For many, the ultimate in winter living is having a personal ice rink right outside their back door. Here's how you can create one using simple methods and materials.
Choosing the Right Location
The first step in building a backyard rink is finding the perfect outdoor spot. The flatter and more shaded the area, the better. It’s best to avoid highly sloped areas. A location near a water source is also crucial.
- Find a flattish spot: Look for a level area in your yard with relatively dry and solid soil.
- Check the slope: Assess the grade and level out with fill if necessary.
Materials You'll Need
One simple method involves using PVC pipes and a large plastic tarp, along with some extra tools and water. Here’s a breakdown of the materials you'll need:
- 36 - 4" schedule 20 PVC sewer pipe (10ft pipes)
- 4 - 4" PVC corners
- 1 - 40' x 100' 6 mil polyethylene plastic liner
These are the basic materials for building your average-sized ice rink, but it all comes down to the tarp size and how much PVC you have.
Cost Breakdown
Here's an approximate cost breakdown for the materials:
Read also: Winter Fun at Hamilton Ice Arena
- PVC pipes: around $5-$8 each
- PVC corners: around $3 each
- Plastic liner: around $100
- Total cost: around $300
- Total use: around 3-5 winters
Preparing the Ground
After a foot of snow, it's time to clear a spot. Clearing a spot could take you about 1-3 hours depending on how much snow you have, this isn't the most time-consuming part, but it is pretty tough, especially if you're using a shovel! Ensure the area is free from sharp rocks and ice.
This is also when having a PVC ice rink comes in handy because the PVC can be assembled after the ground is already frozen and is free standing (no stakes required). This location (in our backyard) has a grade difference of only 3-4". This location (in our backyard) has a grade difference of only 3-4".
Building the Frame
With Iron Sleek Rink System, you are officially ready to build your frame. Follow the bracket spacing chart. Use Iron Sleek Corner Brackets to secure rink corners, use at least 2 steel brackets per corner. Iron Sleek's Ice Rink Extension Brackets allow for higher board heights due to excessive land grade (can be easily purchased aftermarket as needed after rink is built).
Once you've built out the frame, closely evaluate the inside of the rink boards for projections and/all sharp pieces that may puncture the liner. Additionally, determine that the frame proves solid and sturdy. Inspect the bottom of your frame boards for large air gaps. The water filled liner will fill the air gaps looking like a water blister from the outside of the rink. This can create risk of puncture to the liner from the outside.
Preparing the Liner
To prep the liner I cut it in half, leaving you with a 40ft/50ft tarp. I cut it because I had decided to make a 36' x 46' rink this year and the liner is 40' x 100'. Halving the liner will give you an extra year out of the liner, and its great if something goes wrong!
Read also: Ice Skating in Great Neck
Stretch the liner inside the frame, leaving plenty of slack to tuck into corners and around the bottom of the boards. Let excess liner drape over the rink frame and Iron Sleek Hardware to keep brackets dry and boards from absorbing too much heat.
Securing the Liner
To add the liner (tarp) first lay down the 6 mil plastic liner over top of the PVC frame and then snapped the PVC cap over the plastic liner. The cap provides a duel roll, holding the liner in place and providing protection against skate blades. From this picture you can see why the liner has to be larger than the frame. 4 foot extra on the sides is plenty to not lose any sides.
Make sure to keep the caps at least 2" away from the corners. Later I plan to make a triangular piece from wood to sit over the corner to protect it (if you make one please post a pic of it below). Notice the piece of wood under the corner. Use small blocks to shim the height of the frame so it is all at the same level.
Adding Water
Adding the water is a simple step, all you need to do is add some water by using a hose. Remember not to overflow or go too high with the water! Also remember to do this where it's usually below freezing, so it will freeze sooner, and stay frozen!
You are ready to start filling your rink with water. A loose liner can let water out. Inspect your rink after 3-4 days of temperatures under 20 F to ensure you have the solid 3" of ice needed to skate (skating too soon can risk tearing the liner with a blade). No need to be overly scientific here, just walk the rink in your shoes first (not skates).
Read also: Ice Skating at AZ Ice Gilbert
Ice Rink Maintenance 101: After the Storm
Maintaining the Ice
One way to maintain the Ice is making a scraper (cleans of bumps, and small impurities). I made the scraper seen in the photo below scraper out of an old broom handle and an old screen door channel. Anything with a hard edge will do. This one is about 6 foot in length making it fast to clean the ice.
To fill in the holes made by skating on it you could make a sprayer unit to make this job easier. It is made of a 10 ft piece of 3/4" PVC pipe cut to a 4 ft. section and two 3 ft. sections to form the shape of a "T".
Adding a valve and a quick disconnect make the job much easier. The valve is great for regulating the flow rate of the water.
I drilled 1/8" holes every 2" across the bottom and attached a board with a 2 1/2"wide rubber belting to act like a squeegee to smooth the water.
If gotten several recommendations on using hot water to smooth it out. It basically is supposed to melt down the imperfections, then lay a new sheet of ice on top keeping he ice smooth. This is a great idea, but the reason I didn't use it is because the mini, hand held, Zamboni we made runs from water from a hose. As far as I'm concerned I cant get hot water from a hose at my hose.
Grass Underneath
Ive also had many people ask me about the grass underneath the ice rink. As far as I'm concerned the grass wont die, as long as you but it away before spring, or as soon as you can. This will prevent the grass from dieing, though there are no guarantees as every bodies house is different.