Transform Your Backyard Into A Winter Wonderland With A DIY Ice Rink

Many families take trips to their local ice skating rinks throughout the winter months, but what about those who are not lucky enough to have one nearby? Some might be tempted to use a frozen lake or pond as a makeshift rink, but this is super dangerous because you risk falling into deep freezing cold water. A simpler solution is to transform your backyard into a winter wonderland with a DIY ice rink. To pull this off, you will need to build a frame for your rink using wood, and lay a large tarp over the frame. Simply fill the tarp with water and allow it to freeze all the way through before use. This is the perfect backyard play station to keep your family occupied during winter.

Obviously there are a few caveats to keep in mind with carrying out this hack. For one, it is important to ensure the temperature outside is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit so that the water can actually freeze. Even then, the amount of time it will take to freeze may vary depending on factors like sunlight hitting the DIY skating rink and the temperature of water you fill it with. You will also need to set the rink up on the most even spot in your yard. This isn't your typical backyard landscaping idea, so it is important to consider how the rink could impact the grass underneath it as well.

Before building your own rink, remember to take measurements of your backyard to assess how much room you have to work with. You can use that information to determine what size to cut your wood pieces. It's a good idea to designate the most even area in your yard as the spot where you'll place the rink. There is a chance that you will have to build on top of an uneven area regardless. This would make your water higher in some areas and lower in others. You can make one size of your rink frame higher than the other to accommodate this.

After building a rectangular shaped frame for your rink with the wood planks you cut to size, place your large tarp over it. You can fill it pretty easily by using a garden hose. Ensure that the height of the water inside reaches 3 inches so that it hardens into thick, solid ice. One of the trickier steps of this incredible backyard makeover is determining when your ice has frozen all the way through. Ice that appears to be clear or fully transparent indicates it is likely frozen solid in that spot, while ice that still looks frosty probably needs a bit more time to solidify through.

If a full blown backyard ice rink is not practical for you, consider purchasing artificial ice tiles to create an easy, low maintenance ice rink. The great thing about this alternative is that it could also be used indoors. Check out the Skate Anytime kit if you would rather go this route.