tdc's FarmGate - Building a Backyard Skating Rink

In Eastern Ontario, especially those communities in and around Ottawa have the opportunity to build a backyard skating rink for the kids when the weather permits.

Build the rink in December when the weather is good and it will be ready to flood when the temperature remains consistently below - 0C during the day and - 10 C at night.

In the rural areas it might be a simple as shoveling the a pond for the kids or to be a little more sophisticated and put up some boards and spray water to make ice.

Besides, if you decide to make it a neighbourhood project - You get to know your neighbours.

The following instructions are based on a 24' W x 46' L rink.

1. Preparation

1	spool of measuring string
1	measuring tape
60	12" spikes

Find a shaded, flat surface, close to a source of water and light to build your rink
Plan to build your rink when the weather is warm and there is an anticipation of at least three consecutive days of cold weather (-10 C minimum - Mid January to Mid February )
Mark out the dimensions of your rink on the ground with string and spikes

2. Assemble the Framework

22	2” x 6” pressure treated wood boards
22	2” x 4” pressure treated wood boards
8	sheets of ½” plywood
2	boxes of 2 ½” galvanized deck screws
2	boxes of 1 ¼” galvanized deck screws
1	cordless drill
1	circular saw
1	hammer
1	stapler
1	roll of duct tape
1	Plastic tarp/sheet in white or clear (should be 2’ longer and wider than actual size of rink)

Measure, cut and assemble your wood framework for the rink using the pressure treated wood boards
Number your framework boards to remember how to assemble them next year
Lay down the tarp and secure it around the framework
Measure, cut and install the plywood boards around the rink to create rink boards (use 2 foot plywood boards for the sides and 4 foot plywood boards for the ends)
Use leftover cut pressure treated wood pieces as braces to support the rink boards

3. Layer the Water

1	lawn hose with fine spray nozzle

It is best to start your rink with thin layers of water using a fine spray nozzle
Spray 0.5 cm layers of water at a time and let them freeze in between
Be patient because this process could take 2 to 3 days and several layers to build a good rink base
Fill any cracks in the ice surface with snow rather than more water

4. Final Touches

1	lawn hose with fine spray nozzle
1	wide snow pusher
60	A few tubes of ¾” pipe foam to fit over rink boards

To finish off the rink, place ¾” pipe foam insulation along the top edge of the rink boards for safety
To clean the surface of your rink, scrape the ice with a sharp steel flat edge on a wide snow pusher
Keep your rink smooth by spraying a fine mist of water every couple of days as needed
Sweep the ice around the perimeter with a stiff bristled broom to prevent a high ridge from developing

If you have digital images of your Eastern Ontario
backyard ice rink and would like
us to show them here.