Family Owned. Owner Operated.
Built around family, rooted in our community, and led with the personal involvement and accountability we believe every homeowner deserves.
Built around family, rooted in our community, and led with the personal involvement and accountability we believe every homeowner deserves.
CJR Concrete & Landscape Construction was built around something much bigger than construction. It was built around our family, the community we call home, and the kind of company we wanted our name behind.
Based in Loomis, California, CJR is a local, family-owned and owner-operated outdoor construction company founded by Colton Ray. A husband and proud father of two, Colton has built his company with his family at the heart of it. Even our name is personal, inspired by Colton’s initials, which are now shared by our son, giving the CJR name an even deeper meaning and serving as a constant reminder of what we are building and why it matters to us. Our goal has always been to build a company our family can be proud of, one our clients can confidently trust, and one that will remain part of the community we call home for years to come.
For our family, success isn't measured simply by how many projects we complete. It is measured by the relationships we build, the reputation we earn, and the quality of the work we leave behind.
We have the privilege of creating spaces at our clients' homes where families will gather, children will grow up, friends will come together, and memories will be made for years after our work is complete. “We understand just how important “home” is. It’s where families come together, where everyday moments become memories, and where so much of life is lived.”
As a family ourselves, we know how quickly the years pass, how fast our children grow, and just how unexpectedly life can change in an instant. The time we have together is incredibly valuable, and we are genuinely honored when a family trusts us to create a space that becomes part of that time, a place to slow down, be together, celebrate milestones, and simply enjoy one another. That is something we never take lightly, nor do we take lightly the investment our clients are making in their homes and families.
Being family-owned also influences the way we do business. We value honesty, accountability, hard work, strong relationships, and treating people the way we would want our own family to be treated. We believe those values should be reflected not only in the finished project, but in every interaction and every decision made throughout the construction process.
We are equally proud to build our company within the communities where we live, work, and raise our own family. On the weekends, you’ll often find our family supporting local youth sports and community events throughout the areas we serve. You may recognize us from Loomis Local or Granite Bay Local magazine arriving in your mailbox each month, or simply see our team and projects throughout your neighborhood. We believe being a local business means actively being part of the community around us, from supporting youth programs and local events to building relationships with and supporting other locally owned businesses. These are the communities that have supported our family and our company, and giving that support back will always be an important part of who we are.
When you choose our company, you aren't entering a process where the relationship changes hands once the contract is signed or the person who earned your trust at the beginning is no longer present during construction. You're working with a family-owned, owner-operated company where Colton remains personally involved and our team takes the trust you've placed in us, your home, and your investment personally.
As our company continues to grow, one thing remains unchanged: the personal involvement, accountability, and leadership that come from being owner-operated.
For CJR Concrete & Landscape Construction owner Colton Ray, being owner-operated means much more than having his name attached to the company. It means being personally involved in the projects our company takes on and remaining accountable for both the quality of the work and the experience our clients receive along the way.
Colton’s background is rooted in hands-on construction, and that experience has shaped the way he believes an outdoor construction company should operate. He understands how the many different elements of a project need to come together, not only in the finished design, but throughout planning and construction. That knowledge is a major part of why our company has grown into the all-in-one outdoor construction company it is today.
As the company has grown, Colton has remained intentional about the kind of company he wants to build. He believes there is an opportunity to raise the standard in the outdoor construction industry, not only in the quality of the finished work, but in the experience homeowners have getting there. Homeowners deserve a contractor who communicates honestly, properly plans their project, respects their investment, stands behind the work being completed, and remains accountable throughout the process.
That philosophy is behind many of the ways our company operates today. It’s why we place so much value on design and pre-construction planning before breaking ground. It’s why we work through important construction details and material selections before developing final proposals rather than simply throwing numbers onto paper. It’s why we believe in transparent conversations about project investment, potential unforeseen conditions, and realistic expectations. And it’s why thoughtful scheduling, communication, proper construction practices, and quality craftsmanship remain priorities throughout every build.
Our clients experience that owner involvement from the very beginning. Your first on-site consultation is with Colton, not a salesperson working toward a sales quota. He takes the time to walk your property, listen to your ideas, understand how you want to use your outdoor space, and bring his construction knowledge directly into the conversation. That involvement doesn’t end once a contract is signed. Colton remains involved throughout planning and construction, working alongside our team and staying connected to the details of the project from beginning to completion.
For Colton, being owner-operated ultimately comes down to accountability. His company, his team, and his family’s name are behind the work we put into our community. He wants homeowners to feel confident not only in the outdoor space we build for them, but in the company they chose to trust with their home and investment.
That is the standard Colton continues to build our company around: leading with integrity, delivering craftsmanship without compromise, and creating a construction experience that sets a higher standard for what homeowners should expect when entrusting a contractor with their home and investment.
Colton’s construction background started long before the start of his own company. Born and raised in Roseville, and now living and operating his business in Loomis, Colton entered the trades in his early teenage years, gaining hands-on experience in residential concrete and landscape construction. His willingness to put in the hands-on hard work at a young age became the foundation for a career built around learning the trades from the ground up.
In his early twenties, Colton transitioned into the commercial concrete industry, where his experience and responsibilities grew significantly. During those years, he had the opportunity to work under and be mentored by his superintendent, Forrest Halks, who is now the Project Manager for CJR. Forrest played an important role in Colton’s development in the commercial construction world, sharing his knowledge and experience while helping shape Colton’s approach to leadership, job-site management, safety, and quality construction.
As a foreman for a respected commercial concrete company, Colton worked directly alongside general contractors and gained firsthand experience leading crews, coordinating trades, reading construction plans, learning elevations & site preparation, maintaining job-site safety, managing project schedules, overseeing quality control, problem-solving in the field, and completing technically demanding concrete and excavation work. From personally excavating large-scale elevator pits and structural footings to working atop high-rise buildings in Downtown Sacramento, forming, placing, and finishing structural concrete, those years exposed Colton to complex, demanding construction environments that significantly expanded his knowledge and shaped the standards he carries today for how projects should be planned, managed, and executed.
Years later, that working relationship came full circle when Forrest joined Colton at his own company, bringing their years of experience working together into the projects our team builds today. Together, they’ve carried the knowledge, discipline, safety standards, and level of project management they developed in the commercial construction world into residential outdoor construction, giving CJR homeowners the benefit of that same high-level construction experience.
After the birth of his first child, Colton decided it was time to take everything he had learned and build something of his own. He started his company as an excavation business, but it quickly evolved as his experience and vision grew, first into CJR Concrete & Landscape Construction, and ultimately into the full-service outdoor construction company it is today, specializing in custom pools, concrete, landscape, and complete outdoor living projects.
Pool construction became the next evolution of Colton’s career through his relationship with Scott Mendez, founder and owner of RPM Pools. Scott brought a lifetime of experience in the pool industry, while Colton brought a younger perspective, fresh ideas, and a willingness to look at where traditional approaches to pool construction could evolve.
Colton and Scott worked side by side, and Scott openly shared the knowledge he had accumulated throughout his career. Over just a few short years, Colton was able to learn from decades of Scott’s real-world pool-building experience, the construction methods, technical details, problem-solving, lessons learned, and countless details that can only come from years spent actually building pools.
At the same time, Colton brought his own extensive background in excavation, concrete, landscape, and construction management to the table, along with a fresh perspective on how the pool-building process could continue to improve. Together, that combination of decades of proven pool-building knowledge and a new generation of construction thinking helped shape the approach our company brings to custom pool construction today.
For Colton, that means respecting the methods and knowledge that have stood the test of time while also being willing to challenge the parts of the construction industry that he believes can, and should, be better. He challenges the idea of simply throwing numbers onto a proposal, building something just to look good enough to sell, or cutting corners on quality for the sake of a larger profit margin. Instead, he believes homeowners deserve quality craftsmanship, proper construction practices, and a contractor who is willing to do the work correctly even when the details may never be seen once the project is finished.
But raising the standard goes beyond the physical construction. Colton believes the experience of building the project should reflect the same level of care as the finished product. That means thoughtful pre-construction planning, honest and transparent conversations, detailed proposals, realistic expectations, organized project scheduling, consistent communication, and accountability when challenges arise.
His goal is for our company to provide homeowners with both sides of what a quality construction company should offer: a finished project built with craftsmanship and integrity, paired with a construction experience that makes clients feel informed, respected, and confident in the company they trusted with their home and investment.
Today, Colton’s broad background gives him a unique perspective when approaching an outdoor project. He doesn’t look at a pool as just a pool, concrete as just concrete, or landscaping as an afterthought. He understands how excavation, elevations, drainage, utilities, structural work, concrete, hardscape, landscape, and the many different trades involved all need to come together to create one thoughtfully planned and properly built outdoor space.
Our company today is the result of more than a decade of Colton’s hands-on experience, invaluable mentorship, continuous learning, and his drive to keep raising the standard of what homeowners should expect from their outdoor construction company.
The principles behind how we plan, communicate, build, and care for every project entrusted to our team.
Doing the right thing matters, even when no one will ever see it. From the way we develop a proposal to the construction beneath the finished surface, we believe in honesty, transparency, and doing the work properly. We don’t believe in cutting corners for the sake of a larger profit margin or simply building something to look good enough to sell.
A well-informed client is a more confident client. Clear communication begins before construction and continues through project completion. We keep our clients informed about scheduling, progress, important decisions, and what comes next so they never have to wonder where their project stands.
Quality is more than what you see when the project is finished. It’s proper preparation, proven construction practices, attention to detail, quality materials, and taking pride in the work that will eventually be covered up too. We build with long-term performance in mind, not just the final photograph.
We take ownership of the work our name is behind. As a family-owned and owner-operated company, the trust our clients place in us is personal. Colton remains involved throughout the process, and our team takes responsibility for the quality, communication, coordination, and experience we provide from beginning to completion.
We understand the significance of being trusted with someone’s home and investment. We respect our clients’ property, time, expectations, and targeted investment through thoughtful planning, organized job sites, honest conversations, and a team that treats each home with the care we would expect at our own.
Built for Success Before We Break Ground
Our approach to pre-construction is backed by years of hands-on construction experience and an understanding that many of the decisions that determine a project’s success happen before construction ever begins. We take the time to understand, develop, and prepare each project so our clients and our team enter construction with a clear plan.
We begin on-site with CJR owner Colton Ray to understand your property, vision, priorities, targeted investment, and how you want your outdoor space to function.
Through design, material selections, site evaluation, measurements, elevations, drainage, construction details, and project coordination, we develop your ideas into a thoughtfully planned project.
Before breaking ground, we bring the details together into a clear construction scope, detailed proposal, and coordinated plan, helping reduce avoidable surprises and setting the project up to move efficiently once construction begins.
In Honor of Scott Mendez - Founder of RPM Pools, Inc.
May 21, 1971 - September 16, 2026
A quality-constructed pool may outlive the hands that built it, but the knowledge, craftsmanship, and heart behind it create a foundation that lives on. For our family and our company, we will carry Scott's legacy with us in every pool we build.
Scott was more than the founder of RPM Pools and Colton's mentor in the pool industry. He became a trusted business partner, a dear friend, "Uncle Scott" to Colton's children, and someone who generously shared a lifetime of knowledge and experience with Colton. Scott spent decades building pools, mastering his craft, solving problems in the field, and learning the countless details that can only be understood through years of hands-on experience.
Scott's roots in the pool industry went back decades. He began learning the specialty trade of pool building in the early 1990s through his family's pool company on the island of Guam, gaining hands-on experience from the ground up in plumbing, steel tying, concrete, plaster finishing, pool service, repair, and the many details involved in properly constructing and maintaining a swimming pool.
After his parents retired, Scott earned his contractor's license and continued building his own path in the industry. In 2009, Scott and his wife, Mari, founded RPM Pools, Inc. with a commitment to providing homeowners with personal service and quality over quantity. Rather than taking a cookie-cutter approach, Scott believed each pool should be thoughtfully designed and built for the individual client and property.
Throughout his career, Scott continued expanding his knowledge in pool design, construction, project management, and service. He also became a certified swimming pool and landscape designer through the California School of Landscape and Garden Design. With more than 25 years of experience, pool building was more than Scott's profession, it was a craft he had spent much of his life learning, refining, and ultimately passing on.
But as proud as Scott was of the company and career he built, nothing compared to the pride he had in his family. Scott and Mari raised two sons, Stephan and Christopher, and anyone who knew Scott knew just how incredibly proud he was of both of them. His family was at the heart of his life, and so much of what Scott worked for was rooted in his love for them and his desire to provide a beautiful life for his family.
When Scott and Colton began working together, Scott never held that knowledge back. He taught Colton the way he knew how, side by side, through real projects, real challenges, and real experience. He shared not only how to build a pool, but the lessons, methods, details, and standards he had developed throughout his career.
In just a few short years, Scott left an imprint on Colton both personally and professionally that will remain with him for the rest of his life and throughout his career, and through Colton, an imprint on CJR and every pool we build.
September 16, 2026, marked an unimaginable loss for Scott's family, our family, and our company. Scott leaves behind a legacy that means more to all of us than we could ever fully put into words, a legacy that lives first and foremost through his family and the people he loved most, but also through the countless lives he impacted throughout his life and career.
To have an RPM pool is to have something special. Scott dedicated decades of his life to his craft, building quality pools with the knowledge, integrity, and attention to detail that became synonymous with RPM Pools. We feel incredibly fortunate that, for the past several years, our clients received the combined experience of CJR x RPM Pools, Scott and Colton working together, sharing ideas, solving problems, and bringing their individual experience and strengths into every project they built.
Scott and Colton spent countless hours over many years talking about pools, construction, design, and the future of the industry. They shared a respect for the proven methods that produce a quality pool, but they also shared a desire to never stop learning, to challenge the way things had always been done, explore better ways to build, and continue raising the standard of the pool construction industry. As Scott would say, he and Colton were "two peas in a pod," and we will forever be grateful that somehow, in this life, they found each other.
As CJR moves forward, the quality, integrity, and craftsmanship behind RPM Pools will move forward with us. We will continue building with the methods and knowledge Scott entrusted to Colton while carrying forward the conversations, ideas, and vision they spent so many years developing together. We will honor what Scott knew worked, while continuing to break out of the mold, ask questions, explore new ideas, and find ways to make pool construction even better, just as Scott and Colton always talked about doing together.
Scott's craft, his knowledge, and his love for designing and building pools will live on through Colton and the work CJR continues to build. There will be details within our pools that homeowners may never know came from something Scott once taught Colton, a conversation they had together, or a lesson learned while standing side by side on a job site, but we will know.
And with every pool we build, we will be reminded that a piece of Scott is still there with us. We will carry forward the special touches, craftsmanship, and attention to detail that made Scott's pools uniquely his, making sure a little piece of what made RPM special lives on in every CJR pool we build.
We are incredibly grateful for the years we had with him, for everything he taught Colton, and most importantly, for the friendship and relationship that grew far beyond construction. Our love and support will always remain with Scott's family, just as his influence and memory will always remain a part of ours.
We are forever grateful that Scott became part of our family, our company, and our story. His legacy will always have a place here.
In loving memory of Scott Mendez
Mentor. Business partner. Friend. Forever a part of our story, and our why.
Every project is personal to us. Hear directly from local homeowners who have chosen CJR and see what they have to say about their experience working with our team.
We are absolutely thrilled with the incredible job CJR did on our pool deck and surrounding work! From the moment they came out for the initial consultation, we knew we were in good hands. Their knowledge, professionalism, and clear communication gave us complete confidence in the process.
Marissa H. · via Google
Your home, your family, and your investment deserve a team that takes them personally. Start your project with CJR and meet directly with owner Colton Ray for your complimentary on-site consultation.