RAD Garage

[55cadillacking]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

Thanks Rick. I will keep my eyes out for your blog update. I read the Tornado gun use a lot of foam, what do you I would use to wash the truck? More then what I would need with the foam cannon?

Bob

It has a very small reservoir so you may need to fill it up twice to completely douse your truck. Once it is dripping in foam, you could do a bunch of different things. The one that will leave your floor the wettest would be using a bucket wash, but you may find using a rinseless wash system such as Optimum would work. I add one ounce of the stuff to two gallons of water and use a hefty microfiber towel to lightly go over the car.

 

[bob_the_builder]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

One last question for you Rick, how many PSI is your pressure washer? Just have been also pricing out pressure washers as well.

Bob

 

[55cadillacking]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

EDIT: My K 5.690 Kärcher is 2000 psi iirc. Kärcher makes hundreds, if not thousands of versions of the electric pressure washer. This one is probably discontinued by now, but their pressure washers are okay.

IMG_7248 by 55cadillacking, on Flickr

 

[55cadillacking]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

I performed a 30-minute "tidy up" of my garage floor yesterday. Put a video together that shows the process. Keep in mind, this is the process I use between thorough cleans in which I drag the floor out to the driveway.

Video can be seen by clicking here

Cleaning RaceDeck Floor by 55cadillacking

 

[bob_the_builder]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

That's good to know. I am still going back and forth between the foam cannon and tornado. I have a buddy that will lend a his older Simoniz 1650 psi pressure for a while so I could try it out. Not sure if 1650 to 2000 will make a big difference on the foam. Guess I will just have to try it out.

Bob

 

[55cadillacking]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

Bob, I edited the initial response above. Hooking a foam cannon to a pressure washer can be somewhat messy in a garage space. The Tornador Foam Gun runs around 90~100 psi and is easier to handle/aim.

1650/2000 psi shouldn't make a whole hell of a difference, like you say.

 

[08G8V8]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

Thanks for posting the video. I was curious how a stool rolls on the freeflow tiles. Looks like it rolls pretty good.

Been lurking for awhile, and placed my RaceDeck order on Black Friday. I was back and forth between your design and Dubber's. I went with yours, for a little red pop. My garage is smaller than I would like, 19' wide x 18' deep. Doing a black border, 2 tiles wide along the side walls, 1wide along front and the back wall, then a red box inside that, and graphite field.

Checked out your blog and see you were a previous G8 guy. You got a very nice stable of vehicles.

 

[55cadillacking]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

Thanks for posting the video. I was curious how a stool rolls on the freeflow tiles. Looks like it rolls pretty good.

Been lurking for awhile, and placed my RaceDeck order on Black Friday. I was back and forth between your design and Dubber's. I went with yours, for a little red pop. My garage is smaller than I would like, 19' wide x 18' deep. Doing a black border, 2 tiles wide along the side walls, 1wide along front and the back wall, then a red box inside that, and graphite field.

Checked out your blog and see you were a previous G8 guy. You got a very nice stable of vehicles.

Congrats on the placement of your RaceDeck order! I still love mine and I'm sure you'll love yours too.

Yes, I was the owner of a '09 G8GT. It had some weird paint issues, but otherwise a blast to drive! The stable only consists of one stallion at the moment, but I do miss all of the prior ones. Some more than others.

 

[cdoo932]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

Hey Rick, the the Audi Double garage is killer. I love it. I am getting ready to do my 22'x 22' garage and wanted your opinion on color. I have a Victory Red Corvette that has black stripes and I am gonna do the same color layout as you but was wondering how all black would look instead off graphite. Mine is gonna be for hanging out and parking the Vette. Not really a work garage. More like a show room. Thanks.

 

[55cadillacking]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

Hey Rick, the the Audi Double garage is killer. I love it. I am getting ready to do my 22'x 22' garage and wanted your opinion on color. I have a Victory Red Corvette that has black stripes and I am gonna do the same color layout as you but was wondering how all black would look instead off graphite. Mine is gonna be for hanging out and parking the Vette. Not really a work garage. More like a show room. Thanks.

Thanks for the kind words. From the sounds of it, you are going to have a pretty awesome hang out with the floor and Corvette and all. I think a black/red stripe/black scheme would look pretty slick. The Graphite that many use in the centre is pretty dark, so i don't think swapping that out for solid black would be that much darker. You could definitely go that way. You could also do a checkered black and graphite pattern in the centre...food for thought. Are you going with the RaceDeck Free Flow?

 

[cdoo932]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

Yea Free Flow. I love the 3d look from looking at it from an angle. How is it when you are standing on it looking straight down? Here is my Vette I am trying to match.

 

[55cadillacking]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

Yea Free Flow. I love the 3d look from looking at it from an angle. How is it when you are standing on it looking straight down? Here is my Vette I am trying to match.

You'll love the Free Flow. It looks great no matter what angle you are viewing it from. Even straight down. Your corvette is gorgeous. It would look good in my garage!

 

[55cadillacking]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

I will never stop messing around in my garage!

A few years ago, I made a little box to hide my furnace switch and thermostat. I decided to give it the axe and freshened up the outlets and conduit with some dark grey paint.

BEFORE:

IMG_6320 by 55cadillacking, on Flickr

AFTER:

IMG_0737 by 55cadillacking, on Flickr

I installed four more panels of Craftsman steel pegboard to keep me organized:

IMG_0728 by 55cadillacking, on Flickr

IMG_0731 by 55cadillacking, on Flickr

IMG_0730 by 55cadillacking, on Flickr

Not huge things, but they all help to improve the efficiency of the space.

Also added an "Audi Service Training" sign:

IMG_0033 by 55cadillacking, on Flickr

 

[dubber]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

Nice additions Rick. I feel like i've seen that audi sign recently somewhere, now its going to drive me crazy trying to remember. Next project is the decals on your former Oakley racks

 

[Sunbimmer]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

......Next project is the decals on your former Oakley racks

My thoughts exactly

 

[55cadillacking]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

Ha! Do they appear damaged to you guys? They are not. They are just based on the Canadian and Japanese national flags.

 

[dubber]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

You win this round.......

 

[Rockuf8]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

Cool video, thanks for posting that. You skip showing a step? How do you get the soapy suds clean? You can't just let it dry like that I'm guessing.

Nice work on the furnace switch and thermostat, looks so cool. Has an industrial look now. What type of paint did you use? Can you tell the temp of the thermostat now since you painted over it?

Great stuff as always...

 

[G20-Budo]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

Rick,

The additions you've added fit your garage very well (as expected). You continue to improve your space and set the bar high for the rest of us. Thank you for continuing to share your addition..er..um.. hobby with us.

 

[AndrewnTX]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

Nice job on all the updates, very inspiring!! I like the outside lighting a lot.

 

[55cadillacking]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

You win this round.......

Shabby decals in Rick's Garage, what were you thinking? Never!

Cool video, thanks for posting that. You skip showing a step? How do you get the soapy suds clean? You can't just let it dry like that I'm guessing.

Nice work on the furnace switch and thermostat, looks so cool. Has an industrial look now. What type of paint did you use? Can you tell the temp of the thermostat now since you painted over it?

Great stuff as always...

Great to have you posting again, Umberto. I usually go over the floor one more time with a rinsed mop, but didn't include that boring step in the video. For the thermostat, I just used the same latex paint I used on the walls. It was nothing to touch up the outlets with a little brush. I am going to make some marks on the thermostat eventually, but 15 degrees Celsius is dead centre on the dial, so that's where I usually keep it. I'm contemplating getting a more sophisticated thermostat so I wasn't too worried about painting over this one.

Rick,

The additions you've added fit your garage very well (as expected). You continue to improve your space and set the bar high for the rest of us. Thank you for continuing to share your addition..er..um.. hobby with us.

Sharing is caring!

Nice job on all the updates, very inspiring!! I like the outside lighting a lot.

Thanks, Andrew. Little updates, but thinking them up keeps this old man's mind sharp!

 

[EMC2]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

While the electricians were wiring up my new lighting, the SQ was outside. Calgary is sitting under a massive Arctic ridge and our temps are in the -20 to -30 Celcius range. She was happy to get inside.

Thank goodness for the Space Ray infrared heater.

Hi Rick - I had to come and take a look again to see how things are going. Amazing updates as always. Those lights are going to make indoor detailing a real pleasure.

 

[55cadillacking]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

Thanks for checking in EMC2. The lights are a massive improvement, but like other things, you end up getting used to it, so I'm not as amazed as I was a few weeks ago. Still, I'm glad I finally got some more lumens in the place.

My heightened need for order (re: OCD) forced me to reposition the pegboard panels I installed a few weeks back. I thought I could live with the two on the right being mounted horizontally while the one the left being vertical, but I didn't like it. Luckily, it was a quick and easy fix. I'll probably need to extend the painted stripe for the sake of symmetry. I'll probably make it solid red. I was trying something out with the dark grey "blade" but it's not sitting too well with me. Oh well, keeps me busy.

BEFORE:
IMG_0728 by 55cadillacking, on Flickr

AFTER:
IMG_0751 by 55cadillacking, on Flickr

 

[G20-Budo]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

Rick, I must say I agree with your change. It flows much better "looks" like you have more peg board space (technically I know it's the same, it just looks like it). \

Will be interested to see the stripe all in Red now.

 

[Schleprock]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

Sorry but I have to....The pegboard under the cabinets and the space between the SS mat washing station is driving me crazy ;^)

Garage looks amazing, I wish I had the eye for detail that you have!

 

[55cadillacking]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

Sorry but I have to....The pegboard under the cabinets and the space between the SS mat washing station is driving me crazy ;^)

Garage looks amazing, I wish I had the eye for detail that you have!

There's only room for one guy's OCD, here!

 

[bikingpro5]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

Rick, I've been looking into trench drains since you made the comment yesterday but not sure where you would have it drain. I also have a slopped driveway that sometimes becomes a bit of a rink after I'm done washing the cars and interested in what you had as ideas.

 

[55cadillacking]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

Yeah, that's been my issue as well. Once the water pools in the trench, where does it go? Plus, is it just going to freeze in the trench? I really wish I had of had the builder install a floor drain in the centre of my pad, but that's what they say about hindsight. I guess the best option for me would be to trench some of that landscaping conduit down the slope of my side yard so it empties out at the back of my lot where there is a drainage swail. It would require a lot of digging, and I'm not sure if that would be allowed under City bylaws.

IMG_8617 by 55cadillacking, on Flickr

I was going to have a concrete guy come out and give me his $0.02 in the Fall, but it never happened. I might revisit that idea when I get some time. It just ***** having an icy driveway. I do know that anything is possible, if you have the budget. Just not sure if I want to spend $1000's. I'll let you know if I have an epiphanies.

 

[bikingpro5]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

Yeah, that's been my issue as well. Once the water pools in the trench, where does it go? Plus, is it just going to freeze in the trench? I really wish I had of had the builder install a floor drain in the centre of my pad, but that's what they say about hindsight. I guess the best option for me would be to trench some of that landscaping conduit down the slope of my side yard so it empties out at the back of my lot where there is a drainage swail. It would require a lot of digging, and I'm not sure if that would be allowed under City bylaws.

I was going to have a concrete guy come out and give me his $0.02 in the Fall, but it never happened. I might revisit that idea when I get some time. It just ***** having an icy driveway. I do know that anything is possible, if you have the budget. Just not sure if I want to spend $1000's. I'll let you know if I have an epiphanies.

I was thinking about that as i know the bottom of the trench would become frozen and snow would also fall on/in it as it would be right at the door. If i placed it inside the door i would have to have it drain outside somewhere into a catch of sorts and my city would never allow that. I know i asked for a drain but the costs were high because of the added need to have a grease trap plumbed into the system to make it legal and to code.(builder wanted $2500)

 

[55cadillacking]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

I was thinking about that as i know the bottom of the trench would become frozen and snow would also fall on/in it as it would be right at the door. If i placed it inside the door i would have to have it drain outside somewhere into a catch of sorts and my city would never allow that. I know i asked for a drain but the costs were high because of the added need to have a grease trap plumbed into the system to make it legal and to code.(builder wanted $2500)

Yup, I think we are screwed. My builder wanted $4k for a drain for similar reasons. Thing is, I know a guy down the street that had a drain put in for free! From the same builder! Argh!

Plus, all the patching to the pad and driveway will probably be a nightmare. I need someone to invent a cheap and efficient system to corral the run off! If anyone out there has ideas, I'm all ears!

 

[bikingpro5]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

Yup, I think we are screwed. My builder wanted $4k for a drain for similar reasons. Thing is, I know a guy down the street that had a drain put in for free! From the same builder! Argh!

Plus, all the patching to the pad and driveway will probably be a nightmare. I need someone to invent a cheap and efficient system to corral the run off! If anyone out there has ideas, I'm all ears!

seems that way unless someone has ideas for us that wont freeze to the driveway before we are done washing the cars.

 

[Da Wad]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

There is always this option.

though I'm sure that the hydro bill would be off the charts.

http://www.warmup.ca/ca/heated-driveways.phtml?gclid=CJK7sbblkcMCFdgNgQodFawA5w

 

[wasfast]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

Many new homes have a piece of PVC that runs across the driveway to allow sprinkler lines to be run. If you have such a feature, that could be converted to a drain with a single core drill in the driveway.

Possible in your case?

 

[55cadillacking]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

There is always this option.

though I'm sure that the hydro bill would be off the charts.

A few homes in our neighbourhood have heated driveways. Very jealous.

Many new homes have a piece of PVC that runs across the driveway to allow sprinkler lines to be run. If you have such a feature, that could be converted to a drain with a single core drill in the driveway.

Possible in your case?

The builders up here don't think of things like that. Unfortunately.

 

[Scott0023]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

Yup, I think we are screwed. My builder wanted $4k for a drain for similar reasons. Thing is, I know a guy down the street that had a drain put in for free! From the same builder! Argh!

Plus, all the patching to the pad and driveway will probably be a nightmare. I need someone to invent a cheap and efficient system to corral the run off! If anyone out there has ideas, I'm all ears!

I had asked my builder about a driveway drain and he was all for it. That was until he saw the invoice. I forget the actual amount but it was a couple thousand $$. He didn't charge me.

My house was a couple months ahead of the house next to me. When the next door neighbor asked about a drain the builder got a lot more creative. He just added a single drain at the low point just on the side of the driveway. Since he was planning on this he did make the driveway slope a bit right to left. I actually like that better than my trough drain.

Scott

 

[55cadillacking]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

We finally got some nice weather, so I was able to clean the floor without worrying about creating an ice rink on the driveway. I put a little YouTube video together to document the process I have developed to thoroughly clean the floor.

VIDEO: Complete Winter Maintenance of RaceDeck FreeFlow Floor in Rick's Audi Double Garage

Here's a few photos to prove that you can have a clean garage in the winter, in Calgary.

IMG_0829 by 55cadillacking, on Flickr

IMG_0828 by 55cadillacking, on Flickr

IMG_0820 by 55cadillacking, on Flickr

IMG_0819 by 55cadillacking, on Flickr

IMG_0815 by 55cadillacking, on Flickr

IMG_0813 by 55cadillacking, on Flickr

I have been obsessing over little details for a month, so it was actually good to just get in there and clean it out. I'm pretty happy with how it has all come together.

 

[69bigblok]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

Great video Rick! I really need to do a full clean this spring and I like the method of pulling the strip back inside and having it elevated over the gas can to keep the debris off.

Do you mop with just soap and water? On my old solid RD tiles I used some liquid floor shine for vct floors and it looked great after cleaning. Gave it a nice gloss. Haven't tried the racedeck version of polish yet.

 

[55cadillacking]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

Thanks, Chad. I use a very small amount of Pine Sol in the mop bucket. I have never really investigated other products, but I'd be open to new ideas. It's incredible how much dirt and mess gets dragged into the garage in the slush and snow that accumulates under the car. I do my best to knock as much of it off as possible before entering the garage, but it's a losing battle most days.

 

[MattVette89]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

Very nice, well organized space.

I have the same issue as you with garage drainage, so always looking for solutions. I'll be following to see what you guys come up with.

 

[55cadillacking]

Re: Rick's Audi Double

Thanks, Matt. Currently, my strategy is to wait for mild days. Needless to say, I could use a more reliable strategy. Will keep you posted.