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Planning Design

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q:

What is the difference between a portable and a permanent ice rink system?

A:

A portable ice rink system is temporary and can be rolled up and stored away in the spring. This allows you to have your yard space back again. A permanent rink system uses the same refrigeration and piping materials, however, the piping grids are embedded in a specially engineered concrete pad that becomes a multi-purpose sports pad in the summer months.

Q:

Can I put a portable rink system inside of a building year round?

A:

Yes. However, there is typically some engineering required for this and you will need additional materials in order to maintain the rink effectively indoors throughout the year.

Q:

How much does a rink cost?

A:

As each one of our projects is custom built to your specific site requirements and your wishes, we do not have a standard price list that we can publish. Each rink that we do is designed differently, located in different geographical areas and are usually different sizes.

    Our basic portable rinks can range in cost from $25,000.00usd to $150,000.00us
    Our larger custom, training and concrete rinks can range from $200,000.00usd to $600,000.00usd.
    Training and Specialty rinks can range from $150,000.00usd to $500,000.00usd for turn-key projects
    All rink accessories, such as boards, are extra and priced out separately.
Please visit the Contact Us page of our website for a useful questionnaire that you can submit to obtain budget pricing on your ideal rink project.
Q:

Do you offer financing?

A:

No. We do not currently offer financing on our systems.

Q:

Can you install a rink in my area?

A:

Yes. Custom Ice has qualified installation crews that can professionally install your ice rink project all over North America. We also have a network of dealers that could possibly install in your area. We occasionally install internationally as well, depending on the specifics of the project

Q:

Can you install a rink system in my in-ground pool?

A:

No. We can, however, install a rink OVER your in-ground pool. Custom Ice has a special staging system that is designed to cover your in-ground pool and then we install our rink materials on this platform. We only recommend this if you do not have space available beside your pool as it can be costly.

Q:

Can you install a rink on my existing tennis court

A:

Yes. Our portable systems can be installed on virtually any level surface, whether concrete, asphalt, grass, soil or wood. However, the area does need to be level in order for the system to work effectively.

Q:

Can I install the rink myself?

A:

Yes. We do offer Portable Do-It-Yourself Rink Kits in various sizes. These packages come complete with all the materials that you would require to create a basic outdoor portable ice rink surface, along with comprehensive installation instructions. Each rink is priced as a package and any accessories, such as boards, are priced out separately.

Q:

Can I make my rink bigger later on?

A:

Yes. Our Portable systems are modular. The rink can be made larger at any time by adding the required refrigeration units and expanding the piping along the main header end (width).

Q:

Up to what temperature will your system maintain ice?

A:

Our systems are designed to maintain ice up to 53 - 55°F (10 - 12°C).

Q:

Will your ice rink system damage my lawn/patio?

A:

No. Essentially, our system works much like a natural rink would. We are only freezing the ice. We lay down a liner and frame it so that we can contain the water. The only real difference is that there is a piping system that is built into to your ice slab, attached to a refrigeration unit or units, and this is what will maintain your ice when the weather warms up during the day or mid season.

Q:

How level does the rink area have to be?

A:

Our systems only have a tolerance of about ¼” to 1” of grade overall. Anything above this will compromise the efficiency of the system and affect the quality of your ice and the costs to run the refrigeration. There are many options to temporarily level an area without necessarily having to excavate.

Q:

Can I buy just the refrigeration unit?

A:

Our chiller units are designed to work in conjunction with our piping grids. They do not work as “stand alone” units for a natural rink. We do not generally sell the chillers to clients with existing piping systems unless we are comfortable with the compatibility and product specifications of your piping.

Q:

Do I need a concrete pad to put the chiller on?

A:

No. The only requirement is that the area that you place your chiller is also level. It can be located up to 20’ away from your rink with our standard design. We also recommend that the chiller be placed on the same level as the rink to help with the Glycol flow.

Q:

Can the chiller stay outside all year?

A:

Yes. Much like your central air conditioning unit, it has been designed to remain outdoors all year. We do, however, recommend that you cover the chiller fans in the summer months to prevent debris and small animals from getting into the fan motor and jamming it.

Q:

How loud is the chiller?

A:

Our chillers make about as much noise as your central air conditioning unit. They are designed for residential purposes, with noise being a major factor in the design. The chiller(s) will not run constantly as they are fitted with a special “Ice Sensor” that is used to monitor the temperature of the ice slab. Therefore, if Mother Nature is maintaining your rink for you, the chiller should not be running.

Q:

What is the life span of your rink materials?

A:

With proper care, maintenance and storage the rink chiller and piping in a portable system should last up to 15 years or more. In a concrete system, the piping is embedded and protected from the elements and constant handling and should allow for a much longer life span.

Q:

How much will your system cost to run?

A:

Although we would like to give you a simple calculation and answer to this question, we really have no way of knowing. Electrical rates can vary from city to city, and even suburb to suburb. It also depends on where you are located geographically, whether your rink is located indoors and what type of building it is in. An outdoor system will depend on the weather and whether or not is located in direct sunlight or not. As our best guess, we can estimate costs to be approximately $.30 per square foot, per month over a 4-5 month season in typical winter weather conditions outdoors.

Q:

Can you supply 3 phase electrical refrigeration unit(s)?

A:

Yes. We can modify our chillers to 3 phase electrical power, however, there are added costs and we require a longer lead time for production.

Q:

How long does it take to get one of your systems?

A:

Once your project details are finalized and we have a contract in place, we will begin design and production of your rink materials. This can generally take from 8 – 10 weeks (10 – 14 weeks from October to December). We always recommend booking before the end of March for the upcoming season so that you can secure the best production, delivery and installation dates.

Q:

How long does it take to install your systems?

A:

This depends on the type of rink and the size and specifics of your project:

    Portable Rinks – 2 to 5 days with 2 to 4 days for ice making, depending on the weather
    Permanent Rinks – 2 to 6 weeks with a mandatory 28 day concrete cure
    Indoor Training Rinks – 2 to 6 weeks, subject to site specifics and availability
Q:

Do you rent your systems?

A:

As each one of our projects is custom built to your specific site requirements and your wishes, we do not have a standard price list that we can publish. Each rink that we do is designed differently, located in different geographical areas and are usually different sizes.

    We require a minimum of 8 -12 weeks lead time to ensure availability and scheduling (1 year lead time is required for all rentals from October to January as this is our peak installation period and cannot guarantee availability or installation dates)
    We require a minimum of 2 weeks for set up and 2 weeks for take down of the rink and equipment
    We require a minimum of 2-4 days to make ice
    The site location must be level before we arrive to install unless otherwise negotiated in our rental agreement
    Boards or rail system, power supply, electrical, night lighting and maintenance equipment rental is additional and not necessarily provided by Custom Ice
    Maintenance of the ice and rink equipment is the responsibility of the renter for the rental term

about

Custom Ice is a product of the crossing of
two ice paths. Dave Gagner, a former
professional ice hockey player and
veteran of 15 years and Brendan Lenko,
a professional engineer and one of the experts in the ice rink industry.

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Contact Us

3375 North Service Road Unit C2
Burlington, ON L7N 3G2
Canada

905-632-8840

info@customicerinks.com