Heirloom Pool Table Showroom Inspection Checklist
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A printable checklist of the questions to ask and the parts to inspect, from slate and frame to cushions, cloth, and installation terms, before you commit to a table meant to last for generations.

[ ] Ask the salesperson or maker to state the slate thickness, the number of slate pieces, and the wood species without checking a brochure
[ ] Confirm the slate is natural stone, three pieces on any table of 8 ft or larger, with 1 inch as the typical heirloom standard
[ ] Ask whether the slate faces are ground or diamond-honed and whether the seams are leveled and filled at installation
[ ] Check that a wooden liner or frame is bonded to the underside of the slate so the cloth staples have something to bite into
[ ] Look under a floor model for a central longitudinal beam and at least two cross members carrying the slate, not corner support alone
[ ] Verify the cabinet is solid kiln-dried hardwood rather than particleboard or MDF wrapped in thin veneer
[ ] Ask where veneer is used, how thick it is, and what core it is bonded to; wide flat panels are the only place it should appear
[ ] Inspect the joinery for mortise and tenon joints, dovetailed corner blocks, and doweled frames rather than staples and screws
[ ] Confirm the legs attach through steel plates with machine bolts and that the leveling feet are metal and reachable
[ ] Check that rail bolts pass through the slate into captured nuts so the rails can be tightened decades from now
[ ] Ask for the cushion rubber compound and profile in writing; natural gum rubber with a K-66 profile is the pocket billiard standard
[ ] Choose the cloth family deliberately: worsted for speed and durability, woolen for a softer traditional feel, and note the weight
[ ] Decide on pocket style, leather drop pockets or ball return, and ask how tight the pockets are cut for the players in your home
[ ] Look at any carving in raking light to judge whether it is cut into solid stock or applied as molded ornament
[ ] Ask what the finish is, catalyzed lacquer, conversion varnish, or oil, and whether it can be repaired or renewed later
[ ] Measure your room and confirm the playfield plus a full 58 inch cue clears every wall, using the Pool Table Room Size Calculator
[ ] Walk the delivery path from the curb to the room and note every doorway, stair turn, and landing the slate must pass
[ ] Confirm the floor can carry the table and that an upper floor or older joists have been discussed with a builder or engineer
[ ] Get the delivered price in writing with cloth, delivery, installation, light, and accessories listed separately
[ ] Confirm installation is by an approved technician using a machinist level and that the warranty is not voided otherwise
[ ] Ask for the frame, slate, and cushion warranty terms and who performs service in your area
[ ] Request the specification sheet, drawings for a commissioned table, and the installer notes to start the table's provenance file
[ ] Ask whether the maker has a documented history of tables that have been re-clothed, re-cushioned, or moved and reset over many years