Home Improvement Outdoors Building Projects

How to Build a Simple Backyard Ice-Skating Rink

Kelly Burke

Updated on 03/27/22

Reviewed by

Kelly Bacon

Father and Son Playing Hockey in Backyard, Winnipeg, Manitoba — Thomas Fricke/First Light/Getty Images

Project Overview

Working Time: 8 hrs
Total Time: 3 days

Skill Level: Beginner
Estimated Cost: $30 to $50

A simple backyard ice skating rink creates a wonderful way to spend active time with the family during the cold winter months. A small rink is fairly easy to build and maintain if the conditions are right—you just need consistently freezing temperatures in the winter. A DIY rink does require some natural snowfall to cover the ground before construction but once completed, it is relatively easy to maintain for the entire winter season. You can use wooden boards or PVC pipe to aid in the construction or go the truly no-cost approach by building it entirely out of snow and water.

A backyard ice-skating rink depends on having a relatively flat, level site in your yard. Small dips and rises can be leveled out with snow before you pour the rink, but a very uneven or sloped lawn will not be very well suited to a skating rink.

When properly constructed, a backyard skating rink will not kill the grass on your turf lawn—that's a common fear. Construction techniques will vary slightly depending on the resources available.

Skating Rink Kits

Although a basic skating rink is fairly easy to build with ordinary materials—even just snow and water—there are also more sophisticated skating rink kits you can buy. These kits usually include vinyl, plastic, or wood sidewalls, as well as a tarp liner. More elaborate kits may include nets and raised walls to serve as the sideboards for recreational hockey. But some of these kits can cost several hundred dollars, and while they can be a good choice if you are a serious backyard hockey enthusiast, a kit is usually not needed if your goal is just a recreational rink for your family.

Equipment / Tools

Snow shovel
Garden rake
Garden hose

Materials

2x4 lumber or 3-inch PVC pipe (for border)
Water supply

Prepare the Base

Before you attempt to create the ice surface itself, it is important to start with a 1- to 2-inch base of packed snow, which will serve as a barrier between the grass and the ice. Spread snow over the rink area, and rake it into a smooth layer, 1 to 2 inches thick.

It's best to position your rink where there is convenient access to water for flooding it. Consider the length of your garden hoses and where you can access a water spigot when planning your rink.

Few lawns are completely flat, but try to find a location where the slope is no more than a few inches from one side to the other. Manufacturers of skating rink kits generally advise no more than a 6-inch slope, since the greater the slope, the higher the perimeter walls will need to be in order to hold the water.
Create the Border

Build a raised border around the rink area, at least 3 inches high (it may need to be even higher if your yard has a slope). A lumber edging made from 2x4 lumber set on the edge can suffice; large-diameter PVC piping can also work. Or, for a true bargain option, just heap up snow in a mound around the perimeter of the rink. To hold the average adult, the ice on your rink needs to be at least 3 inches thick to avoid cracking.
Solidify the Base

Spray the snow base lightly with water several times, allowing it to freeze after each application. The first spraying should be very light, so as to avoid melting the layer of snow you laid for the base.

This layer of water-saturated snow will form a barrier that prevents the water from soaking through to the ground when you flood the rink. A sheet of plastic or tarp can also be used as a liner to prevent water from soaking through to the grass.
Flood the Rink

Once the base and sides are ready, the rink can be flooded. For a solid freeze, the temperature should be 20 degrees Fahrenheit or colder for at least three consecutive days. The best results are achieved if you take your time and spray thin layers over the entire rink, rather than allowing it to gather in a large pool.
Maintain the Rink

Hard use by skaters will chip the ice and may even crack it. To fill in holes and cracks, use a water-snow slush mix as a filler and allow it to freeze, then flood the rink again. When snow falls, a simple shoveling with a plastic or vinyl push-style snow shovel is often all that is required. Periodically flood the rink with additional water.

When Skating Season Is Over

Winterkill of the lawn beneath a skating rink is possible in the spring, as freezing and thawing occur and water pools on the grass for long periods of time. When the rink starts melting, take measures to speed up the melting and draining of the water. Snowbanks and boards around the edges of the rink should be removed so the water can run off easily. Breaking up the ice and spreading out dark materials (like charcoal or Milorganite) may speed up the melting.