Decorative concrete wizard Tom Ralston is a familiar name to Concrete Decor readers for his elaborate, multifaceted homes and backyards. But there’s another side to Ralston’s work: the wildly creative stuff that’s almost pure fun.
Outdoor Spaces
Concrete is the ideal material to use to transform outdoor spaces into outdoor rooms surrounded by stunning hardscapes and equipped with all the comforts of home.
Things to Consider When Planning Your First Concrete Hardscape
Nailing this balance project after project takes great effort, but the reward is far more than monetary. Concrete hardscapes last decades, and so do the reputation of the concrete artisans who successfully pave their way into decorative history.
How to Build a Concrete Fire Pit Safely
As a contractor with extensive experience with all types of outdoor fire features, and as an expert witness in situations where something’s gone terribly wrong, I’d like to share some of the basic guidelines I use to maximize both safety and enjoyment of buidling concrete fire pits.
Creative Use of Decorative Form Liners Make Concrete Look Like What It’s Not
Structurally unbeatable, decorative forms and form-liners are creating a timely and profitable advantage on more and more jobsites, big and small.
Canadian Concrete Contractor Dabbles in Landscaping to Go with Decorative Concrete
From quirky flights of fancy to classic looks, this Canadian contractor can handle it all even landscaping.
A Grand Fountain Becomes Retail Space Centerpiece
The Streets at SouthGlenn, a sprawling new shopping destination in south Denver, boasts a block-long urban park with a brick fireplace, tall "legacy trees," gardens and cafes, and a centerpiece: a grand, European-style fountain, more than 16 feet tall with four falls.
Let it Shine: Installing Fiber Optic Light Effects
Whether you are embedding a shimmering logo in a front counter or spreading a galaxy of stars across a bar top, you need to master fiber optic lighting. Here’s how some experts get the job done.
Concrete Contractor Finds True Passion in Decorative Concrete
This industry veteran doesn’t much care for the label of "artisan." Just call him a good concrete contractor with an eye for color.
Recipe: Easy on the Eyes and the Earth
The finish on this water feature was achieved using a handful of soy-based products. It’s a great way to get a more earth-friendly surface that boasts deep, rich colors to boot. As an additional plus, the concrete is profiled with garnet abrasives, which not only ensure a low-dust blasting experience, but also give the finished surface a reliably nonslip surface.
Concrete Steps and Much More in Great Falls
Concraft Concrete Construction, Leesburg, Va., submitted photos to us last year of decorative concrete work the company was wrapping up at a new home in Great Falls, Va., just outside of Washington, D.C.
