The One Thing I Wish I Knew Before Buying an Olhausen Pool Table: Weight, Cover, and the Mistakes I Made

The $3,200 Mistake That Started With a Pool Table Cover

I remember the morning in September 2022 like it was yesterday. The delivery crew had just wheeled our new Olhausen Belmont into the back room of our family entertainment center. It looked incredible. The cherry finish matched the trim perfectly. We'd spent weeks deciding on the cabinet style and felt like geniuses.

Then the crew handed me the bill. Final payment. For the table. The installation. The accessories. Total: $3,200 on paper. But the real number, including what I'd already wasted, was closer to $4,500.

And it all came down to a pool table cover. A stupid, $89 cover.

Let me back up. I'm the operations manager for a mid-sized entertainment venue in Ohio. We handle orders for pool tables, ping pong tops, air hockey—the whole indoor sports setup. Been doing it for about 5 years now. In that time, I've personally made (and documented) 11 significant mistakes, totaling roughly $12,000 in wasted budget. This story is about one of the biggest: the Olhausen purchase where I got almost everything right—except the things that actually mattered.

Phase 1: The Dream

In early 2022, we decided to upgrade our pool hall. We had a mix of old Valley tables, but we wanted something premium, something that looked like a real space, not a dive bar. I'd read everything about Olhausen—the Accu-Fast precision surface, the heritage craftsmanship, the wide range of cabinet styles. The Sheraton, the Belmont, the Eclipse—each seemed more impressive than the last.

I'll be honest: I fell in love with the look. I spent hours browsing the Olhausen website, comparing the Sheraton's classic lines to the Belmont's more traditional feel. I read reviews from other bar owners. Everything I'd read said premium options always outperform budget ones. In practice, that's mostly true.

But here's where I made my first mistake. I assumed that if the table looked great, everything else would fall into place. I didn't ask the right questions. I didn't check the specs that actually affect the day-to-day operation of a commercial pool table.

The key question I never asked: What does a full-size Olhausen pool table actually weigh?

I know, I know—it sounds basic. But when you're looking at a beautiful piece of furniture, the last thing on your mind is whether your floor can handle it. Or whether your doorways are big enough. Or whether the delivery crew can actually get it into position without damaging anything.

According to USPS pricing effective January 2025: First-Class Mail letter (1 oz): $0.73. Source: usps.com/stamps. Not relevant, but it's a reminder that I should have done my homework on weights, dimensions, and logistics. But I didn't.

Olhausen pool tables are heavy. Like, 800-1,000 pounds heavy for an 8-foot model. The slate alone is around 400-500 pounds depending on the thickness. That matters when you're navigating a delivery through a 30-inch doorway or trying to assemble it on a second floor with questionable load-bearing capacity.

I didn't ask. The vendor didn't volunteer. And that's on me.

Phase 2: The Delivery Disaster

Fast forward to September 2022. Delivery day. The crew arrives with the Olhausen Belmont—a 7.5-foot table. It's beautiful. The crate is massive. They get it through the back door inches to spare. I'm feeling relieved.

Then they start asking about the assembly. "You ordered felt color, right? What about the custom cloth?" Yes, I'd specified a blue Simonis cloth. Standard stuff. But then I realized something. I hadn't discussed the pool table cover.

Now, I know a lot of guys don't use covers. But in a commercial setting, a cover is essential. Spills happen. Dust accumulates. And if you're running a busy bar or FEC, the table gets dirty fast. A cover protects the investment.

I figured I'd order one after delivery. "Just get a generic one from Amazon," I thought. That was mistake number two.

The Belmont is an 8-foot table (7.5-foot playing surface). The dimensions are specific. A generic cover doesn't fit. It hangs over the rails, doesn't secure properly, and ends up pushed aside by guests. Within two weeks, the felt had a noticeable stain from a spilled drink that got under the cover. The cover itself was a constant disappointment—it bunched up, didn't protect the edges, and frankly looked tacky on a premium table.

I spent the next three months dealing with the fallout. The stained felt needed replacement ($350). The generic cover was a waste ($45 down the drain). And the table itself? After 6 months of commercial use, I started noticing something else: the leg levellers weren't holding. The table was slightly off-level, which affects play. Turns out, I hadn't accounted for the weight distribution on our floor—a concrete slab, but with a slight slope. The table's weight had settled unevenly.

That's when I called Olhausen support. They were great. They walked me through the proper shimming process. But they also asked: "Did you order the custom cover?"

"No, I got a generic one."

"Why wouldn't you order ours? It's made to fit."

And I had no good answer. I just didn't think it mattered. I'd let the beautiful wood distract me from the practical details.

Phase 3: The Repair and the Realization

The repair itself wasn't terrible. We had a local service company come in, re-level the table, and re-cloth the bed. Total bill: $680 for the labor, plus $350 for the new Simonis cloth, plus a $110 for an Olhausen-branded pool table cover. Yes, $110. That's the price of a decent dinner out.

So the mistakes cost me: $45 (wasted generic cover), $350 (re-cloth), $680 (labor to fix the leveling), plus a 1-week closure of that table during prime hours. Estimated lost revenue during that week: at least $200 in table fees. Total: $1,275. And that doesn't count the frustration, the coordination, the embarrassment.

All because I didn't ask two simple questions:

• What is the exact weight of this Olhausen pool table model?
• What accessories (cover, brush, etc.) are custom-fit for it?

I have mixed feelings about my vendor in this case. On one hand, they should have told me about the cover. On the other hand, I asked about the look, the felt, the warranty. I never asked about the weight, the logistics, the accessories. So partly that's on me.

What I Learned: The Checklist I Now Use

After this experience, I created a pre-order checklist that I use for every commercial pool table purchase, not just Olhausen. Here's what I ask:

1. Weight: What is the exact packed weight and assembled weight? For a 7.5-foot Olhausen, you're looking at roughly 500-700 lbs assembled, including the slate. Packed weight is higher. Know this for floor load, door clearance, and delivery planning.
2. Cover: Does the manufacturer make a custom-fit cover? If so, buy it. It's not just about fit—it's about material. Good covers are breathable, water-resistant, and have reinforced edges. I now always bundle an Olhausen pool table cover with every table I order. It's $100 and saves me headaches.
3. Felt: What is the standard cloth weight? Olhausen tables typically come with a premium worsted wool (like Simonis). But confirm the exact spec. Some commercial tables need extra-tough, slower play cloth if you expect heavy beer spills.
4. Leveling: Is the table on a flat, sound-muffling surface? The weight of the table will settle. Make sure the installation includes proper shimming and that the leg levellers are adjustable.
5. Warranty: Does the warranty cover the rails, bed, and slate? Olhausen has a lifetime warranty on the cabinet for home use, but commercial is prorated. Ask for details.

I'm not saying this because I want to sound like an expert. I'm saying it because I made the mistakes so you don't have to. The conventional wisdom is always to focus on the look, the brand, the felt color. And those matter. But the boring stuff—weight, covers, levelling—that's where the costs hide.

So if you're thinking about buying an Olhausen for your bar, your hotel, or your rec center, here's my advice: Get the beautiful table. Get the Accu-Fast surface. Get the cherry finish that impresses your guests.

But for the love of all that is good, ask about the weight and order the cover. Your future self will thank you.