Gunite is a mix of cement and sand that is sprayed at high pressure onto a steel frame to form the pool shell. It goes on in several layers that are smoothed and shaped by hand, so the finished shell has no seams or joints. Nolascapes Pool & Outdoors LLC builds gunite pools in custom shapes and sizes for clients throughout Southeast Louisiana, on new and existing properties, and finishes them in plaster in a range of colors.

How Gunite Differs From Other Concrete

Gunite is sprayed dry and mixed with water at the nozzle, which lets the crew control the mix as it goes on. Shotcrete is mixed wet beforehand. The dry mix suits pools with steep walls, steps, benches and spas, because the crew can build up the thickness exactly where it is needed. The dense layer that results is strong enough to carry the weight of the water and to resist the pressure of the surrounding soil. The skill of the nozzle operator matters more here than with any other pool type, because the shape and thickness of the shell are set by hand as it is sprayed. Gunite is one way to build a concrete pool, and Concrete Pools describes the design and finish choices that apply to either method.

Shapes Gunite Allows

The shell is built on site over the steel frame, so it can follow a freeform outline, a deep end, a raised spa or a sun shelf. Rock waterfalls and slides can be part of the shell itself rather than added afterward. We work out the size, shape and position from your preferences and the limits of the site.

Building the Gunite Shell

The shell is built in stages. First the steel framework is tied to the design to reinforce the gunite and give the pool its structural support. The crew then sprays the gunite in several layers, building up the thickness and smoothing and shaping it by hand for a precise fit. The shell has to cure before anything is applied to it. Tile and coping are then set along the perimeter, which gives a finished edge and a smooth transition between the pool and the surrounding area, and the interior is plastered. Once the plaster has cured, the pool is filled with water and the system is tested. The plumbing, electrical and equipment work happens between these stages, and every phase is set out on New Pool Construction Process.

Plaster Finish and Early Care

Plaster gives the interior a smooth, durable surface and is available in a range of colors. New plaster is delicate during the first weeks, so the water chemistry has to be balanced carefully and the surface brushed as directed. At startup we give you instructions for maintenance and care so that the finish gets off to a good start. Over the years plaster wears, and it eventually needs resurfacing.

Gunite Compared With Fiberglass

A fiberglass pool is built in a factory, installs in less time and has a smooth surface that needs no plaster. A gunite pool takes longer, but it can be built to any shape and depth, with steps, benches, spas and waterfalls formed as part of the shell. Fiberglass suits a quick installation of a standard design, and gunite suits a custom pool.

Time and Cost

A gunite pool takes several weeks to complete, depending on the complexity of the design and the site conditions. We work through the phases in order and keep to the schedule we agree with you, which keeps the cost predictable. We build gunite pools on new and existing properties, whatever the size of the job, and plan the work around your schedule.

Plan a Gunite Pool With Us

Call Nolascapes Pool & Outdoors LLC on 504-330-8479 or send your details through our online form to start a gunite pool project. Tell us the shape, depth and features you want, and we will explain how a gunite shell would be built on your lot, what a realistic timeline looks like and how the work can be scheduled around yours.