night approve. Definitely worth the cost and effort -- and the Pink Floyd wall remained intact throughout :thumbup:
Thanks again for the advice from several on here. To the lurkers, remember, if you're thinking about removing the pole in your basement, spend a couple/few hundred bucks for a structural engineer to give you a measured assessment.
As stated above, moving the pole wasn't an option. So I had a contractor do the following:
- remove a section of wall that was formerly a closet
- convert remainder of closet into a media closet to house a/v receiver, HD/DVR box, backup PC, eMTA, wireless router and printer
- install ceiling speakers
- install bar mirror with shelves
- called in the pool table supplier to move the table and recloth it to Simmonis HR860 (green)
Now the pole is the only obstruction, and it's 14" further away from the table than it was previously. The guys in pool night approve. Definitely worth the cost and effort -- and the Pink Floyd wall remained intact throughout :thumbup:
Thanks again for the advice from several on here. To the lurkers, remember, if you're thinking about removing the pole in your basement, spend a couple/few hundred bucks for a structural engineer to give you a measured assessment.
still have the option to turn it into a stripper pole.
I've been mulling over my basement situation for a long time now. I'd appreciate your input. Here's the situation:
Soon, I will be changing out the cloth on my table -- it's getting worn and I'm eager to switch to blue cloth. Inherent with this, I'm thinking about moving my table a bit while the guys are here to re-cloth it.
The reason I want to move it: there is a pole which obstructs about 4% or so of my shots, plus on the opposite wall (where all the Pink Floyd albums are) I've got some obstruction when the cue ball is on the rail (or close to it). The Pink Floyd wall doesn't cover the length of the table, but it is more than half. There's a bathroom behind it, which I considered demolishing, but I learned there is foundational concrete within that wall. (The basement was finished by the previous owners of my home.)
On the pole side, the wall behind it is also an obstruction. It doesn't run as long as the Pink Floyd wall -- it is less than half the length of the table.
The distance between the two walls within that nook is about 12'9", if I remember correctly. It's an 8-foot table.
Right now, I have a pair or 42" cues to deal with the pole, and a pair of 52" cues to deal with the Pink Floyd wall.
I?m thinking of moving the pool table about 6" or so closer to the pole. This will make shots in that corner tighter, but it should also give unobstructed shot making along the Pink Floyd wall with my normal 58" cues. Since I pretty much need to use the 42" cue when I?m jammed up in that corner of the room anyhow, I think I may be best off moving the table a bit.
What do you think? Here are some pics of the room for context:
Here's one angle:
Here?s the pole and wall behind it:
Here's how you can get jammed up against the Pink Floyd wall:
Here's how you can get jammed up on the side with the pole:
Here's how you can get jammed up on the pole itself:
Here's the approximate length on the problem on the Pink Floyd wall:
And here's the approximate distance I am thinking about moving the table to the left:
Another shot of the same:
Here's a pic of my nemesis:
And finally, here's the length of the Pink Floyd wall:
Thanks in advance for your input!
I have a 9ft table in basement of condo / there is a heavy support pole that interferes - I use this table mainly for practice so it does not bother me too much - the guy who set up the table said in his opinion it could be cut down - and replaced with a support pole a few ft over - my condo association said I need a permit - i contacted an architectural firm and they said they would get back to me but never did - I use a very short cue for the pole interference.
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Here's another idea
I thought I would post my pool room since I had a pole issue and a small space. I went with a 7ft Diamond Smart Table; plays great and I only have to jack up the cue a little in the corner with the table and chairs. The pole issue is unnoticeable, because I enclosed it in the wall; see attached pic. Glad to see you made your table more playable!
Cheers, Mark
I thought I would post my pool room since I had a pole issue and a small space. I went with a 7ft Diamond Smart Table; plays great and I only have to jack up the cue a little in the corner with the table and chairs. The pole issue is unnoticeable, because I enclosed it in the wall; see attached pic. Glad to see you made your table more playable!
Cheers, Mark
I have a pole that is a major problem in my basement. I have plans drawn up (in my head) on how to correct the issue and have seen it done. It's just a time/money thing. Plus I will have a hard time justifying doing this since my table sees me very little as it is.
But all in all if you are a die hard, pay to have it moved. It's not quite as bad as you think. And depending on the situation some houses you shant even do anything. My buddy who is a iron worker worked with an engineer he knew and just took the center pole out. The house is a one story ranch and it was "over" engineered. So he knew the span he had could be supported w/out the extra pole. Now of course yours and mine may be different.
Good luck in what ever decision you go with.
But all in all if you are a die hard, pay to have it moved. It's not quite as bad as you think. And depending on the situation some houses you shant even do anything. My buddy who is a iron worker worked with an engineer he knew and just took the center pole out. The house is a one story ranch and it was "over" engineered. So he knew the span he had could be supported w/out the extra pole. Now of course yours and mine may be different.
Good luck in what ever decision you go with.
One thing you could do is hire a stripper to pole dance while you play. That may get your mind off the pole being in the way. I guess you could get it replaced with an I beam but that still wouldn't help you with the worst problem. That being your wall. I have 2 poles but to be honest they dont come into play all that often. I only had 1 pic showing one of my poles but I was lucky enough to have more room than you have.
Attachments
I like how people are on board w/ protecting there investments (there cues I mean) by wrapping there poles. I have a friend who not only has a pole in the way but it is spray painted with textured sand paint OUCH!. Every time I play there I gingerly walk & play within it's vicinity. Talk about scratching a cue! 
Lol.......
This poor guy. I feel so sorry for you. No Real pool player would put a table in that little space.
Ok, just seen the remodel photos. Looks great. I am glad that you fixed the problem. When I moved in my house. The second day that I was there. I ripped down the two car garage door and closed off that room. My wife came in and said: "what are you doing" and I said "Honey, this is going to be my pool room." Finally built a garage many years later......
PS: Pink Floyd is great.
If you want to see photos of my game room. Go to the Post that I wrote "There are Pool Angels"
the photos are on the 2nd page of comments.
This poor guy. I feel so sorry for you. No Real pool player would put a table in that little space.
Ok, just seen the remodel photos. Looks great. I am glad that you fixed the problem. When I moved in my house. The second day that I was there. I ripped down the two car garage door and closed off that room. My wife came in and said: "what are you doing" and I said "Honey, this is going to be my pool room." Finally built a garage many years later......
PS: Pink Floyd is great.
If you want to see photos of my game room. Go to the Post that I wrote "There are Pool Angels"
the photos are on the 2nd page of comments.
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Thanks - for anyone else not following the sequence, the new config is in the pics with the green cloth -- I changed it from red to green after the new construction. The pics with the red cloth were from last September when I was weighing my options.
I'm very happy with the results. The prior configuration was definitely tough. When I bought the table in April 2007 I was fairly new to pool and the sales manager (after diagraming my basement) urged me to get an 8-ft instead of 7-ft ("you only save $100 and it's so much better to play on an 8-ft -- and you'll still have space problems with 7-ft"). I'm glad he did talk me into an 8-ft table, but to the points of many on here, the layout I had before was frustrating -- but not prohibitive. You might be surprised at how many "clean" shots I had in the old layout, and my friends and I played many countless hours of pool, cursing the pole and the walls occassionally.
That said, the new config is so much better -- having unobstructed shot-making 99+% of the time makes such a difference, and my game has definitely improved since the change. In terms of playing experience, me and my friends feel substantially "upgraded" on our pool nights...
As a side note, it's interesting to observe how many bars you walk into with a pool table or two, and some of the compromises you need to make with regard to obstructions. There's an awful lot of that out there!
I'm very happy with the results. The prior configuration was definitely tough. When I bought the table in April 2007 I was fairly new to pool and the sales manager (after diagraming my basement) urged me to get an 8-ft instead of 7-ft ("you only save $100 and it's so much better to play on an 8-ft -- and you'll still have space problems with 7-ft"). I'm glad he did talk me into an 8-ft table, but to the points of many on here, the layout I had before was frustrating -- but not prohibitive. You might be surprised at how many "clean" shots I had in the old layout, and my friends and I played many countless hours of pool, cursing the pole and the walls occassionally.
That said, the new config is so much better -- having unobstructed shot-making 99+% of the time makes such a difference, and my game has definitely improved since the change. In terms of playing experience, me and my friends feel substantially "upgraded" on our pool nights...
As a side note, it's interesting to observe how many bars you walk into with a pool table or two, and some of the compromises you need to make with regard to obstructions. There's an awful lot of that out there!
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