What to Expect from a Backyard Skating Rink in Toronto
Learn today what to expect from a backyard skating rink experience in Toronto. We’ll cover the best types of Toronto backyard ice rinks, how Toronto weather impacts your rink, how long the local skating season lasts, and some expert tips and tricks from a professional Toronto rink builder to help you create the perfect hockey rink at home.
Topics Covered
Best types of backyard rinks for Toronto weather
How long the Toronto backyard ice rink season lasts
Toronto weather impact on backyard skating rinks
Expert rink tips from a Torontonian rink builder
What Is the Best Type of Backyard Ice Skating Rink for Toronto Weather?
Your first thought might be: “Go big or go home” with a massive half-NHL-size hockey rink complete with refrigeration, floodlights, and dasher boards. While this might be every hockey player’s dream, it can be any homeowner’s nightmare. Slap shots against the boards can sound like shotguns, the lights can upset your neighbours, and the cost — you’re looking at at least $75,000. In fact, one Toronto resident built a huge backyard ice rink last year and ended up in legal trouble with the city, forced to take it down at a complete loss.
A more affordable option is a rink kit. These kits are reusable, DIY-friendly, and great for flat surfaces. However, most Toronto backyards have a natural slope. Rink kits typically cost $3,600–$6,000 with shipping and take about 3–4 hours to build, but uneven yards can lead to disaster. One of our clients tried this approach and, because of grading issues, experienced a blowout that sent over 2,000 gallons of water into his basement, causing more than $50,000 in damage.
We later built him a custom RinkBuild.com backyard skating rink, and he’s been a loyal client ever since.
The final and best option for most homes is a RinkBuild.com backyard skating rink — perfect for graded Toronto yards and completely user-friendly. Our rinks cost between $1,800–$3,600, plus a few hundred each year for takedown and rebuild. We laser-level every yard before quoting, then check it at least twice more before it’s skated on. This ensures that you’ll have a smooth, skate-ready Toronto backyard ice rink all winter long.
How Long Is the Toronto Backyard Rink Season?
The natural Toronto backyard rink season usually starts just after Christmas. Most of our clients enjoy skating through to March Break. For homeowners who invest in a refrigerated hockey rink, the season can be extended by about a month, giving you even more time to enjoy your personal outdoor skating rink.
How Toronto Weather Impacts Backyard Skating Rinks
Toronto weather can be unpredictable, but rest assured — backyard skating rinks always freeze. During warmer spells, skating may not be advisable. The best thing to do on these days is nothing — avoid disturbing the ice, and it’ll be ready to skate again as soon as the temperature drops.
Pro Tips from a Torontonian Rink Builder for Warm Winter Days
Noah from RinkBuild.com here. After building hundreds of Toronto backyard skating rinks, here are my top three tips for maintaining great ice during warm winter days:
Always shovel snow off the ice, unless it’s slushy. Removing slush leaves footprints that freeze and take lots of water and time to smooth over later.
Keep all gear off the ice when not skating. Backyard rinks use a white liner to reflect sunlight and protect the ice. Pucks and nets absorb heat, melting into the surface and causing bumps or divots.
If your rink gets bumpy, don’t panic. Our Rink Doctor Service can help restore your Toronto backyard hockey rink, or you can usually fix it with a careful reflood.
Build Your Toronto Backyard Skating Rink with RinkBuild
We hope this guide helped you understand how Toronto weather affects backyard skating rinks and what to expect from your Toronto backyard ice rink experience. With the right setup and maintenance, your family can enjoy an amazing winter — right in your own backyard.
For a free yard assessment or to learn more about building your Toronto backyard hockey rink, visit RinkBuild.com.