Table of Contents
Firstly, unlike concrete, which uses large and small aggregates, gunite only uses small particles. As we stated earlier, concrete comes ready mixed. With gunite, on the other hand, a dry mix is fired through a hose with the water being added at the point of delivery.
Is gunite a type of concrete?
Gunite is a dry-gun concrete and shotcrete is a wet-gun concrete. For gunite, dry concrete is put into the hopper and forced out of a hose, through a nozzle.
Which is more expensive gunite or shotcrete?
Cost. Because of the relatively simple construction process, gunite pools are generally noticeably cheaper than shotcrete or typical concrete pools. However, you can trust your professional pool builder to keep costs as low as possible for you.
How long do gunite pools last?
A poorly built Gunite pool certainly has the potential to crack. But a properly built Gunite pool can and should last for 100 years or more, with no risk of cracking whatsoever.
Can gunite be sprayed in the rain?
A: Rain causes delays on the job. We cannot excavate, gunite, pour concrete, install tile or coping, or plaster a pool during the rain. In most cases, we will not work during rain days. Q: How much will rain delay the job?Jul 20, 2007.
Can you build a pool with regular concrete?
They are also cheaper to buy and install, even if you get a licensed contractor to do it for you. With a DIY fiberglass pool, the pool shell is already built for you, and all you have to do is install it in the ground. Concrete pools, on the other hand, need to be built entirely from scratch.
What is pool cement called?
Gunite is a dry concrete mix that only mixes with water at the end of the nozzle as it’s being sprayed onto its final surface. Shotcrete is the type of concrete that’ll show up at your home pre-mixed with water in the barrel of a cement truck.
What is the difference between shot Crete and gunite?
For gunite, water is added to the dry concrete mix at the gun-shaped nozzle opening (hence the name “gunite”). Shotcrete is different in that it is trucked to your property wet in a cement truck. The water and dry mix are combined prior to arrival and shot out of a nozzle premixed and ready to go.
Is gunite cheaper than concrete?
Gunite is generally a less expensive process than shotcrete and concrete pouring, with most of the same advantages as shotcrete.
What are the cons of a gunite pool?
Cons: Maintenance costs – gunite pools require more maintenance than fiberglass. Chemical usage – due to the materials used in gunite pools, more chemicals are required to maintain them and to avoid damaging the pool’s surface.
Are gunite pools worth it?
Custom Gunite pools are very durable. Among the different types of in-ground pools available today, Gunite pools last the longest and have the best warranties. You’ll get many more years of use from a Gunite swimming pool. Gunite pools are easier to construct than concrete swimming pools.
Do gunite pools hurt your feet?
Many swimmers and children find the rough bottom in a gunite pool to be very abrasive and uncomfortable. It is not uncommon to scrape and or irritate your feet if the swimmer is in the pool for long periods of time and sitting on the pools steps or benches will certainly snag a swim suit.
How long after gunite Can you plaster?
Prior to plaster: 3 weeks While the gunite is curing, the beginning of many other processes will begin. During the three-to-four-week curing process, you can expect to see tile and coping take place (plus any additional stonework that may include grills, fireplaces, and firepits).
Can you pour shotcrete in the rain?
Shotcrete needs to be protected from rain until it obtains its final set, usually 4 or 5 hours. Following final set, it should be wet cured for at least 4 days, preferably 7 days if possible. The exposure to rain would prove beneficial as the rain would assure the presence of moisture for continued curing.
Why does gunite need to be watered?
Gunite dries and gets hard very quickly. As a matter of fact, it can dry too quickly. It is necessary for you to water cure your Gunite to slow the drying time down. In the summer, wet the pool down at least 5 times a day, more if you can get to it.
What concrete mix is used for pools?
Concrete is a mix of water, cement, sand, and a coarse aggregate (stone or gravel). A concrete pool shell is created by spraying either gunite or shotcrete. Gunite is a dry mix with water in the sprayer, whereas shotcrete is already wet.
How thick should concrete pool floor be?
To be structurally sound, a concrete pool shell should generally be 6 inches thick. Depending on the engineer and the soil condition, it may be more. (On top of that, the plaster interior finish should be at least ⅜ inch thick.).
How thick is a gunite pool wall?
Typically, concrete walls of inground swimming pool shell should be 6 to 12 inches thick. However, for some projects or in some sections of the pool shell, a builder will make the shell walls thicker.
Who invented gunite?
The original sand-cement gunite (dry-mix shotcrete) system developed by Carl Akeley was used, albeit with advances in shotcrete mixture designs and application equipment, in underground mines in North America and elsewhere from 1911 through to the 1950s.
Can you turn a liner pool into a gunite pool?
You can also add real waterline tile to the interiorof your pool. Last but not least you can just change out the liner to give you another 10 to 15 years. It is very easy to change your existing pool into a Concrete/Gunite Pool. With this option you can shallow or deepen the pool.
