My 1st ONR use

Although it had been running around the back of my mind for years, my shack went from a first inkling to moving in over a scant 13 months. One day the good neighbor moved out and the next day the neighbor-from-Hell moved in. For Sale sign was in the ground 3 weeks later and we were in a rental a few months after that. In the interim I was looking for land. I vowed that'd never happen again so I wound up on 5 wooded acres and hacked back into the woods and built right square in the middle. As land and the necessary improvements were kinda pricey a lot of the budget went for that necessitating some compromises on the rest of the project. A long driveway is a pain in the winter, leaves are a pain in the fall... doesn't matter. When I sneak back to the Lair I don't see anybody and I don't hear anybody unless I stick my nose out and deal with the rest of a world gone mad on my terms and timetable. Hmmm..... guess that qualifies me as reclusive. Lemme tell you, Bambi is the best neighbor I've ever had.

Regardless of the best laid plans, there's always something that you will wish you'd done differently or something you won't think of. You may not realize it for years but it's a fact of the building process. If you expect doing it from the ground up will result in having things exactly the way you want them, prepare for disappointment. Contractors don't hear what you're saying and subs are there to get in and out as quickly and cheaply as possible. Add to that the fact that it's tough to find anyone doing anything that takes the required pride in their craft to produce the results a detail-oriented person wants and you're starting to get the picture. Building might be the most stressful time of your life if you're a detail-oriented person that believes in doing it right the first time and refuses to compromise when it's your time and money you're investing in your dream. Don't get me wrong, I've been here 13 years and my hideaway produces exactly the serenity I was seeking in addition to having *most* things the way I wanted them. But there will be a booger of some kind, there always is. And hopefully it isn't something that makes you cringe every time you walk by it for years to come.

I went totally custom and wouldn't settle for spec anything, it costs more. DO plan on exceeding your budget by at LEAST 10%. While underway you're going to see something taking shape you'll want changed. Hopefully it won't necessitate a big tear-out but it'll cost more regardless. And while things are going up you'll become aware of some feature or material that you want. That'll cost more too. It's the price of being detail-oriented and wanting things the way you want them regardless of price. And I figure anyone that wants their cars and detailing projects as close to perfection as possible will probably settle for no less when building the place they're going to spend the largest part of their life. It's a cross to bear.

I probably should drop by and thank the crappy neighbor that got me moving in the first place. Dreams don't become plans and goals until they're put into action. I might well still be dreaming if circumstances hadn't demanded swift action. Time marches on, life changes as the unexpected unfolds. I would urge you to not wait too long ironing out every little detail spending time that could be used living those details. reach:

Wow, this got more long-winded than intended. Garage pics will have to wait for Spring. After 13 years of procrastination and getting sidetracked the garage is finally going to get the finishing touches... epoxy floor, cabinets and a few other things. I'll put up a thread once I get underway. I almost said 'once I get done'. But we all know, you're never, ever "done". :doh:

TL

 

Don't think I'll be packing up anytime soon, I don't do HOT well. In a cold climate you can put on enough clothes to deal with it, with heat and humidity I melt and stay close to an air conditioner set on "igloo". I think north in the summer and south in the winter is in my future eventually.

Living in paradise actually deprives you of the joys of having a freshly washed vehicle. You know the relief, joy and admiration you feel when a particularly nasty detailing jobs turns into a beautiful swan? I get that feeling 3 or 4 times a week after washing all the accumulated winter crud off of the cars You're depriving yourself. Should you decide to head this way to immerse yourself in that type of enjoyment I recommend growing some fur.

TL

 

great review and good to hear your experiences...

I started using this due to the sun, not snow, causing washing outside to be almost impossible without water drying etc etc. I have now been using it for winter washing as well, although we have only had the lightest dusting of snow this year and nothing like you get.

I find its the technique that really counts, and knowing how to get round the vehicle the smartest way. I also think it pays to get your kit organised, and I know have a large box with a divider in it for clean and used MFs, and can keep my spray bottles etc handy. It saves me a lot of time now as well.

I would recommend the pre-spray method as well, as it really does soak and soften the dirt effectively, ahead of you hitting it with the mitt. I keep a rinse bucket and rinse a LOT as I go round and had the same experience as you, with a clean ONR solution and dirty rinse bucket that can be emptied as needed.

I have now decided to make ONR my primary wash method, and have retired the hose and PW for the time being....

 

LMAO! LOL

Thanks for the invitation, but I don't go along with cold anymore. I got too much for my taste. One of the reasons I'm down here due to that, and mostly because I had homeitis(being sick of not being home). Believe it or not, I get that feeling too when I wash my car, is just that mine is not as noticeable as yours.

What part of NE Ohio are you? I used to live in Wooster and Akron before I headed back here.