How Concrete (Gunite) Pools Are Built To Last
Gunite and shotcrete are forms of pneumatically applied concrete, meaning they are sprayed on with a high-pressure air hose. Crews shoot the material over a reinforcing network of steel bars as opposed to pouring the concrete into metal forms which is more typical when a vinyl liner pool is to be installed.
As you research information on a potential new backyard swimming pool, you will often encounter the term “gunite.” What exactly is that anyway? Is it different from concrete? And what’s the deal with shotcrete— is that the same thing or something else? Gunite pools provide unparalleled levels of design flexibility and aesthetic quality. Let’s take a look at some basics about this material, how it’s used in pool construction, how close it is to shotcrete, and the great advantages that both gunite and shotcrete deliver.
Known for its dependable structural strength, gunite is a concrete blend of sand, cement, and water that’s applied through a high-pressure hose. Once it cures (dries), gunite becomes rock hard, forming a thick, solid structure. For decades, it has held a special place in swimming pool construction, where it is always paired with another strong building material—steel—as well as an interior finishing coat of plaster. After a hole is excavated for a new pool, crews install a network of steel bars, known as rebar. Carefully placed at specific intervals, these metal rods form a cage-like frame that extends throughout the entire stretch of the future pool, as well as the spa if there is one.
Extra steel goes into areas requiring especially high levels of reinforcement, such as a deep end or free-standing raised wall. Set on concrete blocks, the cage is suspended several inches in the air so it does not touch the soil beneath it. This way, plenty of space remains to be filled in by fresh gunite material. With the steel backbone in place, the pool is ready for gunite.
What Is A Gunite Pool?
Known for its dependable structural strength, gunite is a concrete blend of sand, cement, and water that’s applied through a high-pressure hose. Once it cures (dries), gunite becomes rock hard, forming a thick, solid structure. For decades, it has held a special place in swimming pool construction, where it is always paired with another strong building material—steel—as well as an interior finishing coat of plaster. After a hole is excavated for a new pool, crews install a network of steel bars, known as rebar. Carefully placed at specific intervals, these metal rods form a cage-like frame that extends throughout the entire stretch of the future pool, as well as the spa if there is one.
Extra steel goes into areas requiring especially high levels of reinforcement, such as a deep end or free-standing raised wall. Set on concrete blocks, the cage is suspended several inches in the air so it does not touch the soil beneath it. This way, plenty of space remains to be filled in by fresh gunite material. With the steel backbone in place, the pool is ready for gunite.
Crews spray the concrete blend at high velocity onto the steel across the entire pool, creating the dense pool floor and walls. Because Gunite is highly adaptable to the pool form; it can produce flowing lines, various contours, depths, and a diverse range of shapes—all coming together in a cohesive, visually appealing structure. After the gunite properly cures, a third material is applied to complete a gunite pool: plaster. Composed of cement and marble dust, the smooth blend may also contain colored quartz aggregate for added durability and aesthetics. (For some pools, a high-end pebble plaster may be used.) Plaster is what actually waterproofs a gunite pool, and this final coating is what everyone sees as the pool’s gleaming interior surface.
Other critical elements go into building a gunite pool, including tile, plumbing, electric, and perimeter coping. However, what sets gunite construction apart from other types of pool is the gunite, steel, and plaster. And what sets the completed project apart is the incredible durability and design versatility that this trio provides.
…and how is it built?
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Crews spray the concrete blend at high velocity onto the steel across the entire pool, creating the dense pool floor and walls. Because Gunite is highly adaptable to the pool form; it can produce flowing lines, various contours, depths, and a diverse range of shapes—all coming together in a cohesive, visually appealing structure. After the gunite properly cures, a third material is applied to complete a gunite pool: plaster. Composed of cement and marble dust, the smooth blend may also contain colored quartz aggregate for added durability and aesthetics. (For some pools, a high-end pebble plaster may be used.) Plaster is what actually waterproofs a gunite pool, and this final coating is what everyone sees as the pool’s gleaming interior surface.
Other critical elements go into building a gunite pool, including tile, plumbing, electric, and perimeter coping. However, what sets gunite construction apart from other types of pool is the gunite, steel, and plaster. And what sets the completed project apart is the incredible durability and design versatility that this trio provides.
Both gunite and shotcrete are used to build swimming pool shells—the rock-hard vessels that can withstand pressure from shifting soil and the weight of thousands of gallons of water. What’s most important to understand here is that both gunite and shotcrete are a form of concrete. Between the two, the term gunite is more widely used in terms of swimming pools. However, it is worth nothing that actually, gunite is a type of shotcrete. It’s true: Gunite is the offspring of shotcrete. The only variations between them are the preparation and a single ingredient: Gunite is a dry mix—with water added to it with a hose at the job site; shotcrete is a “wet mix” that is blended up beforehand. Shotcrete also contains some gravel, whereas gunite does not.
Shotcrete VS Gunite, Is There A Difference?
Both gunite and shotcrete are used to build swimming pool shells—the rock-hard vessels that can withstand pressure from shifting soil and the weight of thousands of gallons of water. What’s most important to understand here is that both gunite and shotcrete are a form of concrete. Between the two, the term gunite is more widely used in terms of swimming pools. However, it is worth nothing that actually, gunite is a type of shotcrete. It’s true: Gunite is the offspring of shotcrete. The only variations between them are the preparation and a single ingredient: Gunite is a dry mix—with water added to it with a hose at the job site; shotcrete is a “wet mix” that is blended up beforehand. Shotcrete also contains some gravel, whereas gunite does not.
First, let us look at building a pool with gunite. A truck or gunite rig brings a dry load of sand and cement to a job site. There, the material goes into a container called a hopper. From there, the material feeds it into a mixing system known as an auger. The auger feeds the dry gunite mix into a high-pressure hose. The hose has a nozzle and is operated by a professional known as a nozzleman. Using an additional separate line and tip that connects to the gunite hose, the nozzleman adds water to the dry mix as it exits the hose. Now the blended gunite mixture is wet and it is ready to be applied to create a swimming pool.
So How Is A Gunite Pool Built?
First, let us look at building a pool with gunite. A truck or gunite rig brings a dry load of sand and cement to a job site. There, the material goes into a container called a hopper. From there, the material feeds it into a mixing system known as an auger. The auger feeds the dry gunite mix into a high-pressure hose. The hose has a nozzle and is operated by a professional known as a nozzleman. Using an additional separate line and tip that connects to the gunite hose, the nozzleman adds water to the dry mix as it exits the hose. Now the blended gunite mixture is wet and it is ready to be applied to create a swimming pool.
Now, turning to shotcrete: The material is composed of sand, cement, and pea-sized gravel. These dry materials go into a large truck with a huge, rotating barrel—you have probably seen these rather imposing-looking vehicles on the road before. The barrel, which also contains water, mixes the dry material with the liquid to produce a smooth blend that will be ready for use as soon as the truck arrives at the job site. As with gunite, a high-pressure hose is used to spray the shotcrete into the pool hole to create a solid structure. Don’t get caught up in the distinctions between the two materials. Again, both are concrete, and both will create tough, long-lasting pool shells. Around the country, reputable pool builders construct inground pools using either.
And How Is A Shotcrete Pool Built?
Now, turning to shotcrete: The material is composed of sand, cement, and pea-sized gravel. These dry materials go into a large truck with a huge, rotating barrel—you have probably seen these rather imposing-looking vehicles on the road before. The barrel, which also contains water, mixes the dry material with the liquid to produce a smooth blend that will be ready for use as soon as the truck arrives at the job site. As with gunite, a high-pressure hose is used to spray the shotcrete into the pool hole to create a solid structure. Don’t get caught up in the distinctions between the two materials. Again, both are concrete, and both will create tough, long-lasting pool shells. Around the country, reputable pool builders construct inground pools using either.
To Sum It All Up…
Depending on where you live, you will find gunite pools, shotcrete pools or both. Due to various local factors, pool contractors often use one material over another. In some regions of the U.S., gunite is dominant; in others, shotcrete is more commonly used. Or the use of each might be more evenly split. Either way, it’s all good. What matters most, is both gunite and shotcrete are ideal for swimming pool construction. Both create solid, monolithic structures with superior durability and flexibility for any backyard design.
Note:
Because the term gunite is so widely used in discussions about pools our website will simply use “gunite” when describing pools built from either gunite or shotcrete in related articles.
