Backyard Ice Rink

Every winter for the past 4 years we have set up an ice rink in our backyard. The first year included a simple DIY setup with treated lumber and some accessories. It has been so fun that every year since then we have added a little something to make it better. One year we added the market lights that you see in the photo below and another year we did a complete makeover to our walkout basement patio.

This year we decided to give the rink itself an overhaul using the Nice Rink System. This system is made up of plastic brackets that get pressed into the ground and lightweight boards used to hold the side of the rink up. Plus they have a ton of other goodies that we get to include in this years rink!

DIY Nice Rink System Rogue Engineer 1

Project Video

How to Build a Backyard Ice Rink

Tools Required

  • String
  • Long Tape Measure
  • Rubber Mallet
  • Laser level (or something to figure slope)
  • Garden Stakes
  • Stakes for marking corners
  • Auger or Post hole digger


  1. The Layout


    Nice Rink offers a ton of instruction on how to install your rink so this is going to simply act as an overview of my set up. Since we have been setting this rink up for years we have a pretty good idea of the slope which is important to find first. Laying out the overall rectangle for the rink will require stakes, a long tape measure and pythagorean’s theorem to make sure it is square. Once the stakes are square then use a long string to outline the rink.

    DIY Backyard Ice Rink Step 1

    Since we are doing rounded corners, Nice Rink recommends marking 7-1/2′ in from each corner to begin the curve (and this is where the first board begins.

    DIY Backyard Ice Rink Step 2

  2. Installing the Boards


    The brackets have spikes on them and the point of the front spike is started where the string is and centered on the end of the board. When the bracket goes into the ground it will slide back and align with the string.

    DIY Backyard Ice Rink Step 3

    We got started on this a little late and the ground was cold. Using a rubber mallet was just the persuasion we needed to get these brackets into the ground.

    DIY Backyard Ice Rink Step 4

    Working one board at a time we worked our way around the rink.

    DIY Backyard Ice Rink Step 6

    The corners have a different spot for the brackets so make sure to pay attention to that.

    DIY Backyard Ice Rink Step 7

  3. Under-Liner Lights


    One cool upgrade this year was the under-liner lights. We installed 2 blue lines, a red line and a white perimeter light. These are great because they go under the liner and won’t attract any radiant heat from the sun which would melt the ice on a sunny day.

    DIY Backyard Ice Rink Step 8

    After getting thes positioned we secured them with garden stakes.

    DIY Backyard Ice Rink Step 9

    After getting the first look at them at night I was pretty pumped with how they were going to turn out.

    DIY Backyard Ice Rink Step 10

  4. Installing The Netting


    We also added netting at each end this year because I feel like we have been chancing it every year being as one end is facing the house and windows are in striking distance. I started by using an auger to dig the holes at each corner.

    DIY Backyard Ice Rink Step 11

    I had some longer 2x6s laying around so I screwed a couple of those together and used those as the posts. However treated 4x4s would be more ideal.

    DIY Backyard Ice Rink Step 13

    With the posts in and backfilled we could hang the nets. Our posts tipped in a bit from the weight of the net so if you wanted to you could add another rope and stake in the ground to the sides to prevent this.

    DIY Nice Rink System Rogue Engineer 1 1

  5. Liner and FIll


    When we saw some good cold weather in the forecast (below freezing for about a week) we started prepping for the pour. This included setting up the liner which is pretty straight forward.

    DIY Backyard Ice Rink Step 14

    With the liner laid out we fit the bottom to the insides of the boards and held it in place with a few bumpers.

    DIY Backyard Ice Rink Step 15

    We used a garden hose connected directly to the pressure tank from our well to fill the rink overnight. This bypasses the softener so we get more flow and don’t have to worry about running our softener dry.

    DIY Backyard Ice Rink Step 16

  6. Bumpers and Kickplates


    With the rink filled we could move onto installing the bumpers and kick plates. The kick plates are an upgrade that protects the liner from sticks, skates and shovels throughout the season.

    DIY Backyard Ice Rink Step 18

    The last bumper get cut to fit and now we wait for the ice to get thick enough to get on.

    DIY Backyard Ice Rink Step 19

  7. Freeze and Maintain


    One thing most people don’t think about is maintaining the rink. Whenever it snows it needs to be cleared as soon as possible. I do so by using a snowblower.

    DIY Backyard Ice Rink Step 21

    Then I go back with a snowshovel and clear what’s left.

    DIY Backyard Ice Rink Step 22

    Finally, I come back with my Nice Rink resurfacer (connected to the water heater) and apply a thin coat of water to get the ice back into perfect shape.

    DIY Backyard Ice Rink Step 23

    Any complications with slush and fixing other issues are addressed by Nice Rink’s many great articles.

  8. Enjoy!


    We have so many great nights and weekends in the winter to enjoy our rink. It is something that we look forward to as winter rolls around and it give us something fun to do outside.

    My son is on a travel hockey team and when he’s not at practice he is able to train out back.

    Screen Shot 2022 01 28 at 12.12.29 PM

    We use it on the weekends with friends and the kids love it!

    Screen Shot 2022 01 28 at 12.16.04 PM

    At night we even break out the music and have a little DJ skate in our own back yard!

    Screen Shot 2022 01 28 at 12.17.54 PM

I hope you guys enjoyed this article and if you have the motivation to build your own backyard rink make sure to check out Nice Rink for all kinds of products and info! Don’t forget to post some pictures of your own backyard rinks in the comments below.

DIY Nice Rink System Rogue Engineer 2

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