Shotcrete Cost
Shotcrete, typically referred to as Gunite, is a specialty type of wet mix concrete, with the biggest difference, in comparison to traditional concrete, is the placement method. You will find that these type of application is commonly used for a swimming pool installation as this material is known to be more durable and longer lasting in compared to other conventional methods. Additionally, shotcrete can also help define the shape, style, and depth, often not found in traditional pool kits.
Concrete, as you may know, is discharged from a ready-mixed truck, spit out on the ground and then vibrated for compaction, while Shotcrete, unlike concrete, will not require any forming or compaction, and because of this, it can enhance the application flexibility and design creativity, according to YoderLaserConcrete.com.
Being different, this process has been said to help save time and money.
How much does shotcrete cost?
The costs of shotcrete per square foot all depend on the contractor you choose, your geographical location and the scope of the job.
For pool jobs, the costs of hiring a professional contractor, from multiple quotes we found via online forum threads, can range anywhere from $125 to $195 per yard, again, all depending on the scope of the job. This quote should include the delivery, shooting and forming.
For example, a forum member on this PoolSpaForum.com forum thread noted he was a contractor in South Carolina who worked with shotcrete, and according to his response, he said most of his pool shell jobs, when using shotcrete, would be about $65 to $85 per yard. This price range would usually include the application and the finishing of the concrete, but it will not include the material or additional features such as adding a fountain or edges, for example. Aside from this, he also warned that some contractors will charge a setup fee, often around $300, depending on the difficulty of accessing the job, as well as charing a mileage surcharge if they have to travel beyond a certain radius. Keep in mind that this quote he mentioned was for the pool shell only and would not include any other additional fees.
On another forum thread at Houzz.com, a member said hew as quoted $185 per yard for a total of 58 yards.
Via TroublefreePool.com, a member said he was quoted $170 to $190 a yard for it to be shot and formed.
The pros of shotcrete
In comparison to other methods, builders who use it will not need technical training as the concrete is already premixed.
When forming, it creates a strong and consistent coating.
The entire process, in comparison to a traditional concrete job, requires much less time.
According to knowlesindustrial.com, the physical properties are known to be much stronger to conventional concrete at a much lower water-cement ratio.
The cons of shotcrete
As it is premixed, it needs to be applied as quick as possible, meaning you have to finish the job once you start or else it will not bond.
If too much water is added to the mix, cracks can form due to the shrinkage.
It can be more expensive than other options considered.
When builders bring shotcrete to the job site, they often mix with water to keep it from hardening, just like any other concrete. However, as mentioned, this can reduce the strength of the concrete or even cause shrinkage in some cases if done improperly.
Shotcrete vs. gunite — what is the difference?
Originally, gunite was the trademark name which referred to the dry-mix shotcrete process, a process in which the dry sand and the cement mixture is blasted via a hose using restricted air with water to moisten the mixture as its being discharged. Trademarked in 1909 by Akeley, the phrase”Gunite” is a trademark of the company, Allentown Equipment, a company known to be the original corporation of the gunite-based equipment.
In the 1930s, the term shotcrete started to arise; hower, it was often used improperly to determine the difference between the wet-mix or dry-mix method. By the 1950s, the term “shotcrete” become the official generic term of the sprayed concrete process, whether being dry or wet.
Today, shotcrete has become the industry standard to properly describe the “wet or dry process,” with Gunite being a noun, used at the product name. Today, according to the American Shotcrete Association, the correct term is “shotcrete—wet mix” or “shotcrete—dry mix.”
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