Whether you’re a hockey family or just love to lace up your skates and glide around the ice, there’s nothing better than having your very own backyard ice rink. We’ll show you all the materials you’ll need and give you step-by-step instructions on how to build your own ice rink so you can enjoy skating in the comfort of your own yard.
There are 5 steps to completing this project:
First, you’ll need to make sure you choose a level (or at least the most level) part of your yard to build your rink. This will help the water fill and freeze evenly. Lay out your frame, usually made of 2”x10”x10’ MicroPro Sienna Treated Wood to get the shape how you would like it.
Once you’ve got the basic shape of your DIY backyard ice rink, assemble the frame using 5-inch angle brackets on the corners. Then hammer some wooden stakes into the ground to support your frame all the way around.
Now you’ll place your tarp, which will hold the water that will eventually become your ice surface. Use an appropriately sized tarp for your rink size, one that’s big enough to overlap outside of the frame. That way when you fill the rink with water, the tarp will stay over the edges – allowing you to trim off any excess after the rink freezes.
Time to fill your rink with water. Run a hose to the rink and hang it over the edge. Be careful not to put any hole in your tarp that would cause a leak. Let the rink fill until you have at least 2 inches of water over the entire rink. Your ground is likely not perfectly level, so you may have areas that have more water than others. It’s going to take a few hours to fill, so just sit back and wait. Once it’s full, let it freeze for about 2-3 days, ensuring that the weather doesn’t rise above freezing. Then staple the tarp to the tops of the edges and trim off the excess.
Once your rink is frozen, hang some lights so you can use it once the sun goes down as well as in the daytime! You’ve now got a great new DIY ice rink!
This article was published in partnership with Mom Boss of Boys.
