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Methanolic · 10-10-2009, 02:29 AM

This will be my 6th year for the back yard rink.

I checked the internets when I first started out 6 years ago and I learned a few things. The most important thing is the temperature!!!

These are a few tid-bits I have learned:

#A1
Do NOT flood your rink unless the temperature is -10 or lower. Any warmer and you will get the dreaded "crust" ice. This will result in a weak layer of frozen water that cracks,flakes and chips.

#1
DO NOT! rely on snow or "snow pack" to build the sides of your rink, It is essential that you have some sort of wood frame, whether it be 2x6's or 2x12's or even plywood. This method means you can have a designated area for your sheet of ice and it can be "formed" ahead of time prior to the freezing temperatures.

#2
TARPS: are absolutely NOT necessary. The "Tarp" method, although popular, is not necessary. You can apply water to your lawn and it will freeze, over a few applications of water, your ice will build up to a thickness where soon you will be "re-surfacing". Also, Tarps can be a pain, If not enough water is applied, they won't have the weight on them to eliminate voids, this will cause weakness between the tarp and the ground, this will result in flakey chipped ice surfaces. I have had far better results by just building my rink from"the ground up".

#3
Lighting: If you don't have suffcient light in you back yard, then get some!!! Winter in Canada means it's dark by 5:00 PM. If you don't have light over your back yard rink, then you are more likely not going to use it. I ran some aircraft cable between a couple of trees and then "T'd" off to my house. Then I ran an ext. cord and strapped 2 Halogen work lights. It lights up the whole rink perfectly.

#4
LINES: If you are going to apply lines (center,red,blue,goal) to your rink, use food coloring and paint them on the ice and then re-surface over them. I have heard stories of people using plastic tape or crape paper to create lines, and then on sunny days, the dark paper or plastic will absorb the heat of the sun and actually melt that area creating a groove in the ice. I used spray paint one year and it didn't stick very well to the ice so I would not suggest that.

Here is a pic of the rink I made last year. Framed over the entire back yard and flooded on ground. No Tarp.

10-10-2009, 02:29 AM	#4
Methanolic Lifetime Suspension Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: SW Exp:	This will be my 6th year for the back yard rink. I checked the internets when I first started out 6 years ago and I learned a few things. The most important thing is the temperature!!! These are a few tid-bits I have learned: #A1 Do NOT flood your rink unless the temperature is -10 or lower. Any warmer and you will get the dreaded "crust" ice. This will result in a weak layer of frozen water that cracks,flakes and chips. #1 DO NOT! rely on snow or "snow pack" to build the sides of your rink, It is essential that you have some sort of wood frame, whether it be 2x6's or 2x12's or even plywood. This method means you can have a designated area for your sheet of ice and it can be "formed" ahead of time prior to the freezing temperatures. #2 TARPS: are absolutely NOT necessary. The "Tarp" method, although popular, is not necessary. You can apply water to your lawn and it will freeze, over a few applications of water, your ice will build up to a thickness where soon you will be "re-surfacing". Also, Tarps can be a pain, If not enough water is applied, they won't have the weight on them to eliminate voids, this will cause weakness between the tarp and the ground, this will result in flakey chipped ice surfaces. I have had far better results by just building my rink from"the ground up". #3 Lighting: If you don't have suffcient light in you back yard, then get some!!! Winter in Canada means it's dark by 5:00 PM. If you don't have light over your back yard rink, then you are more likely not going to use it. I ran some aircraft cable between a couple of trees and then "T'd" off to my house. Then I ran an ext. cord and strapped 2 Halogen work lights. It lights up the whole rink perfectly. #4 LINES: If you are going to apply lines (center,red,blue,goal) to your rink, use food coloring and paint them on the ice and then re-surface over them. I have heard stories of people using plastic tape or crape paper to create lines, and then on sunny days, the dark paper or plastic will absorb the heat of the sun and actually melt that area creating a groove in the ice. I used spray paint one year and it didn't stick very well to the ice so I would not suggest that. Here is a pic of the rink I made last year. Framed over the entire back yard and flooded on ground. No Tarp.