How a shotcrete pool is built
At a glance: A shotcrete pool has a shell of reinforced concrete sprayed through a hose onto a steel framework. In pool building, shotcrete usually means wet-mix and gunite dry-mix. Construction runs from excavation, steel and plumbing through the shell, tile, coping, decking and barriers to the interior finish and startup[1][3].
What is shotcrete?
Shotcrete is concrete or mortar conveyed through a hose and pneumatically projected at high velocity onto a surface. The method was invented by Carl Akeley and first used in 1907[1]. Shotcrete is the general term, but in swimming pool construction shotcrete usually means the wet-mix process, where ready-mixed concrete is pumped to the nozzle, and gunite means the dry-mix process, where dry material is blown through the hose and water is added at the nozzle; in that context the terms are not interchangeable[1].
What is the difference between shotcrete and gunite?
Wet-mix shotcrete generally produces less rebound, waste and dust and can place larger volumes faster, because the ingredients are mixed with water before pumping. Dry-mix gunite lets the nozzle operator adjust the water content instantly, which helps on vertical and overhead work, but depends heavily on the operator’s skill[1]. Both produce a reinforced concrete shell when applied correctly. San Diego Pools’ packages list shotcrete[2], while its process page lists gunite among the construction phases[3]; a buyer who cares about the method should ask which one the contract specifies.
What are the stages of building a concrete pool?
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Layout and excavation | The pool shape is marked out and dug. San Diego Pools’ packages include excavation to 5 feet with soil hauled up to 5 miles |
| Steel | Reinforcing bar is tied in a grid that follows the shape of the pool, steps and benches |
| Plumbing and electrical | Suction and return lines, skimmers, drains and conduit are run to the equipment pad (packages include 30 feet of plumbing and 50 feet of electrical run) |
| Shell | Shotcrete or gunite is sprayed over the steel to form the floor, walls, steps and benches, then left to cure |
| Tile and coping | Waterline tile and coping stones are set around the top of the shell |
| Decking | The surrounding deck is poured or laid, usually by a hardscape trade if not in the pool contract |
| Barriers and inspection | Required safety features are installed and inspected; in the unincorporated county this must happen before plaster or water |
| Interior finish | Plaster, quartz or pebble finish is applied and the pool is filled |
| Startup | Equipment is started and the water chemistry balanced while the new finish cures |
The order follows San Diego Pools’ own description of its construction phases (excavation, steel, plumbing, gunite, tile, coping, decking and finish)[3], with inspections at the points the building department sets. The stage notes on package inclusions come from its packages page[2], and the barrier timing from County form PDS-379[4].
Why concrete rather than fiberglass or vinyl?
A sprayed concrete shell can take almost any shape, depth or feature, which is why custom builders use it for zero edges, raised spas, beach entries and cascades. Prefabricated fiberglass shells are faster to install but limited to the manufacturer’s shapes and to sizes that can be delivered by road, and vinyl-liner pools need periodic liner replacement. San Diego Pools builds custom concrete pools; it does not present fiberglass or vinyl as options on its packages page.
What interior finishes are used?
The standard finish in San Diego Pools’ packages is white pool plaster, with white precast coping and waterline tile up to $8.50 per square foot[2]. Its warranty covers plaster or pebble finishes for one year[5]. Pebble and quartz aggregate finishes cost more than plain plaster and are generally chosen for texture, colour and durability; colour choices change how the water looks, with darker finishes giving deeper blue or green tones.
What makes a shell last?
The shell’s strength depends on the steel, the thickness and density of the sprayed concrete, curing, and the soil underneath. That is why the City of San Diego requires a geotechnical report where soils are expansive, unstable or filled, and why walls retaining more than 6 feet of soil need seismic design[6]. San Diego Pools gives a lifetime structural warranty that does not transfer to later owners[5].
Questions readers ask
Is gunite the same as shotcrete?
Not in pool construction. Gunite usually means dry-mix sprayed concrete and shotcrete wet-mix, although shotcrete is also used as the general term for both.
Who invented shotcrete?
Carl Akeley, who first used it in 1907.
Does San Diego Pools use shotcrete or gunite?
Its packages page says shotcrete and its process page says gunite; ask which the contract specifies.
Related articles
- License and credentials
- Packages and pricing
- Design and build process
- Pool cost in San Diego
- Pool glossary
Notes and sources
- ^ a b c d Shotcrete. Wikipedia. Retrieved 9 November 2026.
- ^ a b c Starting Price Point (Get Started). San Diego Pools (sandiegopools.com). Retrieved 9 November 2026.
- ^ a b c San Diego Pool Builder for Custom New Pool Construction. San Diego Pools (sandiegopools.com). Retrieved 9 November 2026.
- ^ PDS-379: Swimming Pool and Spa Safety Requirements. County of San Diego Planning & Development Services. Retrieved 9 November 2026.
- ^ a b Warranties & Guarantees. San Diego Pools (sandiegopools.com). Retrieved 9 November 2026.
- ^ Information Bulletin 712: Swimming Pools and Spas (June 2021). City of San Diego Development Services Department. Retrieved 9 November 2026.