Beach House - Unique Concrete Flooring

An Indoor Ocean Floor

Sometimes contractors are given a challenge beyond their wildest dreams. That was the case for Tom Ralston of Tom Ralston Concrete. His talents were put to the test recently when an architect asked for Ralston's help on a beachfront home in California.


Tom Ralston Concrete in Santa Cruz, CA

The architect wanted the floors to look as if they had been worn and weathered by the ocean. Beach glass found at a rockery that had collected the glass from Bodega Bay, up the coast and aquarium sand and seashells accented the floor.


Tom Ralston Concrete in Santa Cruz, CA

Ralston also wanted to achieve those little holes that are so prominent along a cliff's edge. So, he used a retardant that takes away about one-eighth of an inch of the concrete's surface. He used a turkey baster to shoot out random holes.

In addition, he wanted the ocean floors to possess the vein's look worn by a matured seashore. To do this, Ralston used his ocean effects beach glass, aquarium sand, and seashells and employed multiple acid stains. Some of the work was applied with an artist's brush to get into the very small holes with a darker acid.

"We also used pieces of foam to get a crack-like appearance," Ralston said.


Tom Ralston Concrete in Santa Cruz, CA

The result is harmony with the coastal environment in which the home becomes one with the ocean with the sound of the crashing waves complementing the jewel-filled and sea-worn floors.

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