What Is a Gunite Pool? How a Custom Concrete Pool Is Built

If you have started looking at custom pools, you have seen the word gunite. Builders use it all the time, and they often forget to explain it. So what is a gunite pool, and why do so many custom pools use it?

Here is a plain guide to what gunite is, how the pool gets built, and what to expect as an owner.

What Is a Gunite Pool?

A gunite pool is a concrete pool. The difference is in how the concrete goes on. It is not poured into a mold. It is sprayed through a hose onto a frame of steel bars.

Gunite starts as a dry mix of sand and cement. It travels through the hose dry, and water is added right at the nozzle. The wet mix hits the steel at high speed and packs tight. When it hardens, the shell is one solid piece with no seams.

You may also hear the word shotcrete. It is very close to the same thing. With shotcrete, the concrete is mixed wet before it goes into the hose. Both make a strong pool shell.

Why Custom Pools Use Gunite

The big reason is freedom. Because the concrete is sprayed over a steel frame, the pool can be almost any shape, size, or depth. There is no factory mold to fit.

• Curves, straight lines, or a natural lagoon shape

• Benches, steps, and shallow ledges built right into the shell

• An attached spa at any height

• Rock slides, grottos, and waterfalls tied into the same structure

• Edges that seem to vanish, like the ones in our guide to infinity pool design ideas

It also fits odd lots. A sloped yard, a narrow side yard, or a view you want to face can all be designed around.

How a Gunite Pool Is Built

1. Design and layout

The shape is drawn, approved, and then painted on the ground in your yard. This is your first chance to stand in the space and see the real size.

2. Digging

An excavator digs the hole to match the plan. In Southern Utah, this step can take longer, because rock often sits just under the surface.

3. Steel

Workers bend and tie steel bars, called rebar, into a cage that follows the shape of the pool. This cage is the skeleton. It is what makes the shell strong.

4. Plumbing and electrical

Pipes for the drains, returns, and water features are set in place. So are the conduits for lights. Everything is checked before concrete covers it.

5. Spraying the shell

This is the loud, fast day. A crew sprays the gunite over the steel and shapes it by hand with trowels. Steps, benches, and ledges are formed at the same time.

6. Curing

Concrete gets stronger as it cures. For the first several days, the shell is sprayed with water so it cures slowly and evenly. In our dry heat, this step matters even more.

7. Tile, coping, and deck

Tile goes on at the water line. Coping, the cap around the top edge, is set. Then the deck is built around the pool.

8. The inside finish

The rough concrete is covered with a smooth finish, such as plaster or a pebble blend. This is the surface you see and touch. The pool is filled right after.

How Long Does a Gunite Pool Last?

The shell can last for many decades. It is steel and concrete, after all. What wears out is the inside finish. Depending on the type of finish and how the water is cared for, it is usually redone every ten to twenty years.

That is a strength, not a weakness. A gunite pool can be refreshed with a new finish, new tile, or even a new shape of steps, without starting over.

Gunite and the Southern Utah Climate

Our climate is hard on pools. Summer sun is strong, the air is dry, and the ground is often rock or clay. Gunite handles these well.

• Heat. Concrete does not warp or fade in the sun.

• Rock. A sprayed shell can follow whatever shape the dig allows.

• Soil. The steel cage can be designed by an engineer for the ground on your lot.

The one thing to watch is water care. Our tap water is hard, which means it carries a lot of minerals. Balanced water protects the finish and keeps scale from building up.

Caring for a Gunite Pool

• Brush the walls and floor each week. The finish has tiny pores where algae can start.

• Keep the water balanced. Test it often, mostly in summer.

• Run the pump long enough each day to move all the water through the filter.

• Do not drain the pool without asking a professional. An empty shell can be damaged by ground pressure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is gunite the same as concrete?

Gunite is a type of concrete. The word describes how it is applied, which is by spraying a dry mix that gets its water at the nozzle.

What is the difference between gunite and shotcrete?

Gunite is mixed with water at the nozzle. Shotcrete is mixed wet before it is sprayed. Both build a strong, seamless shell.

Is a gunite pool rough on your feet?

The bare concrete is rough, but you never touch it. The inside finish covers it. Smooth plaster and small pebble finishes are both easy on feet.

Can a gunite pool be any shape?

Almost. If steel can be bent to the shape, the pool can be built that way.

Can features be added later?

Some can. A new finish, new tile, or added water features are common updates. Changing the shape of the shell is a bigger project.

Thinking About a Custom Pool?

Desert Rock Pools designs and builds custom pools for homes in St. George, Hurricane, and across Washington County. Take a look at our pool building services, or contact us to talk about your yard.