Moderno

Moderno

Series

A Linear, Sleek Design

Engineered for modern architecture, this mass-produced veneer meets the moment with on-trend aesthetics, material performance, and budget-friendly pricing.

Need a custom match?

We provide job-specific color matching to meet your project’s needs.

Request a Color Kit

Get hands-on with our standard monotone colors—see exactly how they'll look in real-world lighting and finishes.

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COLOR KIT

Get hands-on with our standard monotone colors—see exactly how they'll look in real-world lighting and finishes.

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When your vision calls for clean lines and modern flair, the Moderno Series delivers. 

Contemporary Lines.

Architectural Impact.

Unmatched Value.

When your design demands sleek, linear sophistication, the Moderno Series is your solution.


Engineered for modern architecture, this mass-produced veneer meets the moment with on-trend aesthetics, material performance, and budget-friendly pricing.

Engineered for Excellence

Manufactured using a similar mix design as our trusted RockCast products, ensuring uniformity, color consistency, and long-term performance.

Cost-Effective Alternative to Clay Products

Get the high-end aesthetic at a more affordable price per square foot — all while maintaining the integrity your projects deserve.

Low Maintenance by Design

Built with an integral water repellent, Moderno is easy to clean and made to last — even in demanding environments.

We've got you covered with 8 standard colors

Explore the full series in RockCast’s curated palette of 12 monotone colors and 9 artfully blended ones.

8 Standard Colors

LIGHT CHESTNUT

A warm chestnut hue with soft red undertones—rich, earthy, and effortlessly modern.


Shown in Smooth Texture

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Monotone Colors

BROWNSTONE

A rich, earthy brown with warm undertones, reminiscent of natural clay and aged stone.

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Blended Colors

BLUR RIDGE

A warm, natural blend of Oyster and Blush colors with soft beige and sandy tan hues.

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Looking for dependable color options that make selection easy?

Our Color Kit features clean, standard monotone tones that deliver timeless style and reliable consistency.

Order Yours Today

Design with Confidence

See and feel our standard monotone color options in person—ensuring accurate selections that align with your design vision and client expectations.

Enhance Presentations & Client Meetings

The Color Kit is a professional, tangible tool to support concept boards, material presentations, and on-site consultations.

Informed Specifications

Make faster, more precise material selections backed by real samples—streamlining the specification and approval process.

Organized & Office-Ready

Compact, clean, and easy to store—an essential addition to your materials library or sample room.

At Reading Rock, we excel in custom color matching, ensuring our RockCast blends seamlessly with existing materials. Unlimited color options available that are sure to meet any design requirement.

Design with Confidence

Seamless Integration

RockCast’s custom color matching ensures a perfect fit with existing materials.

Unlimited Color Options

Choose from a vast range of hues or create a custom blend.

Advanced Manufacturing

Consistent, high-quality color production for every project.

Architectural Versatility

Designed to complement diverse styles and materials.

Available in three refined textures—Smooth, Raked, and Barked—for depth, contrast, and elevated architectural detail.

SPLIT-FACE

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We offer a variety of cut options to keep your project moving efficiently—saving you time, labor, and headaches on the job site.

All of our cut options

1 Face, 1 End

1 Face, Outside Corner Mitre

1 Face, Inside Corner Mitre

Saw Cut

¼ Score Accent

Chamfer Cut

All available cut options

1 Face, Outside Corner Mitre

1 Face, Inside Corner Mitre

Saw Cut

¼ Score Accent

Moderno Pattern

Chamfer Cut

with optional return (left-hand shown above)

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We don’t leave anything to chance. At Reading Rock, we control every step of the process to ensure top-quality products, fast turnaround, and reliable delivery.

Step 1:

Expert Sales Support

Our RockCast team is with you from start to finish—providing expert guidance, answering questions, and ensuring your order meets project specs.

Step 2:

Precision Manufacturing

From the careful selection of raw materials to the final product, our experienced team monitors every stage of production for consistency and durability.


All Reading Rock manufacturing facilities are certified by the NPCA, meeting the highest standards for plant facilities, production, and quality control procedures.



Our cast stone products undergo rigorous examination of product quality, safety, testing, and meticulous record-keeping certified by the Cast Stone Institute (CSI).

Step 3:

Kiln-Cured for Strength

Every piece undergoes a rigorous curing process:

  • 100% humidity & 100°F kiln treatment for up to 12 hours
  • Yard cured for a minimum of three days to maximize strength

Step 4:

Secure Packaging & Shipping

We package every order with contractors in mind:

  • Palletized, stretch-wrapped, and labeled for easy handling
  • Delivered directly to your yard or job site

Step 5:

On-Time, Every Time!

We prioritize efficiency so you can stay on schedule. Our distribution team ensures accurate, on-time deliveries, so you get the materials you need—when you need them.


With RockCast, you get reliability at every stage—because your project depends on it.

Moderno Bark ST-224B Shop Ticket

Moderno Raked ST-224K Shop Ticket

Moderno Smooth ST-224S Shop Ticket

RockCast Architectural Stone Installation Guidelines

For Commercial Contractors & Designers


General Installation Requirements

RockCast architectural stone products must be installed in accordance with standard masonry specifications and within the guidelines of local building codes.

Always refer to relevant NCMA TEK Bulletins and RockCast product specifications (varies by series) when installing architectural stone units in conjunction with masonry.


Blending and Color Variation

To minimize color variation and promote a natural blend:

  • Pull units from multiple cubes during installation.
  • RockCast products are made from natural limestone, which inherently features a range of color tones as part of its visual appeal.

Waste and Material Estimation

Due to handling, shipping, or the manufacturing process, some units may have minor blemishes or chips. These should be reserved for field cuts to optimize material usage.

  • When placing orders, account for waste and saw cutting in your material estimates.

Cutting and Finishing

  • Use motor-driven masonry saws to cut units.
  • Place the finished end facing outward, and rotate saw cuts inward to conceal exposed aggregates and saw marks within mortar joints.

Mortar and Joint Guidelines

  • Set units in a full bed of mortar, unless specified otherwise in project drawings.
  • Vertical joints must be filled with mortar.
  • Maintain 3/8” joints, unless other dimensions are indicated in the plans.
  • Use Type N mortar where applicable (per ASTM C270).

Anchoring and Dowel Holes

Where specified, fill all dowel holes and anchor slots completely with mortar or non-shrink grout to ensure secure placement.


Sealing Requirements

Sealing is not required, as RockCast units are manufactured with an integral water repellent (IWR).


If sealing is necessary, use a non-bridging breathable sealer such as:

  • Prosoco Sure Klean® Weather Seal (Siloxane WB Concentrate or Siloxane PD)
  • Hydrozo® Enviroseal 7

Apply sealers per manufacturer’s recommendations.


Shipping and Unit Orientation

All RockCast units are shipped on pallets with one unfinished side.


Architectural machine-made units have one finished face.

  • Textured units: texture face should be installed facing out.
  • Smooth units: stacked face-up on the pallet.

Ends may not be finished unless noted on shop drawings


Architectural machine-made units:

  • One finished face
  •  Unfinished back
  • 40–60% have one finished end

Split and chiseled face units: finished ends available upon request


Protection During and After Installation

  • Cover wainscot with plastic, felt paper, or another approved barrier for protection.
  • During the curing process—especially in wet or cold conditions—cover freshly installed masonry with plastic to keep the wall system dry and ensure proper curing.

Patching Instructions

click the link to Watch the Video

NCMA TEK Bulletins

Moisture Control, Shrinkage & Cracking

Best Practices for RockCast Architectural Stone Products



Understanding Shrinkage in Concrete Masonry

RockCast architectural stone products, like all concrete masonry, may undergo slight shrinkage over time. The most common causes include:

  • Drying shrinkage
  • Temperature fluctuations
  • Carbonation
  • Differential movement

These factors must be considered during design and installation to prevent cracking and ensure long-term performance.


Differential Movement with Clay Brick

Kiln-fired clay brick expands as it absorbs moisture, while concrete masonry units like RockCast shrink slightly.

When using RockCast in combination with clay brick, this differential movement must be managed.

  • Consult your selected brick manufacturer for specific expansion data.
  • Be aware that some clay brick continues to expand over several years due to weather conditions.
  • Not all brick expands at the same rate, so follow manufacturer-specific guidance.

Mortar Considerations

  • Use of an IWR (Integral Water Repellent) mortar additive is recommended but not required, unless the design specifies a water-repellent wall system.
  • This additive helps enhance the moisture resistance of the overall system.

Control Joints and Crack Management

To control movement and minimize cracking.


Install control (elastic) joints at strategic locations:

  • At openings (windows, doors, etc.)
  • Where wall height changes
  • At wall intersections and corners
  • On long uninterrupted walls (spacing no greater than 1½ times the height of the masonry)

Important: This spacing recommendation applies only to the masonry portion. If clay brick is used in conjunction, treat it separately and follow appropriate brick expansion guidelines.


Recommended Resources

Refer to the following NCMA TEK Bulletins for proper crack control and design:

  • 10-1A: Design of Concrete Masonry for Crack Control
  • 10-2D: Control Joints for Concrete Masonry Walls — Empirical Method
  • 10-4: Crack Control for Concrete Brick and Other Concrete Masonry Veneers
  • 5-2A: Clay and Concrete Masonry Banding Details
  • 3-6C: Concrete Masonry Veneers (for anchoring guidance)

Note: References in TEK bulletins to horizontal joint reinforcement do not apply to RockCast Architectural Veneer units and are not required, unless the designer elects to reduce or eliminate control joints.

RockCast Architectural Stone Product Tolerances

Structural Capacity

  • Only RockCast’s Architectural PreCast Series is considered structural.
  • All other RockCast products are non-load bearing and designed to carry only their own weight.

Dimensional Limits

Maximum Size Ratio: Units should not exceed a 15:1 ratio (length to thinnest dimension).


Cross-Section Dimensions:

  • Tolerance: ± 1/8” from approved dimensions.

Unit Length:

Do not exceed the greater of:

  • Length ÷ 360
  • ± 1/8”

Maximum tolerance

  • ± 1/4”

Warp, Bow, or Twist:

Tolerance:

  • Length ÷ 360 or
  • ± 1/8”, whichever is greater

Installation Tolerances

Comply with the following allowable variations during installation:


Alignment & Leveling

Variation from Plumb:

  •  No more than 1/8” in 5 feet
  •  No more than 1/4” in 20 feet or more

Variation from Level:

  •  No more than 1/8” in 5 feet
  •  No more than 1/4” in 20 feet
  •  Maximum: 3/8” total

Joint Consistency

Joint Width:

  •  Variation should not exceed 1/8”
  •  Or 1/4 of the normal joint width, whichever is greater

Surface Plane

Variation between Adjacent Surfaces:

  • Must not exceed 1/8” between flush or adjacent units

Click the link to download files


RockCast Architectural Masonry Veneer Specification.doc

Safety Data Sheet.pdf


Item Link

Need Help with Your Architectural Masonry Veneer Project? 

Contact Us

Have questions about product details, ordering, or installation? Our team is here to assist you at every stage of your project. Whether you’re selecting the right textures and colors or need expert advice on design and application, we’re ready to help.