Backyard Ice Skating Rink (1 Viewer)

[James Daulton]

Took the daughter ice skating the other day and now she's all into putting a rink in our backyard. Has anyone done this? I'm near Baltimore so I would get maybe one month's use this year so it'd have to be something that I could put away fairly easily and use again next year. Is there anyway this could be done with pvc instead of wood (to help with the year to year storage and use).

What say the FFA?

 

[Cliff Clavin]

How much snow do you get? You don't PVC or wood if you have enough snow.

 

[Cjw_55106]

Never done it, but:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARSM1bDxb2Y

 

[James Daulton]

Never done it, but:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARSM1bDxb2Y

Can't count on snow here. The only issue I see with the wood rink is setting it up and breaking it down each year. I think the wood might warp or be difficult to break down.

 

[belljr]

Way back we had railroad ties layed out

 

[eoMMan]

Sounds like a major headache.

 

[shadyridr]

Just go to a rink like normal people

 

[AcerFC]

My brother in law does it every year and I had plans to do it this year. But I was busy and have got around to it. I did buy this book even though BIL offered to help.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1581572999/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?qid=1453126300&sr=8-8π=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&keywords=backyard+rink&dpPl=1&dpID=51Cpwa7-AML&ref=plSrch

Sad part is, it hasn't been cold enough here to make ice and im in NY. It needs to be below freezing for three to four days in a row. Ill see if I can upload some pics I took of my son on the rink if I can find them

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Never done it, but:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARSM1bDxb2Y

Can't count on snow here. The only issue I see with the wood rink is setting it up and breaking it down each year. I think the wood might warp or be difficult to break down.

Treated wood will be fine. How level is the area?

 

[AcerFC]

Oh, and they sell some cheap pvc style stuff on amazon and target. Maybe buy cheap this year and see if it's worth it to do anything else

 

[Cjw_55106]

Never done it, but:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARSM1bDxb2Y

Can't count on snow here. The only issue I see with the wood rink is setting it up and breaking it down each year. I think the wood might warp or be difficult to break down.

Treated wood will be fine. How level is the area?

This has to be the most important factor.

 

[[icon]]

Our neighbors used to do this every year when I lived up in MA. They used railroad ties and a large tarp/sheeting. Wasn't the fanciest setup but it worked great.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Never done it, but:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARSM1bDxb2Y

Can't count on snow here. The only issue I see with the wood rink is setting it up and breaking it down each year. I think the wood might warp or be difficult to break down.

Treated wood will be fine. How level is the area?

This has to be the most important factor.

Yep. Especially without snow. I maintain two full size outdoor rinks at a community centre. One rink will have over a foot of ice in the center and maybe 2 inches along the edge.

 

[Fantasy_Freak]

A family my brother and I grew up playing hockey with own this company (http://www.nicerink.com/), if you know your measurements it is probably relatively easy. You can get everything you need which would be the boards, brackets and plastic liner through their site.

 

[AcerFC]

This is the only pic I could find. Sorry its not in landscape

http://imgur.com/k6wOK9w

 

[AcerFC]

Found one more for better view

http://imgur.com/47mh7Cy

 

[D-Day]

I did this one year. If your ground isn't completely level, it is a pain in the rump. I am still recovering from the self inflicted gun shot wound to the head beacause of trying this.

 

[AcerFC]

I did this one year. If your ground isn't completely level, it is a pain in the rump. I am still recovering from the self inflicted gun shot wound to the head beacause of trying this.

the book gives directions on finding the slope. I actually thought about buulding it in my deck.

 

[[icon]]

I did this one year. If your ground isn't completely level, it is a pain in the rump. I am still recovering from the self inflicted gun shot wound to the head beacause of trying this.

the book gives directions on finding the slope. I actually thought about buulding it in my deck.

If you have a basic transit level kit, tracking slope is a piece of cake.

 

[Nigel]

I've built one the past couple of years. If your yard is level it's easy. Mine isn't and it's a ton of work but very much worth it, my kids use it every day. Here are some pics of last year's rink and this year's under construction. Went a little bigger this year.

http://imgur.com/gallery/FsY00/new

Nice to be able to walk out the basement door and hop on the ice.

 

[matuski]

I'd move to a place where things like "backyard skating rinks" aren't an issue you have to consider.

 

[AcerFC]

I've built one the past couple of years. If your yard is level it's easy. Mine isn't and it's a ton of work but very much worth it, my kids use it every day. Here are some pics of last year's rink and this year's under construction. Went a little bigger this year.

http://imgur.com/gallery/FsY00/new

Nice to be able to walk out the basement door and hop on the ice.

could always do what I did and just do it in the basement, don't even need to go outsidehttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SWtRTQnv5QU

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=i6LB9s7uHLg

 

[culdeus]

I'd move to a place where things like "backyard skating rinks" aren't an issue you have to consider.

My dogs water bowl froze last night. Does that count?

Jokes aside this looks amazing.

 

[mr roboto]

I'd move to a place where things like "backyard skating rinks" aren't an issue you have to consider.

You're just a peach wherever you go aren't you?

 

[mr roboto]

My neighbor built one this year. In his side yard (that side faces the cul de sac that I'm on). Wood about 15 inches high, heavy white plastic sheeting. Once frozen he made the boards a bit higher. His HS age boys are out there all the time and my young daughters can't wait to try it.

I texted a pic of it to my coworker in Houston. He thought I was kidding.

 

[matuski]

I'd move to a place where things like "backyard skating rinks" aren't an issue you have to consider.

You're just a peach wherever you go aren't you?

I like peaches.

 

[NutterButter]

Absolute waste of time. No way you'll use it enough to justify the time and effort. For boys playing hockey, sure, but for a girl just skating around, no way.

 

[Cjw_55106]

Absolute waste of time. No way you'll use it enough to justify the time and effort. For boys playing hockey, sure, but for a girl just skating around, no way.

Meh, Im sure most people do things that are an "absolute waste of time". Justification is a choice. If its worth the time and effort for him, who are we to say othewise?

 

[NutterButter]

Absolute waste of time. No way you'll use it enough to justify the time and effort. For boys playing hockey, sure, but for a girl just skating around, no way.

Meh, Im sure most people do things that are an "absolute waste of time". Justification is a choice. If its worth the time and effort for him, who are we to say othewise?

This is an especially large waste of time. Its our job as fellow ffa ifriends to point that out. If you told me you were going to dig a 6 foot hole in your yard, cover it with a tarp and fill it with water b/c your kid likes to go swimming, I'm going to tell you that its a waste of time.

 

[Nigel]

Absolute waste of time. No way you'll use it enough to justify the time and effort. For boys playing hockey, sure, but for a girl just skating around, no way.

Meh, Im sure most people do things that are an "absolute waste of time". Justification is a choice. If its worth the time and effort for him, who are we to say othewise?

My only question is whether Baltimore typically gets enough of a prolonged freeze to make it worth it.

 

[James Daulton]

This is my main issue too.

Thanks for all the pics, the rinks look great. Just for this year could I get some big pvc, make a frame, lay the tarp over it, and steak the tarp down all around the outside? No hockey, just skating.

And the yard is flat but not 100% level.

 

[glvsav37]

I've been dying to do this. Live in Long Island NY so its always touch and go with the temps here. We just go below freezing last night for the 1st time all winter.

Both me and my 6 yr old son play ice hockey and my daughter figure skates, so I'm sure it will get used a ton.

Fantasy_Freak, I saw that site you posted...interesting. I was wondering where the best place to get good materials would be. thx

 

[comfortably numb]

Buy her rollerblades

BOOOOOOM

:staples-thatwaseasy:

 

[Fantasy_Freak]

I've been dying to do this. Live in Long Island NY so its always touch and go with the temps here. We just go below freezing last night for the 1st time all winter.

Both me and my 6 yr old son play ice hockey and my daughter figure skates, so I'm sure it will get used a ton.

Fantasy_Freak, I saw that site you posted...interesting. I was wondering where the best place to get good materials would be. thx

They supply all the materials, from the plastic boards, braces for the boards as well as the plastic tarp to lay down and fill with water. I think if you know the dimensions of the space you want to put the rink they can get you sizes that are close to what you need. Obviously this will come at a price much higher than buying the materials on your own like wood.

 

[glvsav37]

I've been dying to do this. Live in Long Island NY so its always touch and go with the temps here. We just go below freezing last night for the 1st time all winter.

Both me and my 6 yr old son play ice hockey and my daughter figure skates, so I'm sure it will get used a ton.

Fantasy_Freak, I saw that site you posted...interesting. I was wondering where the best place to get good materials would be. thx

They supply all the materials, from the plastic boards, braces for the boards as well as the plastic tarp to lay down and fill with water. I think if you know the dimensions of the space you want to put the rink they can get you sizes that are close to what you need. Obviously this will come at a price much higher than buying the materials on your own like wood.

yes/no...ive been on their site and it seems like they are pretty reasonable. I like that they make the boards out of plastic. Figure with wood, they will warp and need to be replaced fairly often. I can't do a huge rink in my backyard, so their prices seem pretty low for the smaller sizes.

now just gotta sell the wife and hope the weather cooperates.

 

[AcerFC]

We almost bought the nicerink package this year for my son's birthday. We went to Chicago for a Blackhawks game instead. I'm sure it works great. Need to get this also though

http://imgur.com/hQKhkRc

Unfortunately, I dont think they make it anymore

 

[AcerFC]

http://www.backyard-hockey.com/

 

[belljr]

We used to pond/lake skate every winter when I was a kid. Now it feels like it doesn't get cold enough

 

[the moops]

If you have a basic transit level kit, tracking slope is a piece of cake.

Yea, most people have a basic 250 dollar level just lying around

 

[Nigel]

We used to pond/lake skate every winter when I was a kid. Now it feels like it doesn't get cold enough

Last year my kids skated nonstop from Jan 5th to April 1 (Boston area). Keeping the snow off of it was a chore but easily worth the trouble,

 

[glvsav37]

We used to pond/lake skate every winter when I was a kid. Now it feels like it doesn't get cold enough

Last year my kids skated nonstop from Jan 5th to April 1 (Boston area). Keeping the snow off of it was a chore but easily worth the trouble,

yea, you guys got killed with snow last year if I remember correctly.

Similar here on Long island last year. I was joking with my wife yesterday about how I couldn't get my Christmas lights off my roof until spring b/c there was some form of ice or snow on the roof from mid-December until Spring.

this year though, seems like we wouldn't get a string of cold weather long enough to get the rink to freeze?