Pool Table Felt Repair DIY

A pool table provides years of entertainment and fun. Prolonging the life and durability of your table is as simple as practicing basic maintenance. The most common repair made to pool tables is fixing a tear in the table felt. To avoid bumps and unevenness in the surface of the table, the entire felt cover must be replaced. It is an investment of your time but not a difficult process, and can save hundreds of dollars over having the table repaired by a professional. Does this Spark an idea?

Purchasing the Felt

Pool table felt can be purchased at most fabric stores or gaming and billiard shops. Though the typical color choice is green, a wide array of colors are available. The fabric is sold by the yard and different qualities of felt are available, depending on your requirements. Some are treated with Teflon or waterproofing products, and others are designed to withstand use at championship meets and tournaments. Fabric content and weight vary depending on how the table is used. Check the label on the end of the fabric bolt for content and recommendations.

Preparing Your Table

Remove the rails from the sides of your table, being sure to mark which rail goes on which side. Once the rails are gone, you will be able to determine how the felt was attached to your table. Tables with wood backing usually have the felt attached using a staple gun, while slate-backed tables have the fabric attached with glue. A spray-on adhesive is most effective if you use the gluing technique.

Carefully remove the old felt, discarding staples as necessary. Scrape off any excess glue from the surface of the slate, paying close attention to ridges that often form near the pockets in the table. Spread the new fabric over your pool table bed and check for any imperfections before cutting it to the desired shape.

Proper Installation

Use the same method to attach your new felt that was used for the one you are replacing. The critical element in refelting your pool table is to keep the fabric taut as you stretch it over the table's surface, so it will be smooth and bump-free when the job is complete.

Start in the center on one side of the table and either glue or staple it to the table back. Work from the center out to each corner. Move to the opposite side, remembering to stretch the fabric tightly as you go. Continue this process for all four sides. Check the table surface for any irregularities before continuing.

Once you are satisfied that the tabletop is smooth, reattach the pool table rails. Level your table and you are ready for years of fun and entertainment.