Gunite Pool
A pool shell built by spraying a dry-mix concrete and sand under high pressure onto a steel rebar cage, then finished with plaster, Pebble Tec, or tile.
Gunite is the dominant pool construction method in Arizona. After excavation and steel work, a pneumatic gun sprays a dry mixture of cement and sand that's hydrated at the nozzle. The result is a dense, structurally monolithic shell that handles Arizona's expansive soil and 100°F+ temperature swings far better than fiberglass or vinyl alternatives.
Gunite gives total design freedom — vanishing edges, beach entries, raised spas, perimeter overflows. Almost every custom pool built in the Phoenix Valley is gunite (sometimes called shotcrete when wet-mix is used). Expect 7–10 days of curing before plaster.
Shotcrete
Wet-mix concrete sprayed pneumatically onto a steel cage — chemically identical to gunite but pre-mixed with water at the plant.
Rebar Cage
The steel reinforcement grid installed inside the excavated pool hole before gunite or shotcrete is sprayed.
Pool Plaster
A white cement-and-marble-dust coating troweled onto the gunite shell — the original pool finish, 7–10 year lifespan in AZ.
Written and reviewed by AE Outdoor Living — Arizona ROC-licensed pool & outdoor living contractor.
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