Building a garden games or snooker room

Why a games room is different from a garden office

A garden office can be small and light. A games room, and especially a snooker room, is driven by the table. A full-size snooker table is heavy, needs a dead-level floor that will not flex, and needs clear space all round so players can take a shot without hitting a wall. That makes the base and the footprint the first decisions, not the cladding or the doors.

Work out the footprint from the table

Measure the table you intend to buy and add the length of a cue plus a comfortable stance on every side. Do the same for a pool table or table tennis if you want flexibility. You will quickly see why games rooms end up larger than people first imagine, and why a narrow existing shed rarely works.

Allow for seating, a scoreboard or TV, and storage for cues. Door position matters too: you do not want to be shooting towards the entrance.

The base

A slate-bed table spreads a lot of weight over small feet. A properly prepared concrete slab on compacted sub-base, with a damp-proof membrane and insulation, gives a floor that stays level and stiff. Timber decking bases and raised frames can deflect over time, which is fatal for a snooker table. If the garden slopes, the slab may need a small retaining edge or a stepped footing.

Walls, roof and comfort

Masonry walls, brick or block with insulation, give a solid, quiet room that holds a steady temperature. Steady temperature and low humidity help keep the cloth and cushions in good condition. The roof needs good insulation and, ideally, a ceiling high enough for a proper light over the table. Ventilation stops condensation in winter.

Power for lighting, heating and any screens should be run properly from the house in a buried duct, and a games room used in the evening benefits from a well-planned lighting layout.

Planning points

A games room used by the household is normally treated as an outbuilding incidental to the house. Permitted development can cover it if the height, position and size stay within limits, including lower heights near boundaries. Larger buildings, anything in front of the house, conservation areas and listed properties may need an application. Building Regulations can apply depending on size and use.

Converting instead of building

If you already have a detached brick garage or outbuilding of the right size, converting it can be the simpler route. The same rules about a level, stiff floor apply, and many old garage slabs need replacing or topping to reach that standard. The outbuilding conversion guide covers the upgrade steps in more detail.

Who builds it

We build slabs, masonry shells and roofs for garden buildings and carry out outbuilding conversions from our base in Bidwell, Dunstable. With more than 26 years' experience, NVQ Level 2 brickwork, FMB membership and full insurance, we can build the structure your table needs. Our garage-to-music-room case study is a good example of a garden building made for one specific use.

Details players notice

Once the structure is right, a few details make the difference between a room that gets used and one that becomes storage. Lighting should be even over the playing surface with no glare, so plan the ceiling height and fixing points early. Heating should be steady rather than a blast of hot air near the table. Flooring around the table should be hard-wearing but not slippery, and a small step-free threshold makes carrying equipment in easier.

Think about sound, too. Masonry walls and good insulation keep noise in, which matters if the games room is close to a neighbour's garden or used late in the evening. Acoustic benefits were exactly why the owner in our music-room case study wanted a separate building away from the house.

Finally, plan storage for cues, balls, bats and chairs so the floor around the table stays clear.

Questions people ask