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I don't know if it's possible, or how expensive it would be, but here's my idea: Build a backyard rink that is usable close to 12 months of the year. I want to pour 4-6" of concrete as the base, paint it white with red/blue lines, circles, etc... Flood it to freeze in the winter, and keep it clear for inline in warm weather. Possible? Not sure what to make the boards out of. The pre-fab ones I have found online are expensive, but plywood would rot or break with shots. Basically, I'm looking to keep my kids around our house all the time...
I would put a few drain pipes in the surface, placed in the goals or very close to the boards so inline wheels wouldn't wipe out on them.

I am thinking about 50' x 30' or something like that.

#1 obstacle I foresee- convincing my wife! Besides that, does it sound feasible? Seems pretty basic to me, but maybe I'm overlooking major obstacles. Thanks for any ideas/help.

i don't see why the wife would be upset, that is an awesome awesome idea.

You'll probably have to do it in 2 stages, an actual foundation, then build up another couple inches and use that quick drying really wet self leveling concrete on the top to give it that shiny concrete look. coat the concrete with some water sealant, and bobs your uncle. you'll probably want to seal it every summer though.

We play ball hockey on the ice rink in summer here as it is just a big smooth finished concrete pad.

What's a 1500 square foot pad cost around there? I'd see what kind of usage a backyard rink gets you before spending thousands on something.

Hounsy- not sure on the cost. I just wanted to see if anybody instantly pointed out why it would be unrealistic to do. I have a neighbor with a Kubota, concrete mixer & a heart of gold. So the construction cost wouldn't be too bad. Materials, and upkeep are my concerns.

Bumpy- really think it'd have to be sealed every summer? I'm not too experienced with concrete. I figured my house foundation is underground.... I guess the wheels would wear off any finish though. I am thinking pool paint. Usually stays wet year round, and held up pretty well under skateboard wheels when I used to pool hop. I mean uh, when those awful derelicts used to pool hop!

true it doesn't, but your not exactly rollerblading over it everyday either, so if its a little rough around the edges, doesn't matter.

To keep it nice, cause once water gets in there, it'll crack after every winter.

I've in a past life worked in concrete and did some smooth finish jobs for commercial freezer floors and it was still one pour you just worked it with a helicopter trowel machine till it was firmly set.

Good advice, thanks to you both.

I don't see any reason why it wouldn't be feasible
You might want to slightly slope it towards the goals (love the idea of drains inside the net area) so the rain
would naturally run off with minimal squeegeeing

Of course, you'd want to cap the drains in winter

i was thinking drains, but those would be a pain to maintain in the winter. if you want easy water draining, just make the rink slope either from the middle out, or to one side, or half way out from the middle. would have to be diligent in cleaning it though come the winter, sealing everything before it freezes.


if you need help with cement shoes, i gotta great recipe for that as well!

Local ball hockey rinks use an asphalt under pad with rubber mesh mat for a playing surface and they just slope out to the sides. As a representative for crappy goalies everywhere I just can not condone the idea of a slope into the net.

My problem with just sloping the surface is that means a few hundred gallons of water heading toward my basement. If I run PVC- with the surface drains in the goals & the exit having a hose attachment, I can bring the water downhill past the house and avoid being able to swim in my basement. I would get plugs for when flooding, or it would't flood, would it?

Hounsy- I agree, sloping toward goals is cruel.

Bumpy- I'm 1/4 Italian. I'ma good witta da cement shoes recipe. Capice? But thanks anyway.

Now the #1 problem- my wife doesn't like the idea! She thinks we have enough stuff in the yard already. I agree, but this would be cool darn it!