Baizewick guide
Keeping a games room quiet: pool, darts and table tennis
Games rooms are noisy in ways people do not expect: balls rolling through a table, darts thudding into a wall, a blower humming. Most of the fixes are simple and cheap.
Where the noise comes from
- Impact noise travels through the structure: balls dropping into pockets and return channels, darts hitting the board, feet on a hard floor.
- Airborne noise travels through the air: voices, music, the click of balls, an air hockey puck on the rails.
- Impact noise is the one that annoys people below and next door, so deal with it first.
Floors: the biggest win
Carpet or carpet tiles over a good underlay absorb footsteps and dropped balls. Rugs in seating areas help on a hard floor. In an upstairs room, this matters most for whoever is underneath. See games-room flooring for what suits each game.
Darts
A dartboard surround stops missed darts hitting the wall, which is both the loudest and most damaging sound. Fix the board firmly so it does not rattle, and avoid shared walls if you can. A backboard can add a little more separation from the wall.
Pool and snooker
Ball-return tables send every potted ball rolling through channels to the end of the table, which is noisy. Drop-pocket tables, where balls stay in the pocket, are quieter. A heavy, solid table also rattles less than a light one.
Table tennis and air hockey
Table tennis is mostly the click of the ball and fast footwork, so a soft floor helps a lot. Air hockey blowers hum and the puck is loud on the rails. Put the table away from shared walls and bedrooms, and on a floor that does not drum.
Doors, walls and the room itself
- A solid door with draught seals blocks far more sound than a hollow one.
- Soft furnishings, curtains and bookshelves soften echoes in a bare room.
- Acoustic panels on the walls can reduce echo inside the room. They do much less for noise passing through walls, which needs building work.
- For serious soundproofing of walls or floors, ask a specialist. It usually needs construction changes and may affect Building Regulations.
Be a good neighbour
In flats and terraces, agree reasonable playing times. Late-night darts against a party wall is the classic cause of complaints. A soft-tip board and a mat are a good compromise if you share walls.
Common mistakes
- Hanging a dartboard on a party wall with no surround.
- Putting a ball-return table in a room above a bedroom.
- Expecting acoustic panels to stop noise reaching the neighbours.
- Leaving a hard floor bare in an upstairs games room.
Questions
How do I make a dartboard quieter?
Fit a surround, fix the board firmly so it does not rattle, and keep it off shared walls. A soft-tip board is quieter still.
Are pool tables noisy?
The loudest part is usually the ball-return system. Drop-pocket tables are quieter, and carpet underneath helps.
Do acoustic panels stop noise going next door?
Not much. They reduce echo inside the room. Stopping sound passing through walls or floors usually needs construction work, so ask a specialist.