• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Made in the U.S.A. | Shipping included for all online orders within the contiguous U.S. See Details
Order By Phone: (833) 261-6501
Americover logo

Americover | Plastic Sheeting Supplier for Construction and Horticulture

Protection from the Ground Up

(833) 261-6501 : Order By Phone M-F, 7am-4:30pm (PST) | Distributors | My Account | 0 Items
Log In Cart
  • Products
    • Shop by Application
    • GROWS
    • Agriculture
    • Greenhouse
    • Landscape and Hardscape
    • Water Retention Liner
    • Livestock Curtains and Barriers
    • BUILDS
    • Surface Protection
    • Containment
    • Vapor Barriers
    • Liners and Covers
    • Safety
    • Drainage
    • Recreational Events
    • Shop by Product
    • Greenhouse Plastic Sheeting
    • Reinforced Plastic Sheeting
    • Self-Adhesive Plastic Film
    • Fire Retardant Plastic Sheeting
    • Antistatic Fire Retardant Plastic Sheeting
    • Heavy Duty Liners
    • Tapes & Accessories
    • Heat Shrink Wrap
    • Vapor Retarders
    • Non-Reinforced Poly Sheeting
    • VIEW ALL PRODUCTS
  • About
    • About Americover
    • Who We Serve
      • For Builders
      • For Growers
      • For Distributors
    • Meet the Team
    • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Request a Quote
The Best Ice Rink Liners to Prevent Grass Damage

The Best Ice Rink Liner to Prevent Grass Damage

The Best Ice Rink Liners to Prevent Grass Damage

When building an ice rink outdoors, the main concern is whether or not the grass is going to survive the winter underneath all that plastic and ice.  The key to a successful ice rink build that does not damage your grass is using the right ice rink liner. 

What Plastic Sheeting Should I Use as a Hockey or Ice Rink Liner?

The best liners to use for ice rinks should have a long life, and not become brittle in extremely cold weather conditions, considering it will be resting between the frozen ground and multiple layers of ice in the freezing cold.  Durability is another feature that is important to withstand the weight of the ice on top of a surface that may contain little twigs and rocks.  Last, but not least, the best ice rink liners should be. White reflects sunlight, keeping the ice rink free from forming pockets of melted ice. There are durable options also available with white and black sides, but they should be installed with the white side up.

Ideally, your ice rink liner should be at least 6 mils thick. A thicker liner is better for rough ground, while a thinner liner is appropriate for grass. NHL hockey rinks have used Americover’s 6 mil White Dura-Skrim® Reinforced Plastic Sheeting material, but you can shop here to find a solution better suited for your needs.

Related Article: What is Plastic Sheeting Mil Thickness?

Some Considerations When Building an Ice Rink

Once you’ve secured the right plastic sheeting for your hockey rink or ice rink, there are other considerations to process before you can begin building your rink.

Timing

The beginning of winter is the best time to build an ice rink. This gives your rink time to freeze thoroughly and means that you can use it for as many weeks out of the year as possible. As winter comes to a close, you’ll be able to disassemble the rink and prepare it to be reassembled at the beginning of the following winter.

Field and Grass

The space where you build the ice rink should be level and flat. Because the ice of the rink will only be a few inches high, it is crucial that there not be any spots with jutting land or rocks. You can build the rink over grass, but any snow should be shoveled away.

Some might wonder whether an ice rink will ruin the grass. If you time the build of your rink correctly, you are less likely to damage your grass. This is because once the temperature is consistently below 50°F, grass goes dormant and can withstand darkness until the Spring.

Size

There aren’t any restrictions on how big or small your ice rink can be. The standard NHL rink is 200 feet long by 85 feet wide. For reference, that is larger than a standard NBA court (91.86 feet long and 49.21 feet wide) and smaller than the standard NFL field (360 feet long and 160 feet wide). It is practical for a backyard hockey rink to be smaller than the standard hockey rink size.

How to Build an Ice Rink

 

Build the Perimeter

The first step is deciding what to build the perimeter of your ice rink with. You may choose wooden boards, PVC pipe, or lightly packed snow. Using boards may result in a more consistent rink size and shape and helps the rink retain water while being filled.  

Unfold the Ice Rink Liner

When you unfold the ice rink liner, keep in mind you won’t be sealing it to the perimeter until after you’ve completely filled the rink to prevent unwanted ripping.  Also, try to avoid piercing the liner with nails while you are sealing it to your perimeter.  If you would like to add painted lines to your rink, paint PVC or wooden boards, and place them at the bottom of your liner before filling it with water.  

Fill the Rink

There are several ways to pack the rink with ice. The two methods that involve natural ice and don’t involve refrigeration are the traditional and liner methods. The traditional method involves packing the snow and then spraying it with water. Packing the snow can be done with your feet or, for a more even pack, with a snow roller. The rink should be filled one or two inches at a time to allow the layers to freeze. 

Trusted by Growers, Builders, and Distributors

Americover is the smart source for plastic and polyethylene sheeting. Trusted by contractors and distributors across the construction and agriculture industries, our American-made products combine reliability with quality and innovation. 

As an Americover customer, you will receive the personalized support of a dedicated account manager to simplify the ordering process and ensure the best solution for every one of your projects. Our friendly, knowledgeable staff is here to answer your questions and fulfill orders Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. If you would like to speak with a representative, call us at 760-388-6294 or contact us.

Primary Sidebar

Search Blog Posts


Categories

  • Americover BUILDS
    • Anti-Static Poly
    • Containment Liners
    • Crawlspace
    • Disaster Preparedness
    • Dust Containment
    • Fire Retardant
    • Floor Covering
    • Glass Containment
    • Green Building
    • Home Improvement
    • Radiant Barriers
    • Regulations and Safety
    • Renovation
    • Root Barriers
    • Surface Protection
    • Trade Shows
    • Vapor Barriers
  • Americover DIY
    • Halloween Haunted House
    • Heat Shrink Wrap
    • Helpful Tips
    • Ice Rink
    • Special Events
    • Water Slide and Summer Creations
  • Americover GROWS
    • Aquaponics
    • Greenhouse Covers
    • Harvest Tips
    • Hydroponics
    • Light Deprivation
    • Marijuana Growers
  • Americover News
  • Product in Action
  • Uncategorized
  • Video Library

Subscribe to News and Updates

Register to receive product updates, special offers, and industry news!

SUBSCRIBE

833.261.6501
inquiries@americover.com
Submit Contact Form

Request a Pricing Quote

Simply fill out the form below and a team member will get back to you shortly to discuss your Volume Pricing quote.

Footer

About Us

Americover is a premier supplier of plastic sheeting and polyethylene solutions serving businesses and consumers across the construction, horticulture and agriculture industries.

Contact Us

833.261.6501
Send us an email
Submit Contact Form

Order Support

  • My Account
  • Request a Catalog
  • Shipping & Returns
  • Warranty Coverage
  • FAQs
  • Conversion Calculators
  • Contactenos (Español)

News and Updates

Blog

Subscribe to receive product updates, special offers, and industry news!

Subscribe Now

Copyright © 2023. Americover, Inc. All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Headquarters: 2067 Wineridge Place, Ste F, Escondido, CA 92029