Every winter I turn the backyard into a rink, and every winter the whole block shows up. A heavy-duty liner (the ice does not stick to grass without it), brackets and boards to hold the water, a floodlight for night skating, and a 36-inch ice scraper to resurface. Wait for a solid freeze, lay the liner, flood in thin layers, pray for cold.
Plans
Choose a plan that fits your needs and budget
Item List
6Lighting & Maintenance
3 items
Liner & Boards
3 items
Plan Totals$487
FAQ
Common questions about this kit
Can I just flood the grass?
No — the water soaks in and freezes lumpy, and the grass dies. A liner holds the water into a flat sheet and protects the lawn. The liner is the whole game.
How flat does my yard need to be?
Level within about 6 inches end to end. Brackets and boards build up the low side. A slope over a foot means a deep end and a shallow end — more water but manageable.
How do I get a smooth surface?
Flood in thin layers (1/4 inch at a time) on a cold night, letting each freeze before the next. A scraped surface is fixed with hot water — the homemade Zamboni.
When do I take it down?
Before the spring thaw softens the ground. Drain or let it melt, pull the liner, and the grass recovers. Leave it too long and you kill the lawn.
User Reviews
5.0 / 5.0
Backyard rink and my morning skate session share the ice gospel — flood in thin layers, a solid freeze, and a scraper for the surface. The liner-not-the-grass tip is the one everyone learns the hard way, agreed.