RAD GARAGE - Rick's Residential Detailing Theatre and Dream Garage
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BLOG (RETIRED)

FOLLOW ALONG WITH WHAT I GOT GOING ON

Yamaha Sound Bar Installed

3/25/2016

 
I was planning to pick up a cheap sound bar for my 42" Sony TV in the garage, but I ended up walking out of Visions with a mid-range Yamaha model.  I chose the Yamaha YAS-105 with dual built in subwoofers, just to give the garage sounds a boost.  It was a quick and easy install and I am very pleased with the improved acoustics.  I had a few jobs going on at the same time, so there was a mild amount of chaos, but things are all back to normal now.  Here are some photos for your viewing pleasure.  

Shoulder Season Wheel Swap

3/23/2016

 
Spring has sprung, so it was time to take off the winter wheels and install my shoulder season setup.  Here's some photos of the event.  I am still putting the finishing touches on the winters before I sock them away.  If you haven't had the chance to see what is involved with detailing my winter wheels prior to storage, you can see the process here.  I have to go now.  I have a lot of rocks to pick out of the treads.

Spring Spruce-Up

3/22/2016

 
I wouldn't call it a full detail, but the SQ5 got a pretty decent wash this afternoon.  I really got under the car with my new Kobalt pressure washer as well as the wheel wells.  The driveway was awash with dirt afterwards.  Once the dirt was off, I backed her up into the theatre to have at her.  Here's a finish shot.  
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New Pressure Washer

3/22/2016

 
I had big dreams of picking up a Kranzle K1122TST pressure washer, but I wasn't comfortable spending well north of $1000, so I picked a much more reasonably priced one at Lowes.  It' s the KPW2000 2000 PSI 1.4 GPM Cold Water Electric model by Kobalt, but it is manufactured by AR, which is a pretty decent manufacturer of pressure washers from what I can gather.  
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I had an opportunity to assemble and test it out this morning, and it is far and away superior to the Kärcher it replaces.  While it may not compare in build quality to a Kranzle, it did a fantastic job of spraying off the SQ5 and driveway.  

Working on the Rails

3/21/2016

 
The moisture takes a heavy toll on my garage door rails during the winter months.  By Spring, the rails are corroded pretty bad, so I took an hour or so sprucing them up.  I used sandpaper and my dremel to remove the corrosion, and applied a coat of my darkest grey paint.  Here's a quick before and after shot.  

Booster Seat

3/17/2016

 
My son recently eclipsed the 40-lb mark so we could move up to a booster seat.  Not having to clip and tighten that harness each and every time he hops in the seat is awesome.  We went with the "Monterey" by Diono which we have heard really good things about.  I also bought their seat protector pad to safeguard the leather.  Here are a few photos to demonstrate what it looks like in the back of the SQ5.  So far, my son is absolutely loving it.  

Auto Show Impressions

3/17/2016

 
The Auto & Truck show hit town last weekend, so I made my annual pilgrimage down there to see what was new in the world of automobiles.  Despite a few head-scratchers, I thought there was a fantastic number of great cars and trucks at this year's show.  Allow me to share some of my impressions on the various exhibitors in attendance.
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Kia is killing it.  I have seen nothing but steady improvement from them in all regards.  From the Macan-inspired projector head lights on the Sportage, to the opulence of the $80K+ K900, Kia is emerging as a tour de force. 
I was kind of feeling the vibe at Volkswagen.  Things don't seem to dramatically change at VW, but I was extremely impressed with the Golf R.  That thing is awesome, but I'm not sure I'd part with $50k for one. 
The Hyundai line up didn't excite me much.  They had the sporty version of the Sonata on display, but it didn't do much to inspire my boy racer side.  That said, I do appreciate the bang for buck offered by the Genesis coupe and the understated luxury of the flagship Genesis sedan.  
Mitsubishi is the new Suzuki.  Many of their vehicles are homely, and I learned that the company is pulling the plug on the ever-popular Lancer, along with its performance-oriented EVO cousin.  I give them a year.
Chrysler is a mixed bag for me.  They have some legit muscle cars, so why would they churn out a "MOPAR" performance version of the pedestrian 200?  It had a cheesy decal running the length of the body along with some other desperate accessories including a tinted bug deflector.  Nothing says performance like a bug deflector.  The Pacifica minivan was an unexpected breath of fresh air, but the rest of the lineup is showing its age.  
Ram is in desperate need of an update.  The design seems at least 20 years old.  
I wasn't thrilled with the Toyota line up.  My friend is a huge Tacoma fan, and even he expressed his disappointment in the current Tundra compared to the other big trucks.  The company insists on marketing the Camry as some sort of performance vehicle, I think Toyota needs to fire its entire design team and start from scratch. 
Buick baffles me.  What is a Buick these days?  They had a superior looking concept car, but even if it made it to production, who would buy it?  If I want an American luxury car, wouldn't I buy a Cadillac?  It doesn't help that their advertising continuously drives home the point that they have a lame reputation. 

Read More
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    RAD GARAGE is my personal detailing theatre. I am a teacher who finds immense pleasure in completing deeply therapeutic, thorough and highly satisfying detailing projects in my residential garage. I have converted my suburban double car garage into a world class detailing environment and I enjoy caring for my own car and select cars belonging to others. The garage and the work I complete in it have allowed me to connect with other detailing enthusiasts from around the world. ​
    Contact me

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    I have teamed up with Teespring to offer viewers an opportunity to grab some RAD gear! Click here to see the current inventory of RAD merchandise available at my Teespring store! 
    Use "RAD10" to save yourself 10% until the end of March, 2021. 
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    Carzilla is a local detailing store that caters to the North American community of professional and enthusiast detailers. I have been a longtime customer and I am fortunate to call the owner a friend. Besides stocking a vast quantity of top quality detailing products, the owner has supported various garage and detailing projects of mine over the years.

    5 %   d i s c o u n t   c o d e
    "RADGARAGE"

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    I am able to offer all Canadian detailing pros and enthusiasts a 5% Carzilla discount code. Check out the awesome Carzilla online store here.

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    The team at Annovi Reverberi North America reached out to me and commended my work. They generously offered to supply me with one of their pressure washer systems. I can't express how satisfied I am with the performance of my AR630TSS pressure washer and highly recommend this machine to all enthusiast and professional detailers. If you are considering upgrading your existing pressure washer system, I highly encourage you to price things out over at the Obsessed Garage website. 

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    I have equipped my garage with a variety of LED lighting systems from this family-owned company out of Saskatchewan. They have a variety of garage lighting solutions to fit every need. Be sure to visit their website and use "RAD10" at checkout to receive a 10% discount on your order.

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    I am proud to rep Obsessed Garage. Click on the banner below to explore the complete OG inventory. By using my affiliate link, any purchases you make will help me equip and enhance my garage. 

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    25¢ per sq ft discount
    "RADGARAGE"

    Swisstrax manufactures the highest quality modular flooring system you can get for your garage. I am able to offer a 25¢ per square foot discount to Canadian friends wanting to install a Swisstrax floor in their garage. Simply reference "RAD GARAGE" in your email or phone call correspondence with the Swisstrax Canada sales staff. 

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    The  expert team at Glove Box curates boxes of high quality products that work together towards a common goal. I highly recommend you check out their website to see the various boxes and purchase options they offer. You can make a one-time purchase of any past or present boxes, or opt for a 3, 6, or 12-month subscription. Whatever option you decide to go with, use "RAD20" to receive 20% off your introductory order. 

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    Adam's is one of my all-time favorite brands of car detailing products. I have made friends with a number of team members and I appreciate the support I have received from them over the years. I have also been fortunate to meet many other Adam's fans from all over the world. Check out the Adam's website here. 

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    If you are in the Calgary or surrounding area and you are looking to have some concrete work completed, I highly recommend reaching out to the team at Concrete Innovations. They did a tremendous job on my garage drainage system. You can save $300 on your own double garage drainage solution by contacting them and telling them I referred you.

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    Tim and his team at Ethos have been hard at work bringing innovation to the detailing industry. I have been fortunate to have received a number of high quality Ethos products and I have found all of them to be highly satisfying. I am a huge fan of this company and their "Defy" ceramic protectant spray is one of my all time favourite products. 

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    Tunerworks is a performance-minded automotive service centre located in Calgary. It is my go-to source for wheels and tires and all other things automotive. If you are interested in connecting with the team at Tunerworks to see how you can improve your car's appearance and/or performance, give the team a call at 403.398.9833 and tell them Rick sent you. 

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    A few years ago, a Quickjack representative reached out to me because I had mentioned on this blog that I was looking for some sort of lift system. We corresponded back and forth and I ended up receiving a sweetheart deal on a QuickJack BL-5000 SLX lift system. I immediately fell in love with it. I sent the team at Ranger Products a variety of photos of the lift in action in my garage and they have featured them in various online ads, including the US and Canada Costco websites.
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    TRITON DOOR SERVICES
    Triton is owned and operated by Mike Awada and he is a highly skilled and experienced garage door technician. I highly recommend reaching out to Mike if you have any garage door concerns or if you are interested in upgrading your home's garage door and/or door opener system. 
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    The team at Auto Shield Canada has been extremely supportive of me and my detailing pursuits. They have provided me with samples of their graphene coating and even gone to the lengths of helping me apply it on a friend's 2008 RS4. I look forward to watching this company make deeper inroads into the market with their high quality coatings. 

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    The team at Lithium Auto Care has been highly supportive of me and my detailing hobby by sending me a number of samples in exchange for my feedback. I have been very impressed with the products I have tried and I have been even more impressed by the quality of service they have provided me. 

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    Extra Tough is a highly effective and versatile all-purpose cleaner. The team at Extra Tough sent me two complimentary gallons of this cleaner and I have used it in a variety of jobs around the garage. Most famously, I used it to deeply clean the carpeted wheel arches of a pristine Misano Red RS5. It is available through their website. 

    CROWN RALLY 8
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    I was fortunate to have been invited to participate in the 8th edition of the Crown Rally. This is a high octane car rally that explores some of the most amazing drives in the Untied States. Click the image above to learn more about this amazing adventure. 

    OTHER RAD FRIENDS

    ​Custom Decals YYC
    Geoff Wilkings Photography
    Glenmore Audi
    ​Kaizen Foam
    Space-Ray Heaters
    ​Tire Rack
    Trek Bicycles
    ​TSW Wheels

    OTHER RAD GARAGES

    In addition to showcasing my own garage, I enjoy sharing other amazing garages. Here are some spaces that I have featured on my blog: 
    Tavin Garage
    Tyson's Acura Museum
    Larry's Charlotte Showroom
    dubber's double
    Chad's "Next" Makeover
    Gully's Dream Garage
    Orland Park Audi Oasis
    Cory's Industrial Arts Studio
    Brynjar's Icelandic Garage
    Pat's Controlled Chaos
    ​Greg & Nancy's Place
    ​Brandon Burrell's Toy House

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  • Home
  • Affiliates
  • Audi
    • 2018 SQ5 Technik (Current)
    • 2014 SQ5 Technik (Previous)
    • 2009 Q7 S-Line (Previous)
  • Blog
  • Build
  • Contact
  • Design
  • Detailing
  • Door
  • Drainage
  • Gallery
  • Heat
  • History
  • Lighting
  • Livestreams
  • Merchandise
  • Music
  • Organization
  • Pressure Washer
  • QuickJack
  • Swisstrax Floor
  • Videography
  • YouTube