Back Yard Skating Rink Liners
“What to look for when selecting a backyard skating rink liner”
Back Yard Rink Liner Basics
The 2 most important things to look for in a liner for your back yard ice rink are…..
1. Has a white side
Although both sides do not need to be white. The side of the liner that is facing the sky MUST BE white. Back yard rinks need to reflect as much of the UV rays as possible to keep the rink frozen.
Using a back yard rink liner with any other colour facing the sky will lead to melting issues. This will reduce the longevity of your back yard rink season.
2. At Least 6 Mils thick
Rink liners should be on the thicker size. You are going to be filling your back yard rink with between 1500 – 4000 gallons of water. A pin hole puncture will turn into the size of a baseball within minutes and you will look all your water. When it comes to the liner part of the rink build, never going for the cheaper option.
At Rinkbuild.com we use a white industrial-grade liner that is 12 mills. We are so confident in our rink liners that we give a 100% guarantee on our liners.
The worst liners to use on a back yard rink
In the back yard ice rink community, there are 3 huge nonos when it comes to liner rink selection.
1. Reusing a liner
Never ever reuse a liner. Liners can be damaged during the yearly take-down, in transit to storage, or during the build. The last thing you want is to put all this time and investment into your back yard rink only to have shale ice all season. Never use a see-through liner or coloured rink liner that is not white
2. Never use a see-through or coloured liner that is not white.
Your liner is your first line of defence against ice melting. Colours will absorb heat, leading to the warming of the rink. Even a see-through liner will expose the green, yellow or brown grass under the liner. Even the colour of the grass under a see-through liner can negatively affect the longevity of the back yard ice rink.
3. Never use a rink liner that is less than 6 mills
Your rink liner is the only thing keeping the water in the rink. It is impossible to be certain that every twig, nail or has been picked up before installing the rink. A liner that is less than 6 mill stands no chance against any type of debris.
Selecting the right liner for your back yard rink.
The best back yard ice rink liner is a liner that is 10+ mils, at least 3-6′ larger than your rink frame and is coloured white. Lastly, the installation of your liner is critical so it does not rip or tare. Rinkbuild.com can be hired to install your liner, even if you built your own rink!
Thank you for taking the time to protect your rink and your neighbours’ yards. Take a look at our other posts for more information about back yard ice skating rinks.