Hockey is one of the most popular sports around the world, played by people of all ages. It is a great way to socialize while spending quality time with friends and family in the outdoors.
However, not all hockey courts are created equal. Some of them are just too small, making it difficult for the players to have any sort of decent match. This was the case for Nick and his family, who were looking to build their own backyard rink.
PVC (Permanent Vinyl Construction) is a building material commonly used for making outdoor sports equipment, such as hockey pucks, golf balls, etc.. It is extremely durable and functional, making it an ideal choice for people who play sports in all kinds of weather.
Although PVC has several advantages, it also has a couple of drawbacks. The most obvious is that it is not as flexible as other flooring materials, such as concrete or asphalt. This can be problematic if you are trying to build a court that is any shape other than a perfect rectangle.
On top of that, it is much more expensive than other options. While you could easily spend a couple hundred dollars on some hockey pucks and in-line skates, you would need to enter a more expensive ball park to lay down a synthetic turf field.
Fortunately, there is a simple solution to this problem, which is to use concrete instead of PVC for the court’s interior surface. While concrete provides more flexibility than PVC, it is still rigid and easy to shape, giving you a clear advantage in the court building process. Once you have poured the concrete, attach a hockey net to the wall above the court using PVC piping, and you have yourself a full court hockey rink.
So, if you are looking to build a hockey rink or any other type of outdoor sports court, check out this simple tutorial, where we will teach you how to make a hockey goal out of PVC.
Table of Contents
Materials Needed To Build A Hockey Goal
- PVC pipes – 2″ diameter (3/4″ or 1″ wide) for uprights and 1″ diameter (3/4″ or 1″ wide) for the cross-bars
- Concrete for interior – 4 to 5 hours of work, depending on the size of your batch
- Bricks or concrete blocks – for setting the court’s perimeter
- Hockey nets – 2 plexi-glass sheets (3/4″ thick)
- PVC sheet – 1/4″ thick (for fabricating the backboards)
- Marbles or pebbles – for shaping the surface and for aesthetic purposes
- Goggles or sunglasses – to protect your eyes from the cold when playing hockey (optional)
Step 1: Lay The Concrete
This is the most important step in the entire process, so make sure you do it right. After all, you will be playing on this court for many years to come. You need to make sure that the surface is smooth and hard, resisting all kinds of wear and tear. The key to a good start is by using some type of primer on the concrete before laying down the sheeting. This will help provide better adhesion for the sheeting, ensuring that it will stay in place for the long term.
If you are using concrete blocks, make sure that they are set well into the ground, and that they are not attached to any exterior walls or fences that could possibly fall over time. You could also leave a space at the bottom of the blocks so that the hose can run through easily when watering the court in the future. If you are using bricks, make sure that they are set on a flat surface and not angled to one side or the other, as this could cause problems when playing on the court.
Step 2: Assemble The Rest Of The Materials
Once you have laid your concrete, it is time to move on to the other materials. If you are using PVC for the court’s interior surface, you will need to attach the pipes to the wall above the court using some metal brackets and straps. Once the pipes are in place, you can cover the entire interior with a sheet of polyethylene. Be sure to leave some space at the top of the wall, as this is where you will place the hockey net for the goal.
If you are using a plexiglass backboard for the goals, you will need to fabricate one by hand using some PVC pipe and some plexiglass sheet (the kind used for making safety goggles). The best way to go about doing this is by first cutting the plexiglass into four equal squares. Next, cut along the diagonals creating eight squares. Then, you will need to draw six lines, dividing each square into four equal parts. Now you can begin to cut along the six lines, creating the desired shape of the backboard. Once you have cut the plexiglass into the desired shape, the next step is to attach a hardboard laminate to the exterior using some liquid nails.
Step 3: Place The Hockey Net
The final step is to place the hockey net. This is fairly straightforward, as you just need to nail it to the wall above the court using some nylon straps and some hooks. Be sure to leave some space above the wall for the height of the net. This is also the point at which you can start playing hockey on your newly built court!
If you have followed these steps, you have yourself a perfectly functioning and elegant hockey rink, made out of PVC. You can now sit back and enjoy your backyard, while your friends and family join in the fun.