RealCast Board-Form Concrete FAQs

RealCast Board-Form panels measure 6” x 48” and are approximately 3/8” thick.

RealCast Board-Form panels are made from highly durable fiber-reinforced concrete. The concrete is CSA cement, which is used to ensure the highest quality performance.

CSA cement distinguishes itself from Portland cement with a high-speed bonding, fast strength development, and a shrinkage reduction. CSA cement has been used for decades as a binder in concrete for bridges, airport runways, and concrete road-repair.

Yes, since the panels are a poured concrete product, they naturally will vary slightly in thickness, typically about 1/8” but sometimes more. This is due to the molding process and the way the concrete naturally settles, most often causing variation from the panel edges and the middle. RealCast Board-Form panels will typically have these variations in thickness, and also in grain detail and corner formation (such as slightly rounded corners in some panels). These variations are typically not an issue as they mimic the same variations and inconsistencies found in poured-in-place concrete. But if you have some joints where the thickness is causing too much of a difference between two adjacent panels, they can be buttered or furred out slightly with any backer.

There are several different molds used along with natural finishing techniques to ensure no repeating looks or patterns.

Yes, they are paintable using standard latex paints.

Filling the vertical and horizontal seams between Board-Form panels is not necessary, but we do recommend it for a true ‘board-form’ look. Seams can be filled when pressing the boards into the adhesive being used, especially if the adhesive is a close match to the board color. Color-matched caulking or tile grout can also be used to fill the seams, being careful not to get these on the face of the boards.

RealCast Board-Form panels are approximately 2.5 pounds per square foot.

Yes, RealCast Board-Form panels are fine to use in most fireplace applications as they are non-combustible. If in doubt, always follow the fireplace manufacturer’s guidelines.

Yes, they can be used as a backsplash tile. However, although they are sealed with a commercial grade sealant, they are still considered porous and could potentially be stained by cooking grease/animal fats/and or other food products. In the situation you decide to use RealCast Board-Form panels as a backsplash, we recommend ordering panels from us with no sealant & contacting a local concrete supply/tile store to find out the recommended top coat sealant for the use. Otherwise, going the ceramic/porcelain tile route would be best.

Yes, they are suitable for use in showers; however, there are a couple of things to consider. There are many grains and ridges in the panels that would be susceptible to water sitting and potentially leaving water deposits or stains. It is also possible to order the Board-Form panels without the standard sealant, allowing you to apply a specific moisture sealant on site, if desired. Or you can use the standard panels that have a penetrating sealant and just add an additional surface sealant. The surface sealant could be applied heavy enough to fill the pits as well. Lastly, RealCast Board-Form has vertical and horizontal seams that would need to be sealed with caulking or grout to ensure water does not get behind the panels.

Yes, RealCast panels are exterior-rated for use outside. RealCast panels are considered large-format tiles and local building code and guidelines should be used.

Yes, in most cases a rain-screen should be installed, but it is not always the case. It is important to check with your local building codes for this information, and it can also depend on the type of wall substrate you are installing over.

This depends on the specific application and the desired look. Adhesive will be needed, but what you are installing over (to) will help determine the best type for the specific application. RealCast panels can be installed with or without tile grout, again depending on the application and desired look. If heavy corner protection is desired, metal corner trims are also available through Wall Theory.

Yes, there are steel corner trims available in two different finishes: stainless steel & raw steel. These trims can be found on the Wall Theory site.

Shipping costs will vary depending on the amount of product ordered, final destination distance, and time of the year. We always recommend checking with our team before ordering.

Average production time is about 2-3 weeks. We always recommend checking before ordering.

There are typically five RealCast Board-Form panels per box.