One of the most important steps in gunite or concrete swimming pool construction is selecting the right type of waterproofing. Concrete is a porous substrate prone to water penetration; therefore, it has to be sealed to keep water in the pool, in addition to keeping ground water out, which is often forgotten.
A: The gunite shell must be maintained moist for at least 7 days after application is completed. The gunite should be sprayed with water using your water hose and spray nozzle. Gunite will cure better and properly if kept moist. You can apply a light mist of water hours after the gunite application is completed.
If you own a concrete in-ground pool and are wondering if it is possible to install a vinyl liner in your pool, the answer is yes, but we don't suggest it.
Gunite is a form of concrete that is sprayed into a hole in the ground in order to make a pool shell. A finish, like plaster, tile, or glue and stones is then spread over it to make the shell waterproof. In the south, this is a pretty simple job, with a minimal amount of steel wire reinforcing in the concrete.
The best thing to do is spray the gunite with a hose 2-3 times a day for a week or so after it is shot. Helps keep shrinkage cracks to a minimum... so a light rain a few hours after it is shot is actually good for it. The only thing I would be concerned about is a heavy rain while they are shooting it...
Gunite (concrete) is the day on which most people say their pool begins to take shape. While gunite only takes a day on average to install, this process needs three to four weeks for sufficient curing. During this curing process, several other phases of the project will ensue.
Maintaining Your Gunite Shell
Not enough watering throughout the day will leave a negative impact on your pool's shell. It is recommended you water 3-5 times daily for about a week. Your concrete pool will thank you!
On average, gunite swimming pools last 7 to 10 years before they need to be resurfaced. When that time comes, it's important to know what options are available so that you can pick the best choice for your backyard space.
A common cause with pool cracks is from too-thin gunite used during the installation process. During the construction process, the gunite might not adhere properly to the steel framework. When this occurs, the gunite “rebounds,” or bounces back after application. Rebound gunite should be removed and thrown away.
Not all pool cracks mean that the pool is leaking, i.e shrinkage cracks are normal; they are shallow and just part of the curing process that occurs when the pool is first shot with gunite or shotcrete.
Don't walk on until about 1.5 days and be more careful watering it.
Typically installed 3-4 days after gunite, the tile and coping crew will install your tile, coping, and trim or spot tile selections.
Spray the gunite surface evenly, with a hose and nozzle adjusted to a mist spray or gentle rain, at least four times a day for at least five to seven days. Stand on the edge of the pool to do this and do not walk into the pool or on the gunite surface for at least three days.
You could refer to gunite as concrete's cousin because they are both in the same family, but have their differences. Gunite is the dry mixed form of sprayed concrete. Gunite typically only contains fine particles in its mix while concrete contains both large and small particles.
If you're looking for a simple answer, the answer is yes. Saltwater chlorinators are perfectly safe for gunite pools. The biggest issues reported when using saltwater chlorinators with gunite pools have to do with the tendency of the plaster to stain over time when coming into contact with salt.
After the gunite has been applied, it will need to dry before plastering. It takes several weeks for gunite to cure. Large rains and debris should be removed from the pool during this phase. You may see small cracks in the rough surface, don't worry – these will be covered in plaster.
Gunite generally lasts longer and maintains a higher quality than shotcrete. For instance, gunite tends to dry faster than shotcrete, leading to a much smoother surface and avoiding significant cracks from shrinking. Gunite can also withstand up to 9500 psi, a much higher psi than shotcrete.
Poor weather conditions cause delays in pool construction
More often than not, weather changes affect gunite pool installation. Remember, gunite needs at least 28 days to cure. So, when it rains, the pool construction process undoubtedly gets delayed.
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.
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. This should be taken into account when considering the higher cost of Gunite pools. You'll get many more years of use from a Gunite swimming pool.
With the gunite method, the dry concrete ingredients are placed into a hopper and then pushed out pneumatically through a hose to a nozzle. The nozzle operator then controls the addition of water at the nozzle, turning the dry ingredients into concrete that is fully mixed by the time the material hits the host surface.