DIY: Backyard Ice Rink
- 1). Inspect the area in your yard where you want to place the rink. Pull up any large rocks, level the area with rakes and flat-edge shovels. Use a level tool to determine if the surface is level. It may appear to be flat, but it can have a gentle slope, causing water to lean against your boundaries, breaking them.
- 2). Fill in any sinkholes in the area with a shovel. Buildup any other surfaces that are not level by transferring dirt to the areas. Make the area as smooth as possible to avoid tearing the liner.
- 3). Place metal stakes around the perimeter of the rink. Use them every 3 or 4 feet. Attach a heavy string or twine around them to mark off the perimeter.
- 4). Lay boards that are at least 8 inches wide inside the perimeter of the stakes. The boards length will depend upon the length of your proposed rink.
- 5). Stand up two boards that are laying end to end and nail them together with a smaller board on the outside edge or use a drill and screws to connect them. They need to be inside the staked area. The stakes are there to support the frozen ice and boards. Repeat this method all around the perimeter.
- 6). Pound the stakes into the ground lower than the height of the boards once you have all the boards standing up and the perimeter is finished. This prevents them from injuring anyone who accidentally falls while skating. They help to support the perimeter of the rink, so are a necessary feature.
- 7). Lay the tarp or plastic liner over the perimeter once you are ready to fill the rink with water. Overlap the perimeter by a foot or two. Use the grommets of the tarp to fasten it or nail it into the wood barrier with small nails or a staple gun.
- 8). Start filling the rink with water and keep an eye on the liner or tarp to make sure it is not coming loose in any of the areas. Use more nails or staples to secure it if it does.
- 9). Fill the tarp or plastic liner with at least 2 inches of water to make an effective ice rink. Remember that ice expands so the height may increase slightly. It may take 2 or 3 days of continuous below-freezing temperatures before the ice is frozen enough to skate on.
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