RAD GARAGE - Rick's Residential Detailing Theatre and Dream Garage
  • 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

BLOG (RETIRED)

FOLLOW ALONG WITH WHAT I GOT GOING ON

Lapiz Blue Golf R Project

7/29/2020

 
Picture
A YouTube viewer contacted me about putting my touch on his prized Golf R. I love these little rockets so I jumped at the opportunity. I performed a very thorough exterior detail and did my best to rid the paint of some tiny tar deposits. You'll have to watch the video to see how things turned out. It's a bit of a long video so I suggest grabbing a snack first! 

Swisstrax Canada Discount

7/21/2020

 
I'm pleased to be able to offer a $0.25/square foot discount to those Canadian friends wanting to purchase a Swisstrax floor for their garage. Simply reference "RAD GARAGE" in your email or phone call to the sales staff at Swisstrax Canada when placing your order. Be sure to keep your eye on Swisstrax.ca for any specials as well. Currently, they are running a 20% off sale on Ribtrax systems and a 15% sale on Diamondtrax tiles. As always, if you have questions about Swisstrax, feel free to shoot me a question. I am always happy to help people decide if Swisstrax makes the most sense for them and their garage. 

Gyeon Giveaway!

7/21/2020

 
I am so pleased to offer Canadian followers a chance at one of three Gyeon prize packs valued between $200 and $50! Go to my Instagram post and check out the giveaway rules. I will be making the draw for three winners on Tuesday, July 28th. Good luck to those of you who enter. 
Picture

2002 BMW M-Coupe Project

7/21/2020

 
Picture
I had an absolute blast putting my touch on this classy M car. Nick is a massive car enthusiast and entrusted his cherished M Coupe to me for a few days for I could absolutely spoil it. I performed an enhanced wash of the exterior. Nick keeps this car in tip top condition, but he had gone on a Southern Alberta cruise Sunday morning, so the car was substantially covered in insect debris. In all, I spent approximately eight hours giving this rare and majestic beast the washing of its life. Along with my trademark cinematic footage, this video features some commentary from Nick about the car and about some its special features and background. I hope you will enjoy. 

1994 Audi RS2 Avant Project

7/17/2020

 
Picture
Follow Dave's Instagram channel to see more of this RS2 as well as the other Audis in his incredible stable @blau_rs2
I had the opportunity to perform an in/out detail on a truly remarkable piece of Audi history this past week. On Thursday, I spent the entire day pampering a pristine 1994 Audi RS2 Avant. This car was never available in North America. They are finally starting to trickle in from Japan and Europe. Dave was gracious enough to help me with the video on this project. He is a veritable fountain of knowledge when it comes to all things fast and European. This car was a collaborative effort between Audi and Porsche and marks the first of the illustrious RS cars. It is finished in what is now known as "Nogaro" blue, but it was originally called "RS" blue. When they started using the colour on non-RS cars, they changed the name to Nogaro. Dave taught me this. I'm proud of the video so please take a minute to enjoy it. 
I'll admit I didn't know much about this car until recent years. As a kid, I was hyper focused on Fiero's and Firebirds. These cars are now garnering the global attention they rightfully deserve on this side of the pond. In fact, a "Bring a Trailer" auction for a similar RS2 just went live the other day. Check it out here. There's lots of information available online, but I liked this article that details the history, significance and technical features of the car. 

Riverdale Avenue

7/15/2020

 
We took our puppy down to Riverdale Avenue to walk along the Elbow River to Stanley Park. The weather was dodgy, but we made it out unscathed. I snapped a few pics of my ride along with some of the magnificent homes that line this very prestigious inner city road. We ended the trip off with a stop at our favorite ice cream shop in Britannia. 

Always Organizing

7/15/2020

 
I am constantly making minor tweaks to the organization of my garage. Here are some recent photos that illustrate how and where I store my tools, products and equipment that enhance the efficiency of my garage.

Historic Family Cars

7/15/2020

 
I dug up some old photos of family cars from the distant and not-so-distant past. I wish we had of taken more photos of cars back in the day. 

Best Sick Day Ever

7/15/2020

 
Picture
I was flipping through some old photos and came across this one from 1987. I remember this day well. I had stayed home from school that day because I wasn't feeling well and a massive package arrived at my door from Porsche Canada. I used to type up letters to car companies requesting literature and mail them off in hopes of getting a response. The box that arrived on this day contained three individual black boxes. Each box contained a die cast of a Porsche model along with the corresponding glossy brochure. I shared photos of these boxes and brochures on my blog a few months ago. This photo harkens back to the days when you needed to read to learn about cars. No YouTube and no Velocity channel on TV. You had to read magazines and brochures to learn about the cars.

Grey door stripe

7/12/2020

 
I hand-painted a grey stripe to play off the new decal on my door. I am now considering having some lettering printed out. Below, I have a photo of the garage door as it stands today, and next to that, I have a rendering of what I an considering doing. 

Garage door design

7/11/2020

 
I refreshed the design on the back of the garage door. I had the team at Custom Decals YYC print me up a 9" decal and I then I painted a corresponding stripe. I went with grey for the decal and the stripe as to tie into the existing grey colour theme. I am quite happy with the results. 

FOR SALE: JEGS 80006 floor jack

7/6/2020

 

* S O L D *

This is such a great jack, but I just have no occasion to use it since I have the Quickjack. Rather than having it occupy valuable real estate under my stairs, I am looking to sell it. I'm asking $130. It was easily double that brand new. Let me know if you are interested. Local pick-up only. Click here to view the specifications for this awesome jack.  

Facebook forum fun

7/6/2020

 
I was feeling pretty good about the state of the garage the other day so I threw some photos on two different car/garage enthusiast Facebook groups I belong to. Obsessed Garage and DetailWise are private pages, but worth joining if you are interested in seeing the car and garage-related craziness other people are up to. 

Trench drain project

7/6/2020

 
I'm still in the research phase of this project, but I am starting to connect with potential contractors because I do have a vision for a system that would "catch" water before it leaves my garage. If you know someone who would be interested in helping me bring my vision to life, please shoot me a DM here. 
Picture

Gully's Swisstrax tile popping tool

7/6/2020

 
Picture
This convenient tile popping tool is the brainchild of Shaun @ Gully's Garage. I have known Shaun for a while now, and he is always thinking about potential ways to solve life's little problems. He is a very driven guy with an impeccable eye for detail. He commissioned the manufacturing of these tools and they are now available for sale on the Obsessed Garage website. I highly recommend it because the paint can opener just doesn't cut it. This is the right tool for the job. Get yours today by clicking here. 

Carzilla shopping trip

7/6/2020

 
I made the trek to the other side of city to pop in on Chris at Carzilla. The shop was buzzing and there were so many boxes ready to ship out. I'm so glad things are busy for him because his shop is my favorite place to visit. I picked up a few things: 

Swisstrax videos

7/6/2020

 
Picture
I'm obviously a huge fan of Swisstrax flooring. Recently, there has been a lot of conversation in the comment section of my videos as well as on the Facebook forums I belong to. I felt it was necessary for me to share my experience with a Swisstrax floor in terms of function, practicality and maintenance. I have uploaded two videos to my channel that hopefully provide the information a person would need in order to make a decision regarding the suitability of this floor to their garage. 
Swisstrax is more than just a pretty face. Besides the striking appearance it brings to a garage, it provides a number of benefits to the function of my space. 
No garage floor system is maintenance-free. This video explains and demonstrates my process for keeping the tiles and floor underneath pristine. 

Changing up the inner door design

7/1/2020

 
As with pretty much every aspect of my garage design, I am changing up the look of the inside of my garage door. I've enjoyed the red stripe in the Audi motif, but I thought it was time for a bit of an overhaul. I recently repainted the entire interior side of the door with a white eggshell paint from Rona. Now, what will I do with it? I guess you'll just have to check back in a few weeks to see. 
    Picture
    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

    Picture
    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. 
    Picture
    Picture
    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"

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

    Picture
    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. 

    Picture
    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.

    Picture
    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. 

    Picture

    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. 

    Picture
    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. 

    Picture
    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. 

    Picture
    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.

    Picture
    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. 

    Picture
    Picture
    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. 

    Picture
    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.
    Picture

    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. 
    Picture

    Picture
    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. 

    Picture
    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. 

    Picture
    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
    Picture
    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

    CATEGORIES

    All
    Adam's Polishes
    Affiliate
    Audi
    Automobiles
    Carzilla
    Ceramic
    Crown Rally
    Daily Life
    Design
    Detailing
    Door
    Drainage
    Equipment
    Ethos
    Evolution
    Floor
    Graphene
    Interior
    Lift
    Lighting
    Maintenance
    Organization
    Other Garages
    Painting
    Partners
    Polishing
    Pressure Washer
    Previous Rides
    Products
    QuickJack
    Rinseless
    Rupes
    Storage
    Swisstrax
    Tools
    Videos
    Wheels
    Work Bench
    YouTube


    ARCHIVES

    July 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014

    RSS Feed

All images and content © 2014-2022. All Rights Reserved.                                                                   
  • 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