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.

Does gunite need to be watered?

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 often do you need to 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. Your concrete pool will thank you!

How long should I water my 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.

Does gunite absorb water?

Experience with hundreds of thousands of in-ground shotcrete & gunite swimming pools has demonstrated that water seepage through the shotcrete or gunite shell during construction has not caused any deterioration of the structural integrity of the pool.

How to Properly Water Your Gunite/Shotcrete Pool

How long does gunite take to set?

Gunite is considered fully cured in 28 days. Interior finishes of gunite pools need to be kept underwater or wet. Therefore it is normal that the Gunite pools have tile installed along the top six inches of the pool. This is to transition from water to air and keep the finish wet.

Does gunite need to be sealed?

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.

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 thick should gunite pool be?

Generally, the pool walls need to be between three and four inches thick. Smooth the pool walls with your trowel, as you did for the base. Now the concrete has to cure properly before you can fill it with water. The concrete curing process allows the concrete to reach maximum strength and takes approximately 28 days.

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.

How long until you can walk on gunite?

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.

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.

How do you take care of a gunite pool?

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 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.

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.

Is a gunite pool worth it?

A Solid foundation: A gunite pool is perfect because of its amazing design versatility. These pools last the longest of all inground pools and often feature the best warranties. Gunite pools do not need wooden frameworks to hold the shape, so building is simpler than standard concrete.

Can you shoot gunite in the 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...

Is gunite supposed to be smooth?

The crew trowels the gunite smooth and lets it sit for a week or two before applying a smooth finish to the rough surface. The most popular finish is called plaster (actually a mixture of cement and marble sand), but a lot of people finish their pools with special concrete paint or pebble surfaces.

Can you start and stop gunite?

Building an in-ground pool can take up to several weeks and even months to complete depending on the size. One of the main advantages to gunite is that you can stop the application, return the next day, and continue spraying without creating cracks or odd-looking finishes.

Can gunite pools leak?

I you find that your gunite pool cracks all the time, it's probably due to poor design and installation. A pool that wasn't designed or installed properly will be more susceptible cracks that go right through the pool shell. It's these cracks that go right through the shell that eventually cause bad leaks.

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 do you know if your gunite pool is leaking?

How often should you resurface a gunite pool?

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.

Are gunite pools hard to maintain?

Thankfully, most gunite pool maintenance is simple enough you can do it on your own. A gunite swimming pool requires just as much cleaning and maintenance as any other kind. Though most pool cleaning methods are pretty simple, you do need to remember to perform regular maintenance to keep your pool running.