NFT: backyard ice rinks

it was great. The next year Dad tried an improved version and it was not a success due to a warm winter.

I saw somewhere that the weather service predicts a warm winter in the NE this winter.

and they were everywhere, but once Dec 1st hit, day time temps didn't break freezing again until March 1st (if you were lucky). Now that I'm in NJ with significantly warmer winters, I'm not sure it would be worth it. Day time temps are typically above freezing at least out here by Clinton, NJ. Seems like you'd have puddles all over which would create uneven ice if it refreezes. Or you'd constantly be refilling it after it melts.

and they were everywhere, but once Dec 1st hit, day time temps didn't break freezing again until March 1st (if you were lucky). Now that I'm in NJ with significantly warmer winters, I'm not sure it would be worth it. Day time temps are typically above freezing at least out here by Clinton, NJ. Seems like you'd have puddles all over which would create uneven ice if it refreezes. Or you'd constantly be refilling it after it melts.

it was the nicerink kit, but i customized it.

20x20 is too small. Mine is 24x40 and it's not ideal, but good enough.

the tips I have are:

1. make sure you find the most level area (captain obvious?). Flat <> level. Year 1 I put mine on a flat area but it was 12 inches off level (no shit). so I had a deep end to my rink that froze last and thawed first.

2. have a path to get there from the house. Year 1 I set up an area on my mahogany deck for people to put on their skates and walk to the rink - my deck got trashed by the skate blades.

3. have some lighting. I had two massive flood lights on the area and we had games until midnight

4. have a fire pit nearby - it's a nice touch to have a fire going while playing hockey then warming up

5. have a snow/ice clearing plan. My neighbor rigged up a hose connection to my hot water. It was awesome, after snow/ice events I ran some hot water over the surface and it was like a zamboni (after shoveling), but take the hose indoors when done, because if water freezes in the hose you're screwed.

6. I bought plywood boards from Lowe's. I had the plywood cut into 3 8-foot 18 inch strips. Problem is some of the boards were bowed. Make sure you don't have bowed boards. it sucks. especially years 2 and 3 and beyond if the bowing gets worse.

7. buy a good liner. My neighbor just put plastic down he bought from Lowe's or Home depot and it wasn't as strong as my liner. I got it from a local place called Swings n Things and they get industrial grade liners.

is it worth it? it depends on two things:

1. the weather. One year we did it and got maybe 2 solid weeks of hockey and then very sporadic, but usually yes

2. how much kids will use it. my own kids use it enough to make it worth it, but man neighborhood kids - 6 and older - are on there everyday all hours of the day and it's awesome

Here are a couple (not great) pictures to gauge size. I'd go at least 24x40

maybe I am Ninja(?) has an awesome backyard rink set up.

My rink is technically a front yard rink because I have an inground pool in the back and I know kids were going to walk on the cover with their skates and I had a nice spot in the front and the neighbors all gave me the thumbs up.

I think it was ninja, but whoever it was I was very jealous.

did it effect the grass in the area where it was installed?

In comment 15056548 rasbutant said:

Quote:

did it effect the grass in the area where it was installed?

I wondered the same thing and I'm sure there is a lawn care or physics explanation for it, but the grass under the rink is perfect. It's greener and healthier than the surrounding grass (which is also fine, just not quite as nice).

Someone said the rink protects the grass from the harsh winter and maybe even the water/rink keeps it warmer.

Not really sure, but it looks great.

and the melting ice probably helps keep the soil nice and damp in early Spring, facilitating growth.

(just a guess)

Great insights

Just used a line level and the spot I had in mind seems flat enough

Now my biggest concern is the weather, which is unknowable

Yes, I was the one that built the crazy over the top backyard rink with 16' 4x4 light poles behind each goal, boards, led blue and red lines. It was a dream come true. And the weather was such that we got to use it no more than 5 times that winter. Never went to the trouble again, and we sold that house a couple years back. Looking back on it, am I glad I did it? Hell yeah. It was awesome. But did I put it back up the 2 or 3 subsequent winters before we sold? Nope. My advice, do it on the cheap and in the least time consuming way possible. We may think northeast winters suck, and they do, but you need upper midwest/great white north winters to keep it frozen continuously throughout.

my rink was not expensive at all.

the rink in a box (now nice rink) brackets were given to me by a hockey teammate whose kids had grown and went to college, but I believe that kit is $199 or something like that.

the plywood boards were a couple hundred

and the boards and brackets are sunk costs (one time).

the liner which I replaced each year (maybe didn't have to, but it was pretty big) was $150 maybe.

I also got some clips to keep the liner attached to the boards $25. Some people use pool noodles.

the only other thing maybe to consider depending on the set up is a net to prevent pucks from going unintended places.

In the Boston area our rink use was maybe more reliable than I am Ninja had. On a typical winter it freezes in mid to late December worst case early January and it usually stays frozen until March.

One year though it was unseasonably mild and it kept freezing and thawing (especially my deep end). That sucked.

but most winters it's fine for the better part of two months.

Awesome photos - what are you thinking for when your kids start ripping high shots? That fence is in trouble ;)

I know a guy who sells EZ-Ice and got one for my nephews a couple years ago. The warm weather always complicated (they are in NY) but the EZ-Ice setup is super easy and very easy to store. The tarp also minimizes damage to the lawn.
EZ Ice - ( New Window )

Where were you located?

In comment 15056665 csb said:

Quote:

Awesome photos - what are you thinking for when your kids start ripping high shots? That fence is in trouble ;) I know a guy who sells EZ-Ice and got one for my nephews a couple years ago. The warm weather always complicated (they are in NY) but the EZ-Ice setup is super easy and very easy to store. The tarp also minimizes damage to the lawn. EZ Ice - ( New Window )

lol, I have had to replace part of the vinyl fence. I have a whole separate shooting area for the kids (off ice near the garage and I have slabs like the ez-ice they shoot off, but not exactly and I no longer have the mini-nets on the rink, I use something like the ones pictured below.

no wrist or slap shots on the rink.

these goals I saw up at a pond hockey tournament in NH on Lake Winnipesaukee

In comment 15056677 pjcas18 said:

Quote:

In comment 15056665 csb said: Quote: Awesome photos - what are you thinking for when your kids start ripping high shots? That fence is in trouble ;) I know a guy who sells EZ-Ice and got one for my nephews a couple years ago. The warm weather always complicated (they are in NY) but the EZ-Ice setup is super easy and very easy to store. The tarp also minimizes damage to the lawn. EZ Ice - ( New Window ) lol, I have had to replace part of the vinyl fence. I have a whole separate shooting area for the kids (off ice near the garage and I have slabs like the ez-ice they shoot off, but not exactly and I no longer have the mini-nets on the rink, I use something like the ones pictured below. no wrist or slap shots on the rink. these goals I saw up at a pond hockey tournament in NH on Lake Winnipesaukee

Love it! 75% of goals are scored low. It drives me nuts watching kids under 13 trying to shoot high or always taking slap shots. The majority of the greatest goal scorers we great because of their release not because they had a big clapper....top shelf and slap shots are sexy but young kids need to focus on developing a quick release from anywhere on the ice.

Level the ground with topsoil first. Lay out the boards around the perimeter and level them to identify low spots. Figure out how much topsoil you will need to fill the low spots. For example, if half your rink is 4 inches lower (10'x20'x4") you will need about 3 yards. Make sure the topsoil you get is screened.

Ice comes out way better if the ground is level (vs. 1" ice at one end and 7" of ice at the other).

Resurface with hot water if possible