How often should you water gunite?

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.

How often should you water a gunite pool?

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. In cooler months (temperatures below 80 degrees F), 2 to 3 times a day is fine. Spray water on the sides until it starts to “sheet” off.

What happens if you don't water your gunite?

Lack of curing and exposure to windy, hot, or dry conditions will certainly increase the potential for shrinkage and cracking of the concrete. Lack of curing will prevent the concrete from achieving its maximum potential strength.

Do you have to keep gunite wet?

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.

How long does it take for gunite to cure?

The curing process is where the specific molecules within the Gunite bond and become hydrated with the water. The better hydrated or cured the Gunite is the stronger and more robust it is considered to be. Gunite is considered fully cured in 28 days.

How to Properly Water Your Gunite/Shotcrete Pool

When should I start watering my concrete?

Properly curing your concrete improves strength, durability, water tightness, and resistance for many years. The first 7 days after installation you should spray the slab with water 5-10 times per day, or as often as possible. Once the concrete is poured the curing process begins immediately.

What happens if it rains after gunite?

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.

How long do you need to water a gunite pool?

Once the Gunite is shot you will need to wet down the entire shell for 7 days. This wetting of the shell is what helps the Gunite to cure to its highest and strongest psi.

Why do you have to water a gunite pool?

Water is applied to aid in hydration/curing, a process which decays exponentially, so watering is most critical in the first hours/days after placement. Concrete will continue to cure/harden forever, but the strength used for design work is the strength after curing for 28 days.

How do you care for a new gunite pool?

How soon can you swim after plastering pool?

The plaster material cures under water in about 7-10 days. But this doesn't mean you have to wait that long. Once the pool is filled and clean, you can go in for a swim.

How long does a concrete pool take to cure?

Concrete Curing

The shell will need to cure for around 30 days, during which time you will be asked to water it regularly to keep the outer layers of concrete cool to avoid cracking.

What comes after gunite in a pool?

Typically installed 3-4 days after gunite, the tile and coping crew will install your tile, coping, and trim or spot tile selections.

How often do you water shotcrete?

However, many contractors are willing to make an exception when it's time to cure the gunite or shotcrete. The shell typically must be watered two to four times daily.

Is gunite better than shotcrete?

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.

How do I know if my pool has gunite?

There are two main things that differentiate gunite from concrete. Firstly, unlike concrete, which uses large and small aggregates, gunite only uses small particles. The other difference is down to when you add the water. As we stated earlier, concrete comes ready mixed.

How thick is gunite in a pool?

To be structurally sound, a concrete pool shell should generally be 6 inches thick.

How thick is the plaster on a gunite pool?

Pool plaster will be applied over a scratch coat and will have thickness of 3/8 to ½ an inch. Once the new plaster layer is applied, the finish will be smooth troweled. This plaster layer will fill all hollows that we hammered out to ensure a long lasting finish to your replastered swimming pool.

Can you pour gunite in cold weather?

The 40°F minimum is standard. If the water in the concrete freezes, the concrete can be damaged. In my opinion, it should not have been done at freezing temperatures.

How long do you have to water shotcrete?

Concrete, when applied using the shotcrete process, or cast-in-place, needs to cure for 7 days. Water is the best curing method (7 continuous days).

Can you shoot gunite after rain?

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...

What is flashing a pool?

It involves applying a thin coat of gunite or shotcrete to the interior of the hole to keep the walls intact and soil in place. Pool builders are more likely to use flashing in anticipation of heavy rain.

Can you plaster a pool in the rain?

While the rain can harm the chlorination process, it can also create issues with the plastering process too. Rain will cause streaks, discoloration, and curing mistakes once the plastering has begun.

Does spraying water on concrete help it cure?

Spraying water on your new concrete is one of the best and oldest ways to cure your concrete. After new concrete is poured and finished the concrete begins its curing process.