How Do You Build A Backyard Ice Rink?
A backyard ice rink is a wonderful way to spend time with the family, teach children how to skate, and stay active in the cold winter months. A small rink is really not that hard to build if the conditions are right, and of course you reside in a northern climate When constructed properly, a homemade skating rink will not kill a lawn. Construction techniques will vary slightly depending on the resources available and who is providing their time tested wisdom. Basic, no frills rink construction involves the following: • Start with a 1″ base of lightly packed snow. This will act as a barrier between the grass and the ice. • Use packed snow, wood boards, or pvc pipe to create a border and provide a minimum 3″ lip which will contain the water. The ice should be at least 3″ thick to hold an average adult. • Apply several light sprinklings of water to freeze before flooding the rink. This ice layer prevents water from soaking through the snow and reaching the grass. A sheet of plastic or tar
