Board Form, Reimagined: The Modern Alternative to Cast-In-Place Board-Formed Concrete

Architects love the look of board-formed concrete. Contractors know the reality. Custom formwork, specialized labor, weather dependencies, extended schedules, and little room for error can quickly turn a beautiful design detail into one of the most expensive and unpredictable elements of a project.

Creative Mines Board Form was created to capture the warmth, texture, and linear rhythm that have made board-formed concrete a hallmark of contemporary architecture, without the cost and complexity of cast-in-place construction. Every panel is artisan hand-cast using our proprietary pozzolan concrete mix, offering exceptional craftsmanship, long-term durability, and a more efficient path from design to installation.

Today, we're introducing the most significant evolution of the Board Form collection to date. Driven by feedback from architects, designers, distributors, and installers, the collection now features a refined panel size engineered for greater installation efficiency, new matching corners for cleaner detailing, and the addition of Charwood, our newest color palette. Together with Saltspray, Grayscale, Monsoon, and Barnwood, architects now have five distinctive finishes that provide even greater design flexibility, from bright contemporary interiors to bold, dramatic façades.

Board Form has become a favorite for projects seeking the warmth and texture of natural materials while maintaining the clean, minimalist lines of contemporary architecture. Whether paired with expansive glass, steel, smooth stucco, natural stone, or wood, its linear profile introduces depth, scale, and visual interest without overwhelming the overall design.

Unlike cast-in-place board-formed concrete, Creative Mines Board Form offers architects and contractors a more predictable path from concept to completion. There are no custom forms to fabricate, no concrete pours to coordinate, no weather-related curing delays, and far fewer variables that can impact the finished appearance. The result is greater design confidence, reduced construction complexity, and significantly lower installed costs.

One of the greatest advantages of Creative Mines Board Form isn't immediately visible. It's what happens before the first panel is ever installed.

Traditional board-formed concrete requires extensive formwork, reinforcing steel, concrete placement, skilled finishing crews, curing time, and careful coordination between multiple trades. Every pour introduces risk, and correcting imperfections after the concrete is placed is often difficult, expensive, or impossible.

Creative Mines Board Form provides an architectural veneer solution that dramatically simplifies the process. Lightweight panels install using conventional masonry methods, helping reduce labor requirements, accelerate schedules, minimize material waste, and eliminate many of the uncertainties associated with cast-in-place concrete construction.

For architects, that means preserving the design vision with greater confidence. For contractors and owners, it means a more efficient installation, a more predictable budget, and substantial savings in both labor and total installed cost.

Re-Engineered for the Job Site

Beautiful products should also be practical to build.

That's why we completely re-engineered the Board Form panel dimensions with installers in mind.

The new flat panels measure 6 inches high by 30 inches long with a 1⅛-inch thickness, creating a format that's easier to handle, quicker to install, and more efficient to lay out on the wall. The updated proportions reduce cutting, minimize waste, and improve overall installation efficiency without sacrificing the clean, linear appearance that defines the collection.

Matching outside return pieces are available in 4" × 8" and 6" × 12" sizes for seamless integration.

We've also introduced both Large and Small Handy Pack box options, giving dealers, contractors, and architects greater flexibility whether ordering materials for a feature wall, a custom residence, or a large commercial project.

Introducing Charwood

The newest addition to the Board Form collection, Charwood, brings a bold new expression to the palette.

Rich charcoal tones settle naturally into the wood grain rather than sitting on the surface, allowing every plank line, knot, and saw mark to reveal itself as light moves across the wall. The result is exceptional depth and dimension, creating a finish that feels refined, contemporary, and architecturally striking.

Charwood expands the design possibilities of the collection while complementing the existing palette of Saltspray, Grayscale, Monsoon, and Barnwood, giving architects greater freedom to move from light, coastal-inspired environments to dramatic modern façades

Now with Matching Corners

Some of the best product innovations come directly from the field.

Architects, designers, and installers consistently asked for a cleaner solution for return walls, columns, and freestanding site walls where traditional mitered or butted panel edges interrupted the visual continuity of the design.

The answer is our new matching Board Form corners.

Designed to wrap seamlessly from face to return, the corners eliminate exposed panel edges while maintaining continuous wood grain around outside corners for a more refined architectural finish.

Key Features

• Designed for interior and exterior return walls 

• Available in all five Board Form colors, including Charwood 

• Sold by the lineal foot 

• Offered in two sizes to accommodate a variety of return depths 

It's a relatively small addition that makes a remarkable difference wherever architectural details are on display.

Five Colors. Endless Design Possibilities.

Board Form has always been about more than texture. Color plays an equally important role in defining the architectural character of a space.

The expanded palette now includes five carefully curated finishes that allow architects to tailor the collection to virtually any design vision.

• Saltspray offers the lightest expression, ideal for bright, contemporary and coastal-inspired designs. 

• Grayscale provides a versatile neutral that pairs beautifully with concrete, steel, and glass. 

• Monsoon introduces a naturally weathered mid-tone with understated warmth. 

• Barnwood delivers rich organic character inspired by reclaimed timber. 

• Charwood creates bold contrast with deep charcoal tones that bring exceptional depth and sophistication to modern architecture. 

Every Board Form panel, regardless of color, is produced using the same artisan hand-cast process, preserving authentic wood grain, knots, and subtle variation throughout the collection. The consistency of texture allows designers to specify any color with confidence while maintaining a cohesive architectural language across the project.

See It in Action

Curious how the new matching corners come together on an actual wall?

Watch our installation video below to see the updated Board Form system in action, from panel installation to finished corner details.

Ready to experience Board Form, Reimagined firsthand?

Contact your local Creative Mines dealer or distributor to request samples, including the new Charwood finish, and discover how Board Form combines timeless architectural inspiration with cleaner detailing, greater installation efficiency, and significantly lower installed costs than traditional cast-in-place board-formed concrete.