Mr. Talented

Carl Toro's biggest fans! And the house he built for them. Nevada City

Skills

• 23 years experienced, licensed professional in all areas of irrigation, plants, concrete.
• Guided by the values of dependability, honesty and distinction.
• Highly skilled with:
-plants
-irrigation & drainage
-concrete, exterior & interior
-design
-woodworking
-building
-welding
-metal fabrication
-outdoor art - sculpture
-machinery operating (Bobcat, excavator, etc.)
• Creative, skilled artisan in multiple media.
• Self starter.
• Good communicator.
• Efficient leader.
• Adept in bidding, estimating, budgeting.
• Familiar with City Codes, works well with inspectors, able to schedule and direct sub-contractors, supervises others, client oriented.
• Envisions and carries out dramatic, practical solutions to design challenges.

UC Davis Arboretum

Located in the arboretum on the UC Davis campus, this arrangement of seat walls, stairs, fountain and small pool, was poured in a single pour. The buff color is complemented with a light, sandblasted finish and goes well with the decomposed granite center area. Copper plaques engraved with the names of various donors are placed along the back. Approximately 40 feet in diameter.

Residential Landscape

The front yard of this Elk Grove home was all lawn with a small planter under the front window. I removed all the grass, added gently contoured mounds of topsoil, large moss rock boulders, trees, shrubs and groundcover. Care was taken to choose flowering plants which bloom at different times and with various colors. A round, colored front concrete patio is stamped with subtle leaf impressions using leaves from the surrounding trees. The elimination of lawn adds tremendous visual interest, requires less maintenance and uses less water.

UC Davis Fountain

A replica of an Italian, stone well housing dating to the 17th century. Cast in one monolithic pour, this well housing has interior plumbing which allows it to be drained and refilled with new water automatically. Approximately 8 feet in diameter and 40 inches high. UC Davis.

UC Davis Fountain project

Ponds and Hills

The soil excavated to create the large ponds was used to make a gentle hill to build the home on. Expansive lawns, evergreen and deciduous trees, flowering shrubs and groundcovers, and a long curved driveway with brick pillars for lighting all compliment the large home. Wilton

Commercial Landscape

Decomposed granite pathways connect colored, stamped concrete patios. Picnic tables for the employees and students of the Marshall Adult Education Center in midtown Sacramento were installed and bolted to the patios. Free form matching concrete stepping stones transition from the asphalt parking lot to the patios. Because of the extra large existing Dutch Elms, shade tolerant plants were used . Sacramento

Suburban Landscape

This front yard features a small lawn with a colored and stamped concrete mowing strip. A matching concrete patio on the upper portion is behind three rock topped stucco columns which have galvanized rails between them for the climbing roses to grow on. Low maintenance trees, shrubs and groundcover complete the picture. Elk Grove

Cobble Rock Wall

This cobble rock faced retaining wall has a continuous concrete top partially exposed to highlight its texture, yet smooth enough, and at the right height, to serve as a long seat along the yard perimeter. Mature xylosma shrubs are trimmed up to allow a shade loving groundcover to thrive underneath. The footing for the retaining wall is wide enough to serve as a mowing strip for the lawn and makes edging and mowing easier. Elk Grove

Sunburst Gate

Designed and constructed steel gate to be both functional and dramatic. The garden owner chose the beautiful sky blue color. A round steel tubing perimeter, plate steel interior with sunburst cut out, and stainless steel hinges and latches will function well and look wonderful for a very long time. Nevada City

Flagstone Walkway

This close up picture shows the Arizona Red flagstone walkway and step. Each large flagstone is set in concrete and topsoil and drip irrigation placed in between with woolly thyme groundcover. The woolly thyme grows well and is fragrant when walked on.

Outdoor Retreat

Two colors of flagstone are used to make a flower like pattern for a patio. The flagstone is set in concrete to assure it remains sturdy and unmovable. Gravel is placed between the flagstones in the patio, and small, creeping groundcover is grown between the flagstones in the walkway to preserve a casual look. Nevada City

Painted Steel Trellis

A salt finish concrete pool deck and patio make this a very functional backyard. The back of this house faces west and has a nice view. As a result, I designed and constructed a steel trellis which allows long spans with few posts for an unobstructed view. The steel is very strong and never sags or warps, holds paint well and allows for much thinner members. The steel crossmembers help shade the house in the afternoon. Rock faced pillar bottom portions look beautiful and compliment the same rock used in other areas of the landscape. Loomis

Country Home Landscape

A large sloping front lawn compliments this beautiful home. Cobble rock borders and large granite moss rocks are used and go well with the gravel driveway. This home is a great example of a well designed, correctly installed and carefully maintained landscape. Wilton

Protected Wetlands

A federally protected wetlands area which goes through this Loomis property is spanned by this arched steel bridge. The powder coated steel bridge supports and handrails are connected with steel supports underneath and pressure treated wood to walk on. Approximately 30 feet long. Loomis