JohnT Fitzgerald
01-12-2009, 10:57 AM
Anyone here build skating rinks in their back yards?
I first started in 2001. A small 16x24 rink in our front yard, in the only semi-level spot in our entire yard. it was for our 2 year old daughter so it was plenty big. Did that for 2 years.
Learned a lot from that one. After some major yard work, I started putting it together on our 30x50 basketball court. the rink is about 26'x40, just right for our 3 little ones. The first year (2005-2006) sucked since I tried to use one of those "kits" where the sides are 2" plastic tubes with a liner layed over the whole thing. it would have to be dead flat to use - and since ours has a slight slope for drainage, I had to do a lot to hold up the frame. no skating at all that year.
The next year (2006-2007), while driving home after work listening to the forecast of below-zero weather, I was inspired. so I stopped at HD, got a bunch of material, and pretty much fine-tuned the plan as I went. I made side boards/frame out of a 2x8 "base" with a 2x10 screwed onto it to make an 'L'. this helped keep the sides from bowing out. It was screwed together at the corners, and I used the tarp from the "kit" I mentioned. getting that in place with even a slight breeze is a real PITA. I recall starting at about 5pm (started unloading the lumber) - temp 28 degF. Stopped briefly for a bite to eat and to help put the kids to bed, and finished around 11:30 PM - temp 2 degF.
I turned the water on at 12:45pm - a delay from when I finished the frame, because my hoses stored in the shed were frozen. I had to take them in to the basement and put then near the furnace to thaw. Went to bed, got up to check it a few times. and turned the water off at about 7:45AM. I forget the specifics, but it's several thousand gallons of water.
it takes a lot of work to keep it groomed, and I've never hated oak trees so much for dropping leaves all through the winter. But it's a lot of fun. My construction last year (2007-2008) was much faster and "cleaner", and I hope this year to make significant improvements as well.
Anyone here care to share their experiences?
I first started in 2001. A small 16x24 rink in our front yard, in the only semi-level spot in our entire yard. it was for our 2 year old daughter so it was plenty big. Did that for 2 years.
Learned a lot from that one. After some major yard work, I started putting it together on our 30x50 basketball court. the rink is about 26'x40, just right for our 3 little ones. The first year (2005-2006) sucked since I tried to use one of those "kits" where the sides are 2" plastic tubes with a liner layed over the whole thing. it would have to be dead flat to use - and since ours has a slight slope for drainage, I had to do a lot to hold up the frame. no skating at all that year.
The next year (2006-2007), while driving home after work listening to the forecast of below-zero weather, I was inspired. so I stopped at HD, got a bunch of material, and pretty much fine-tuned the plan as I went. I made side boards/frame out of a 2x8 "base" with a 2x10 screwed onto it to make an 'L'. this helped keep the sides from bowing out. It was screwed together at the corners, and I used the tarp from the "kit" I mentioned. getting that in place with even a slight breeze is a real PITA. I recall starting at about 5pm (started unloading the lumber) - temp 28 degF. Stopped briefly for a bite to eat and to help put the kids to bed, and finished around 11:30 PM - temp 2 degF.
I turned the water on at 12:45pm - a delay from when I finished the frame, because my hoses stored in the shed were frozen. I had to take them in to the basement and put then near the furnace to thaw. Went to bed, got up to check it a few times. and turned the water off at about 7:45AM. I forget the specifics, but it's several thousand gallons of water.
it takes a lot of work to keep it groomed, and I've never hated oak trees so much for dropping leaves all through the winter. But it's a lot of fun. My construction last year (2007-2008) was much faster and "cleaner", and I hope this year to make significant improvements as well.
Anyone here care to share their experiences?