Home Skills Landscaping
Rachel BroughamUpdated: Aug. 01, 2023
With a few days of work and a handful of materials, you can spend the winter skating in your own backyard. While you can buy home ice rink kits, they can be costly. Here are 12 tips for building your own backyard ice rink.
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Find the Right Spot
There are four things you should look for when choosing a spot for your backyard ice rink. Find a flat space for your DIY ice rink that's not over the septic or drain field and look for a spot with adequate lighting that is near an outdoor water source.
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Think Big
When creating your backyard ice rink, think big. And you'll need to go with a size that fits your yard.But if you have space and the budget, the bigger the better for aDIY ice rink so you'll have more room for more skaters.
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Check for Slope
Your yard may look flat, but there's a good chance you have a slope. Before you start building or filling the space with water for your DIY ice rink, make sure to check the slope and know for sure where the water line will be. And add some fill if necessary for an even surface.
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Bracing
Don't skimp on bracing. Because the last thing you want is for your bracing to fail, which will create some major icing and potential flooding in your yard. And if you're handy, you can build the bracing—there are several designs online including wooden stakes and some with rebar. You can also buy bracing from some online companies.
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Put Down the Liner
You'll need a liner underneath the backyard ice rink. Put your liner down only when you're ready to start filling the rink with water, or you'll end up with sticks, leaves and even possibly animals in your ice!
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The Right Temperature
The best time to build your backyard ice rink is in the days and weeks leading up to the first freeze. This will allow you to set the bracing and sideboards (if using) and give them time to "freeze in." And then once you've had several days of temperatures below 36 degrees F and night temps of below 32 degrees, the ground should be hard enough and you can fill the DIY ice rink.
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Filling
It's time to get out your garden hose! Professional rink builders suggest filling the rink all at once. And if you fill in layers, it could cause damage to your liner and result in uneven freezing.
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Patch a Hole
Timing is crucial if you find a hole in your liner. Patch holes with roofing tar or specialized patch tape, which you can purchase from some online companies that specialize in backyard ice rink products.
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Create a Smooth Surface
You don't have a Zamboni, but that doesn't mean you can't have a smooth backyard ice rink surface. And to remove the snow, use a snow blower, shovel or broom. Then use a resurfacer and a thin layer of hot water to create a smooth surface.
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Keep the Backyard Ice Rink Clear
You'll get some snow over the winter months, but do your best to keep the DIY ice rink cleared as snow acts as an insulator and will quickly stick to the ice. And when the snow falls, shovel often.
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Fill the Cracks
If your DIY ice rink develops a crack, pack some ice shavings or snow into the crack (or hole). And then give it a light coat of water, smooth it over the best you can and let it refreeze.
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When Winter is Over
Get your liner up early when spring comes and your grass won't be damaged. And as soon as the ice melts, drain the area with a simple siphon or a submersible pump. Then dispose of the liner as you'll need a new one next year.
Originally Published: April 23, 2019
Rachel Brougham
Rachel Brougham lived through a major home renovation in 2019, knows the ups and downs of home improvement, and loves sharing tips with readers. A veteran journalist of both print and television, she’s won several awards for her writing and has covered everything from the environment and education to health care, politics and food. She’s written for several publications beyond newspapers including Bob Vila, Taste of Home and Minnesota Parent, and she currently writes a weekly syndicated newspaper column. Her memoir, Widowland, about the sudden loss of her husband, was published in 2022. She specializes in everything from home decor and design to lawn and garden, product reviews and pet care. When she’s not writing, you can usually find her tending to her garden (both vegetables and native plants), playing with her dog, watching sports with her family or getting some exercise. A native of Michigan, she currently lives in Minneapolis. An avid user of Instagram, you can follow her @RachBrougham.
