Comments on: Backyard Ice Rink Tips

By: FG

FG — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 21:49:57 +0000

Great site with lots of information, thank you.
I’ve built my frame(20 by 40) and am looking forward to starting the flooding process. I can only count on 1 week of -10 degree weather and that usually happens in January. My question is can I start my rink with average nighttime temps of -2 to-5 ? I’m worried about creating shell ice, is it best to flood small amounts on consecutive nights with these conditions?
Thanks.

By: Phil

Phil — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:06:42 +0000

Its the first week of October, the sun is shining, and its 25 Celsius in south-eastern Ontario (Bowmanville) and I’m thinking about how to make this years rink better than last years.
Great tips in this site. For one I will be buying a better liner, last years was thin. Do not cheap out on a tarp, spend a few bucks. And I will be a little more patient when building the ice level. However, my kids were still skating on the rink on the second week of March, so I suppose I did an alright job on my first time.
There was nothing better than look on kids faces when I told them the rink was ready.

By: Ron

Ron — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 22:02:12 +0000

Hello,

I’m building a 40×50 backyard rink for the second time. Live in Chicago and our weather isn’t the best in terms of consistent temps. I’m dealing with a 14-16 inch difference between the east and west wall of the rink and I’m trying to have a minimum depth of 4 inches of ice. I have 2′ high, 3/4″ plywood and a large white tarp. Worked fairly well last year flooding the entire thing at once, but I’m looking for ideas on how to flood and get a good base.

From what I understood, I need to have a base of at least 1 inch at the shallowest end before I start putting on thinner layers. Considering how many inches I have to go in the deep end, does anyone have any recommendations for how to fill the rink? Should I still do 1 inch at a time, or could I flood the entire thing as I did last year?

By: Mia L

Mia L — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 21:08:39 +0000

FIRST ever attempt at rink and i winged it…worked first then started reading all the how to’s later! I spent 4 hours digging out a 65 x 25 area out of 2 feet of snow! ‘Packed’ the snow as best we could and have been using hose to very gradually freeze. After 2 days, seemed like a solid as hell chunk of ice, just VERY bumpy, and uneven, but we have a great barrier of snow around it (which we’ve been icing with hose too). Every time we try to ‘flood’, even by hand, the ice seems to melt and get more uneven….should i give up and buy a tarp and just fill that? It’s been frigid temps this whole time…below zero at night (F) and no higher than teens in day. And, if i get tarp, will it work with just snow/ice barrier? i saw somewhere that someone had done this and just overlapped tarp 10 ft or so over the snow barriers so it didn’t collapse. Any hints?

By: Ben

Ben — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 16:57:46 +0000

Don’t flood all at once like me-) do an inch layer. Let it freeze and then do the same each consecutive evening until you have a solid base. Also, don’t do it when it snows, because it will make your ice slushy and bumpy Evening is the best time

By: Ben

Ben — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 16:54:48 +0000

I just flooded my rink a few nights ago, and filled it about 3-4 inches. It has been -10 to 20 degrees celsius and I can’t tell if it’s frozen solid, or if water trapped below?? I walked on the center area and it was solid, but as I went to a deeper area I heard a crack. I am wondering if there is anything I can do to speed up the process, or if it will freezesolid soon??

By: Chris Ringuette

Chris Ringuette — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 02:05:29 +0000

I have Huge holes in my ring (some big enough for me to lie in. Would the snow packing apply to me too or should I re-fill it with water a small amout at a time? Not having much luck

Thanks

By: Jon

Jon — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 15:34:53 +0000

Just framed out my first rink (20′ x 30′) for the kids. They are super excited to start a new winter tradition.

My big concern is over the 10″ slope from shallow end to deep end. I’m confident I have my framing strong enough to hold the water weight (metal framing ties, stakes, etc.). How do you suggest that I fill? Should I fill with 2″ of water at a time any wait for it to be solid or should I fill to the entire depth all at once? Temps will be below freezing for next 10 days…..nightime temps in the low teens.

We are scheduled to get some nighttime snow. I’m assuming I need to shovel this off before adding a new ice layer. Should I avoid filling on nights where snow is predicted? I don’t have a cover to prevent snow getting on surface.

Thanks in advance from a beginner!!!

By: Patrick

Patrick — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 18:41:35 +0000

I typed too fast and my message does not make sense….

In short… I have air pockets, a leaking liner and chunks of ice formed in my base due to watering snow – any thoughts on how to improve this? I have about 8 inches of room left to fill with water; however, every time I fill my rink, the base melts, and then the water leaks out…
We have the cold weather here but it is only recent. The leaking liner is a major issue – should I rip out the ice I have and try and start over? My sunk bias has me avoiding that option right now.
Any insight and advice would be great – this is my first time trying this and I have 4 boys under 6 dying to get some ice time!

By: Patrick

Patrick — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 18:33:53 +0000

Hi everyone – this site is great. I live in Chicago now and have relocated from Ottawa…. so quite as cold. I built my rinkl in September using 12 inch boards and it is about 20 by 40. I having major ice issues. the second it dropped below zero I tried flooding it and I think (as per a comment above) the air was cold but not the ground. I used 20 by 100 plastic and it leaked. I then waited for snow and got some and watered the snow… I know have a chunky disasterous base…
Do I shovel out the chunks and start over? It has been -10 her ein Chicago for a few days…. so I need more time? Also I am getting tons of air pockets. Needless to say this is not going so well. Any advice on how I can improve my rink and actually get skateable ice would be great. Thanks all.