Board-marked concrete is poured into a mould of timber planks. When the formwork is struck, the grain and joints of the wood remain in the surface of the wall — a fossil of the carpentry that made it.
Choosing the boards
We specify rough-sawn pine, 120 millimetres wide, used no more than twice. New boards print too sharply; boards used five times print almost nothing. The sweet spot is a board that has been wetted once and has opened its grain.
Joints are sealed with a thin bead of silicone so the cement paste does not bleed and leave dark lines. Tie holes are planned on a grid and left visible.
In raking light, a good board-marked wall reads like a drawing. In flat light, it disappears. We design for the raking light.
On site
Pours are made in a single day per wall, from bottom to top, so that no cold joint interrupts the grain. It requires a calm contractor and a clear weather forecast.
