Building a homemade ice rink

[BrianMatthew19 0]

I want to build a backyard ice rink. Any suggestions on how to build and maintain the ice?

[bostonjuniorblackhawks 1]

I want to build a backyard ice rink. Any suggestions on how to build and maintain the ice?

search youtube. There's some great videos. I would google it as well.

[MTG35 0]

We just leveled an area of our yard used some old stone pavers from what used to be a patio as the border then laid in a home depot/lowes tarp and filled with water. We used about 3 inches of water because I found when it was thinner than that it would crack it with my weight (180lbs).

I haven't done boards or anything like that yet. Just a basic skating surface. I know of some people who just wait for the ground to freeze and then run the hose onto the lawn and let it flood.

It all depends on how complicated you want to get. What are you looking for from your rink? Purpose? Size? Etc?

[Jordan 13]

Tarp is better than laying water directly on the ground.

1) you hold the water if there is a thaw.

and

2) you can make the ice a lot thicker, which helps it last through warm days and when the sun gets higher in the sky.

Always try to get a white tarp, or plastic sheet if you can. The blue ones attract too much sun/heat.

[english15x 3]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zCTIfDxAYg...feature=related

[BrianMatthew19 0]

When would be the best time to start putting it all together.. i heard November but then i heard that the snow will mess with the ice if its not completely frozen yet.

When would be the best time to start putting it all together.. i heard November but then i heard that the snow will mess with the ice if its not completely frozen yet.

[biff44 0]

Yeah, don't build it on top of your leaching field (too warm)!

Also, don't try to build it if the ground slopes off more than 5" in any corner.

Don't use dark colored sheeting.

If you get a hole in the plastic, shoot some "great stuff" insulation into the hole between the plastic and the ground--it will plug it under water.

[jds 20]

For sure go with a tarp. I built a basic small one using 2X6's to make the frame and a 30X40 white tarp stapled to the boards. Some cement deck post foundations add strength in the corners. Fill it with water and let it freeze. I needed several nights of -15 degrees Celsius (in Canada) to freeze the rink solid. It is about 3 inches deep at the shallowest corner and close to 10" at the deepest side (where I had to stack two 2X6's on top of each other). We have had some rain and really mild temperatures and the top melted so it was about two inches of water but as soon as the temp goes below freezing overnight it freezes right back again since the water is sitting on a giant sheet of ice. Don't need the string of really cold nights anymore. Last year it thawed and froze at least three different times. Without the tarp (which I did my first year) the rink was toast after the fist thaw cycle.

Flood with large buckets of water that you just pour over the ice which makes the smoothest ice. Only need a thin coat to get rid of the gouges. Only needed the hose for the initial fill.

[NuggyBuggy 0]

Flood with large buckets of water that you just pour over the ice which makes the smoothest ice. Only need a thin coat to get rid of the gouges. Only needed the hose for the initial fill.

+1. I have experimented with lots of techniques - garden hose, sprinklers, rake rink, and have found that the best technique is to fill a big garbage pail with water and dump it all over the ice, repeating as necessary.

The other methods either require too much work or have pitfalls associated with them. The big bucket gives a very smooth surface in just about the fastest time possible for the amount of water being distributed.

Two things:

1) if your rink is far away from your water source, run the hose to the side of the rink instead of lugging the garbage pail around, and fill it there, and

2) get a garbage pail with wheels.

[Powerfibers 8]

Guys. Got serious rips in my 6mm poly sheeting. I am thinking that with this weekend's thaw, I need to replace the whole thing. Has anyone experienced using a tarp like this Silver tarp?

If it lasts a few years, the twice thickness and the grommets would make it much easier to keep using? Just not sure how water proof these really are or how well they reflect the sunlight? Any help appreciated. Otherwise, back to 6mil. My yard can only support 16x28', so this will work.

[Agent1.8 1]

My friend and I are in the process of finishing a rink in his back yard, if it wasn't so warm here in NJ the past couple of days it would be ready to skate on.

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Guys. Got serious rips in my 6mm poly sheeting. I am thinking that with this weekend's thaw, I need to replace the whole thing. Has anyone experienced using a tarp like this Silver tarp?

If it lasts a few years, the twice thickness and the grommets would make it much easier to keep using? Just not sure how water proof these really are or how well they reflect the sunlight? Any help appreciated. Otherwise, back to 6mil. My yard can only support 16x28', so this will work.

Watch this video, this is what we are following next year, he has a link to the liner that he uses.

[Powerfibers 8]

Thanks for the reply. I was wondering about the silver tarp because I have one available locally. Good luck with your rink. Ours in Buffalo was great this year until the thaw last week. I had been able to fill it by working around the tears, but now it needs to be remade.

[Agent1.8 1]

After the temperature dropped last night (pic was taken this morning) Should be perfect by Wednesday!!

[biff44 0]

At some point in your life, EVERYONE should build a rink. It is fun and educational. After you have had one for a season, then you might or might not decide to do one the next year. They are a lot of work, and if the weather does not cooperate, it is a real pain.

[trtaylor 3]

After the temperature dropped last night (pic was taken this morning) Should be perfect by Wednesday!!

What did you use the cap the rink boards (the blue things in your photo)?

[NuggyBuggy 0]

The problem I see with capping your liner like that is that unless your ground is absolutely flat and there's no way for the liner to sneak under the boards even a little bit, the liner can end up "pulling" on one or more sides of the rink. Basically the water tends to shift the liner away from the initial layout so that you have less room on one or two sides. Then the liner is stretched on that side and will tear once any weight goes on top of it.

However, if the liner is capped after the base layer of ice is down, then it would be fine.

On my home-built rink, I put down stakes and secure the liner/tarp to those stakes. I put down some water, let it freeze, then pull off the ropes on the side that is being pulled. Then I let the liner fall where it needs to on those sides, freeze, and repeat.

This year I forgot to leave a little extra on those sides, so hopefully I don't end up short.

[biff44 0]

The problem I see with capping your liner like that is that unless your ground is absolutely flat and there's no way for the liner to sneak under the boards even a little bit, the liner can end up "pulling" on one or more sides of the rink. Basically the water tends to shift the liner away from the initial layout so that you have less room on one or two sides. Then the liner is stretched on that side and will tear once any weight goes on top of it.

However, if the liner is capped after the base layer of ice is down, then it would be fine.

On my home-built rink, I put down stakes and secure the liner/tarp to those stakes. I put down some water, let it freeze, then pull off the ropes on the side that is being pulled. Then I let the liner fall where it needs to on those sides, freeze, and repeat.

This year I forgot to leave a little extra on those sides, so hopefully I don't end up short.

Yeah, I agree with that. Pour a bunch of water in and THEN attach the liner to the boards. If you do it the other way around, you just rip the liner off of the boards!

[Agent1.8 1]

Like glass bros!!

[Agent1.8 1]

The problem I see with capping your liner like that is that unless your ground is absolutely flat and there's no way for the liner to sneak under the boards even a little bit, the liner can end up "pulling" on one or more sides of the rink. Basically the water tends to shift the liner away from the initial layout so that you have less room on one or two sides. Then the liner is stretched on that side and will tear once any weight goes on top of it.

However, if the liner is capped after the base layer of ice is down, then it would be fine.

On my home-built rink, I put down stakes and secure the liner/tarp to those stakes. I put down some water, let it freeze, then pull off the ropes on the side that is being pulled. Then I let the liner fall where it needs to on those sides, freeze, and repeat.

This year I forgot to leave a little extra on those sides, so hopefully I don't end up short.

We put sandbags against the rails and it seems to be holding the liner pretty good.

What did you use the cap the rink boards (the blue things in your photo)?

We bought this cheap quick rink kit for $149.00 and it came with the liner, sides, and blue tops. Next year we are stepping it up to Nice Rink.