How to Build a Backyard Ice Rink

Build Your Own Backyard Ice Skating Rink

If you live in a cold region without access to a frozen lake or park that has a winter ice rink you can build your own ice rink. Building a backyard ice rink is inexpensive and can provide for a lot of winter recreation for the whole family. All it takes is some imagination, a large tarp for the rink base to hold water, and a ring board to surround the outside. Once the temperature goes below freezing you will have your own backyard ice rink.

Building as backyard ice rink is an easy DIY task for most homeowners. All you need is a flat area, some pressure treated boards to create a ring board to place around the rink and a large plastic tarp. PVC piping can be used instead of the pressure treated wood for the ring board. Using PVC pipe is easier to work with and easier to store after the winter season than the wooden ring board.

How to build a backyard ice rink:

Choose an area that is large enough and is flat to have the best rink possible. Sloped or bumpy surfaces are not suitable for an ice rink. You can make the rink as large as you like and in any shape. A rectangle area that is thirty feet wide and eighty feet long will make an excellent skating rink.

Assemble the rink boards or PVC piping around the perimeter. Use wood screws to assemble the boards or just slip fit the PVC pipes together without glue.

Once the rink boards are assembled around the perimeter lay down a tarp or several tarps depending on the size of the rink. The tarp will act as a liner for your rink much like a swimming pool liner. In addition, if there is a warm spell and the ice melts a bit the tarp will trap the water so that it doesn't seep into the ground.

When the ring boards and tarp is in place, flood the rink area with water. If the weather is cold the water will freeze immediately. Don’t try to fill the rink area at one time. Only put enough water in the rink area to completely cover the tarp and let it freeze. Repeat this process until the ice rink has a good even layer of ice. Don't skate on the rink until the ice has hardened or you will damage the surface before it has set.

When spring comes, simply disassemble the ring boards and tarp and store for the summer. That is all there is to building your own backyard ice skating rink. A backyard ice skating rink can provide for a lot of outside winter entertainment for the whole family and friends.

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