--- title: "Tom Ralston Concrete — Design-Build Firms | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/design-build-firms/tom-ralston-concrete-pfvwus-pf~1325881900 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~1325881900.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Tom Ralston Concrete" category: ["Design-Build Firms"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/8f63c08f02a870d0_0641-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "241 Fern St, Santa Cruz, California 95060, United States" latitude: 37.0313 longitude: -122.1198 phone: "(831) 426-0342" website: http://tomralstonconcrete.com rating: 4.2 review_count: 6 followers: 113 last_updated: 2026-09-05 --- # Tom Ralston Concrete Original Houzz profile: [Tom Ralston Concrete](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/design-build-firms/tom-ralston-concrete-pfvwus-pf~1325881900) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Design-Build Firms - **Location:** Santa Cruz, CA - **Serves:** Serving mainly The Bay Area, however TRC travels Nationally and Internationally for special projects. - **Houzz rating:** 4.2 out of 5 (6 reviews) ## About ### Houzz Badges - Recommended on Houzz - 10,000 Ideabook Saves Third Generation Concrete Contractor Specializing in Decorative Concrete. We Do Structural and Decorative Concrete Including: Concrete Design and Consultation; Interior Floors, Hardscapes, Masonry, Outdoor Kitchens, Pool Decks, Patios, Driveways, Countertops and more…see www.tomralstonconcrete.com Tom Ralston is a third generation concrete contractor out of Santa Cruz, California. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California at Santa Cruz California and has been at the helm of Tom Ralston Concrete since 1989 with 4 divisions including; structural, decorative, masonry and specialty concrete. Tom Ralston was inducted into the Decorative Concrete Hall of Fame in Nashville on March 16th, 2011. Tom's passion has been decorative and specialty concrete. His recognized expertise has allowed him the opportunity to share his knowledge through seminars and “hands on” training for over 15 years. Tom has given seminars for over 15 years and spoke on various topics of decorative concrete at the World of Concrete for 7 consecutive years. Other numerous presentations have included events sponsored by the Granite Rock, the American Concrete Contractors Society, the Decorative Concrete Council, presentations for AIA accreditations, the National Ready Mix Association and more. Ralston’s work has been displayed on the covers of 7 magazines and appeared in over 60 trade and design publications including: Architectural Digest, Interior Design, Sunset Magazine, Concrete Décor Magazine, Concrete International Magazine, Concrete Construction, Journal of Light Construction, Concrete Concepts, California Home and Design, Santa Cruz Magazine and others ### Services Provided - Structural and Decorative Concrete Including: Concrete Design and Consultation; Interior Floors - Hardscapes - Masonry - Outdoor Kitchens - Pool Decks - Patios - Driveways - Countertops and more…see www.tomralstonconcrete.com ### Areas Served - Serving mainly The Bay Area - however TRC travels Nationally and Internationally for special projects. ### Typical Job Cost Small - Large Our projects can range from $500-$500,000 ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Tom Ralston Concrete | | Address | 241 Fern St, Santa Cruz, California 95060, United States | | Phone | (831) 426-0342 | | Website | http://tomralstonconcrete.com | | License Number | \#736486 | | Followers on Houzz | 113 | **Social profiles:** - Facebook — http://facebook.com/tomralstonconcrete - LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/company/3601939 - Blog — http://tomralstonconcrete.com/blog ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Tom Ralston Concrete](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/design-build-firms/tom-ralston-concrete-pfvwus-pf~1325881900) - **Website:** http://tomralstonconcrete.com - **Phone:** (831) 426-0342 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - Tom Ralston has written 2-books in the field of Decorative Concrete, been a speaker at various industry engagements, has won over 12 National Awards for excellence in the field of concrete and in 2011 Tom was voted into the Decorative Concrete Contractor’s Hall of Fame. ## Reviews **Overall rating: 4.2 out of 5 — 6 reviews** ### All 6 reviews **★ — Brannon Duncan, July 2018** > Sadly disappointed. Mediocre product with even worse follow-up. Despite numerous calls and exhaustive efforts to insure installation was handled appropriately beforehand, when a poor finish resulted, the only response from Tom was blaming me for not being willing to have more $2,000 "test strips" poured beforehand. **★★★★★ — Graham Kenville, March 2017** > We bought a house with a heaved, crumbling driveway in the front and drainage problems in the back. > > We got three bids, with Tom Ralston's coming in the middle. The neighbors on both sides of us saw the Tom Ralston trucks and came over to tell us what great work they do so we ended up going with them. > > We were not disappointed. The crew worked when they said they would, the job was completed on time (fast!) and on budget. Tom Ralston is known for doing beautiful artistic things with concrete, but we really just needed a simple driveway and had budgeted accordingly. > > Nevertheless they didn't look down on the project and their close attention to detail elevated it from just an ugly driveway to a nice feature of the house. At one point a couple of members of the crew were debating which direction to make a curve in the path to the front door -- they made the right choice and it looks great. > > We didn't get to really test the drainage for a couple of years, but even in this year's crazy winter we've had no problems. > > All around they did a great job and were great to work with. **★★★★★ — Floor Huggers, Sept. 2016** > Having been on the local building industry for years, I have seen numerous Tom Ralston projects installed in homes and business where we were providing flooring. I have always been impressed with the creativity, design and finished product of their projects. **★★★★ — jeffnlindar, April 2016** > Bill Goff the representative for Ralston Concrete was great! > Always returned phone calls, prompt to appointments and very creative! > We love our new driveway/patio! **★★★★★ — Nielsen Studios, Oct. 2015** > Tom's innovative artistry is unparalleled in the concrete world. He is truly a master at his craft. His puts his heart and soul into his projects and it shows in the results. **★★★★★ — linorlevav, Sept. 2012** > Tom and his team were hired to redo the concrete hardscape for our home (replacing original aggregate concrete). We compared Tom's bid to the other bids we received and found him to be more than fair relative to the competition. Tom visited our property multiple times (sometimes accompanied by his crew), shared his ideas, gave advice, and never pushed us in a direction that he felt we wouldn't be comfortable with. He even hosted us on a Sunday at his own shop to show samples of finishes, despite it being his one day off ... but he proved to be a fantastic listener who understood what we were after, and even recommended changes to the initial design that resulted in an outcome that exceeded our expectations. And the result is AMAZING. What he did with our outside even made people notice our interior renovations more. He and his team worked while we were abroad -sending photo updates during the entire process. And we were right to trust him. He is also a perfectionist, and was willing to redo entire areas of finish to make sure we loved the result. His skill with making concrete look sleek, modern yet inviting is unusual. Our landscaper, who is also does concrete work, was shocked by the quality and look of Tom's work. I would recommend Tom wholeheartedly (and have done so to multiple people). ## Selected projects - [Beautiful Custom Concrete Driveway by TRC](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/beautiful-custom-concrete-driveway-by-trc-pj-vj~778881) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 4 - Description: Tom Ralston Concrete was asked to design and build a driveway fitting for the owner of the property. Tom came up with 3-types of driveways with various colors, textures and designs. The final design chosen was the one Tom hoped would get picked. It features beautiful meandering green bands and panels with offsetting colors and textures. The driveway also incorporated retaining walls and adjacent steps. All in all, this driveway and the other concrete work was a big hit with the client and was a… - [Japanese Inspired Interiors](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/japanese-inspired-interiors-pj-vj~865958) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 5 - Description: This project was done with a flare of Japanese architecture. The koi pond posed some unique challenges, but TRC was definitely up for them. This particular space was featured in 'Interior Design Magazine'. A truly beautiful project that shows how artfully concrete can be used. - [Craft Concrete Masonry](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/craft-concrete-masonry-pj-vj~827793) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 4 - Description: This exceptionally beautiful job is located in a quiet Los Gatos neighborhood. Tom Ralston Concrete had masonry designer extraordinaire Jim Chadwick draw plans for the work. There was not mortar per se added to the dry stacked walls, rather it was decomposed granite mixed with a small amount of cement which produced nice old world results. The pavers in the driveway were large rectangular pieces of random colored Connecticut Bluestone. Large Rose Cobble was used at the step and medallion and a m… - [Custom-Made Fire Pit and Pool Deck With a Natural Feel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/custom-made-fire-pit-and-pool-deck-with-a-natural-feel-pj-vj~818602) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 3 - Description: This Fire Pit is adjacent to a pool deck and cabana. Prichard Stone was used to cap the fire pit and was the material of choice for the pool's coping. Three Large River Stones were placed around the fire pit to add to its seating. Close by the fire pit is a Pool Cabana and bar which enhance the poolside experience. A great space to relax and entertain guests! - [Custom Designed Amphitheater](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/custom-designed-amphitheater-pj-vj~808616) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 5 - Description: Monte Vista Christian School is a very progressive state of the art High School located in Watsonville, CA that is always remodeling or building. Tom Ralston Concrete drew plans that were the vision of Monte Vista's Facility Manager Wayne Johnson. Ralston and Johnson ended up building a perfect amphitheater for the school. It took over 125 yards of concrete. The amphitheater is flanked by a long horseshoe walkway centered with a garden and a pink pathway. Over 500 people have gathered on and aro… - [Beautiful Front Entry Hardscape](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/beautiful-front-entry-hardscape-pj-vj~801209) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 5 - Description: This hardscape project located in Los Altos was an artful project that used blended acid stain concrete. The front entry steps are flanked by stone walls that has vertical and horizontal curvature on the wall caps. The flatwork was also stained with a TRC special blend of acid stains and incorporated the TRC Victorian Swirl texture. The brown and red tones created an earthy feel and blended beautifully with the drought tolerant, vibrant landscaping. - [Gorgeous Home and Pool in Aruba](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/gorgeous-home-and-pool-in-aruba-pj-vj~789655) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 9 - Description: Tom Ralston was invited to consult on an 8000 SF modern home in Aruba designed by Architect Gary Ostermann in 2012. Tom and his crew started the 8000 SF residence and an additional 8000 SF exterior including a gorgeous lap pool with an endless edge in the fall of 2013 and finished on Easter Sunday 2014. The house and surround has an incredible modern architectural flair that is light bright and will serve homeowners and guests extremely well. The upstairs library and study, bedrooms, and guest r… - [Dark Brown Interior Floors - Acid Stained Custom Concrete Interior Floors](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/dark-brown-interior-floors-acid-stained-custom-concrete-interior-floors-pj-vj~763746) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 4 - Description: The Richard Zlatunich Residence included lots of concrete including a stout foundation, driveways, porches, stairs and landings; but one of the main features of his house was his interior floors. The floors were cast with a Tom Ralston Concrete proprietary mix design and then acid stained with 3-coats of dark brown acid stain. Richard says, “the floors have held up well to my grandchildren and still maintain a dark and luxurious look; actually they look a lot like aged leather.” Zlatunich who is… - [Hawaiian-Style Decorative Concrete Patio w/ Waterfall, Fire Pit & Bench Seating](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/hawaiian-style-decorative-concrete-patio-w-waterfall-fire-pit-and-bench-seating-pj-vj~760193) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 5 - Description: Hawaiian-Style Concrete Patio with Waterfall, Firepit & Bench Seating: Tom and Lisa of Santa Cruz love Hawaii and wanted to transform their backyard with hardscape, lighting and softscape to give them that Island feel from their decorative concrete. By day the transformation was impressive and with lights the new tropical yard was much more dramatic! With hidden outdoor speakers, a firepit, water feature and very comfortable concrete (yes comfortable!), this back yard has become a wonderful esca… - [Balinese Rainforest Tile Concrete Countertops - Outdoor Stylish Kitchen Counters](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/balinese-rainforest-tile-concrete-countertops-outdoor-stylish-kitchen-counters-pj-vj~749682) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 4 - Description: The Magid Countertop is a small part of the Magid Hillside Hardscape project and at the same time, it is a focal point. The countertop itself (style, colors, textures, etc.) was not easy to decide upon. TRC produced 13 samples before given the go-ahead to start. This was partially due to the fact that there were so many beautiful options to choose from. Ultimately the Magid's settled on a Rain Forest tile from Bali that meandered through 4-expanses of concrete countertops. The exotic tile was fl… - [Amazing Concrete Pool Deck, Driveway & Dark Walnut Acid-Stained Interior Floors](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/amazing-concrete-pool-deck-driveway-and-dark-walnut-acid-stained-interior-floors-pj-vj~721177) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 15 - Description: The Condit project is composed of three different concrete expanses across the beautiful property: a concrete pool deck and patio, a driveway front-entry, and dark-walnut acid-stained interior floors. The exterior pool deck and driveway are flanked by exquisite stonework, done using Idaho quartzite. They also have precast concrete, as well as concrete that Tom Ralston poured with integral color. Banding was done in hard trowel texture and the panels were done with sand washed texture, exposing j… - [Amber Acid-Stained Decorative Concrete Interior, Fireplace, Kitchen & More](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/amber-acid-stained-decorative-concrete-interior-fireplace-kitchen-and-more-pj-vj~500294) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 7 - Description: Acid stained concrete floors achieved with Yellowstone color hardener followed by Amber Acid Stains; small saw cut joints made with special tooling. Amber wood with updraft lighting and amber concrete floors flowing together as do the stainless steel railings that wrap around glass stair treads and flow 3-stories Concrete flooring on third floor bedroom as an intricate stainless steel hand railing adds to the safety and aesthetics of this beautiful Harbor Home. The white circular centerpiece is… - [Decorative Concrete w/ Natural Materials & Sealife - Ocean-Front Patio Fire Pit](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/decorative-concrete-w-natural-materials-and-sealife-ocean-front-patio-fire-pit-pj-vj~487763) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 3 - Description: The Ingram job is unique in that it has lots of very interesting ocean shelf shapes and colors as well as a variety of embeds from the Monterey Bay that were placed into the concrete. There were sand dollars, starfish, moonsnails, and Monterey Bay aquarium sand just to name a few. We were going to attempt to use a very stout epoxy to seal one particular starfish but as it lay there the day after in wait…the Ingram's dog ate it. What was left when we pulled out the remains was a perfect impressio… - [Decorative Concrete Patio w/ Firepit, BBQ, Fountain & Bartop - Award Winning Job](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/decorative-concrete-patio-w-firepit-bbq-fountain-and-bartop-award-winning-job-pj-vj~472826) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 6 - Description: The Germany patio, located in Scotts Valley, CA, won top honors at the 2009 World of Concrete show for best decorative structural concrete. This project features structural walls beneath a patio, BBQ area, seat walls, fire pit, concrete bartop and a water feature. The walls had stainless steel railings that were beautifully arched to mirror the oval shaped walls. - [Decorative Concrete Pizza Oven, Colored Glass Firepit & Exterior Kitchen Counter](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/decorative-concrete-pizza-oven-colored-glass-firepit-and-exterior-kitchen-counter-pj-vj~465194) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 3 - Description: The Caiocca Fire Pit is square with a tasty yellow-green colored concrete seat cap that makes a handsome bench seat. There is various pineapple, orange and root beer colored glass that matches the adjacent countertop beyond. The concrete walls that support the fire pit cap are made of 8” thick concrete and are colored with a Sage Color hardener. The same Sage color is used on the fire pit and BBQ surrounds. The Pizza Oven, Fire Pit and Counter rest on new brick in a diagonal herringbone pattern… - [Decorative Concrete Pool Deck, Roof Deck & Heated Monet Interior Floors](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/decorative-concrete-pool-deck-roof-deck-and-heated-monet-interior-floors-pj-vj~443930) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 5 - Description: Warm lighting casts golden hues inside this Ehrlich masterpiece. Located in a quiet beach community high on the cliff above the Monterey Bay, this house lends itself to nature and geometry. - [Modern Decorative Concrete & Hardwood Interior Floors - Elegant Bronze Design](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/modern-decorative-concrete-and-hardwood-interior-floors-elegant-bronze-design-pj-vj~443922) - Location: San Francisco, CA - Photos: 5 - Description: The Saratoga Creek House is a David Stark Wilson and Associates design for a very unique site. They did a masterful job with project coordination. TRC finds the best projects revolve around the best team, from Architects, Engineers, GC's & Subs. The interior floors were a perfect backdrop for the amazing features that Wilson and his client brought to the fore. Bronze, Dark Hardwoods, elegant curvatures and interesting, eye catching dropped ceilings. TRC was one of the chosen high quality craftsm… - [Decorative Concrete Pool Deck, Patio, Firepit, Concrete Countertops & Garden](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/decorative-concrete-pool-deck-patio-firepit-concrete-countertops-and-garden-pj-vj~439122) - Location: Santa Cruz, CA - Photos: 10 - Description: The Turowski Pool Deck was a year in the making and used 197 cubic yards of concrete. This project has multiple applications; it had a major structural challenge to find a way to provide a swimming pool and deck, lawn area, and garden due to its access and steep terrain. TRC had to build both structural and decorative concrete walls. Besides being built with many aesthetic applications there was a very difficult swimming pool to construct within the walls. Aesthetic items included fire bowls wit… - [Luminescent Glowing Concrete - Decorative Concrete Pool Deck, Patio & Fireplace](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/luminescent-glowing-concrete-decorative-concrete-pool-deck-patio-and-fireplace-pj-vj~439097) - Location: San Francisco, CA - Photos: 8 - Description: This was one of TRC's more complicated hillside projects that had many civil, structural and aesthetic challenges. Weeks of excavation for a elaborate drain system and footings that would eventually support a wall that eventually supported an entire lap pool. The simple but elegant side stairs lead to an organic garden which is flanked by a spectacular pool that lights up in various colors. Two firebowls with 4-colors of blue glass stand proud atop of columns at each end of the lap pool and flam… - [Interior Concrete Floors - Decorative Concrete with Natural Ocean Materials](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/interior-concrete-floors-decorative-concrete-with-natural-ocean-materials-pj-vj~438159) - Location: Santa Cruz, CA, CA - Photos: 12 - Description: The Rockview Interior floor project was where Tom Ralston Concrete developed a special technique to fashion concrete to look like ocean shelves and craggy ocean cliffs. Because of its fanfare the Rockview House has been used again and again for Architectural Tours as well as being used to host special events. The Rockview concrete won a National Award for best specialty finish in Las Vegas at the World of Concrete in 2011. The floors are a unique blend of aquarium sand, beach glass, sea shells,… [See all 25 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/design-build-firms/tom-ralston-concrete-pfvwus-pf~1325881900) ## Ideabooks - [Saratoga Pool Deck](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/21048032/list/saratoga-pool-deck) — 8 ideas - [Turowski Pool Deck](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/9012835/list/turowski-pool-deck) — 7 ideas [See all 2 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/tomralston) ## Community Q&A **Q: Concrete stain** *(in Photo Questions)* We love this floor and would like to know where to source the concrete acid stain. The color is perfect. Well done. A: This is a Dark Walnut acid stain by L.M. Scoffield. Best, Tom Ralston **Q: Do you use a release agent on the stamped concrete? if so, what color?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: Hi Alleda....We used Brickform's Sandstone Color Hardener with a Clear Liquid Release agent...Best, Tom Ralston **Q: Wood decking** *(in Photo Questions)* Lovely project. ! Could you please tell me what material Is the wood decking? Is it sintetic o real? Thanks A: The concrete pool deck is a Light Italian Slate with Brickform Sandstone Color; the concrete countertop has a hard trowel finish with Scoffield's Classic Gray; the seat walls are with Alcantar's Platinum Gray... **Q: Hello, what is the pool decking color and texture please?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: This is a Davis Sequoia Sand Color with a Sand Wash Texture. Best, Tom Ralston **Q: Incredible. Can you tell which products and colors were used on this** *(in Photo Questions)* A: Hi Donna, We use a proprietary concrete mix design with a particular system that provides the best structural and aesthetic surface possible. We hard troweled this surface and then acid stained it with Scoffield's Dark Walnut. We then used 2-coats of clear epoxy followed by 3-coats of acrylic wax. Best, Tom Ralston **Q: What size are the concrete squares?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: These squares/diagonals are 5' 6". The concrete texture is Light Italian Slate and the color is Brickform Sandstone; the concrete was sealed with 2-coats of Superstone lacquer based sealer. --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-05.*