GUNITE & SHOTCRETE POOLS · UTAH
Two ways to place one highly custom concrete pool.
Gunite and wet-mix shotcrete are concrete-placement methods used to build pools on site around steel reinforcement—giving designers exceptional control over shape, depth and integrated features.
Custom shotcrete or gunite pools—and our pre-priced concrete pool packages—are central to the Custom Pools Utah offering.
HOW IT IS BUILT
Gunite is a kind of shotcrete—not a different pool material.
Shotcrete is the umbrella term for concrete or mortar projected at high velocity onto a prepared surface. Wet-mix shotcrete arrives with the water already mixed; gunite is the dry-mix process, with water added at the nozzle.
Both methods can produce a strong reinforced-concrete pool when the mixture, nozzle technique, reinforcement, placement and curing are handled correctly. For homeowners, the more important question is whether the builder and placement crew have the experience to execute the design well.
WHY PEOPLE CHOOSE IT
The advantages—without pretending there are no tradeoffs.
Design without a catalog
Shape, depth, benches, ledges and transitions are formed for the property instead of selected from a factory mold.
Integrated features
Raised spas, vanishing edges, beach entries, caves, slides and complex water features can become part of one coordinated design.
A substantial concrete structure
The steel-reinforced shell is engineered around the site, water loads, soil conditions and project geometry.
A wide finish palette
Waterline tile, plaster, pebble, glass and specialty details offer broad control over color, texture and reflection.
CONSTRUCTION METHOD
From the backyard to a finished pool.
Excavate & prepare
Shape the pool, prepare the subgrade and place the initial plumbing and drainage work.
Form & reinforce
Build the steel cage, define steps and features, and set penetrations before concrete placement.
Place & cure
Apply gunite or wet-mix shotcrete with a qualified crew, then follow the specified curing process.
Finish & commission
Install tile, coping, interior finish, equipment and deck before balancing and starting the water.
This method moves up the list if…
- A one-of-one shape or depth is important
- The pool must respond closely to the home or terrain
- You want an integrated spa, vanishing edge or major water feature
- Long-term design flexibility matters more than the shortest installation
The tradeoffs deserve equal attention.
- Usually the most craft- and schedule-intensive residential pool path
- The quality of placement and curing matters as much as the material
- Interior cementitious finishes require water-chemistry discipline and eventual renewal
- Complexity can increase engineering, labor and finish cost
THE UTAH LENS
Why custom concrete remains a strong Utah choice
Southern Utah lots often bring rock, slopes, tight access and architecture that calls for a pool shaped specifically to the space. Site-built concrete can respond to those constraints instead of forcing the yard around a catalog shell.
In northern Utah, structural design, drainage, winterization and freeze conditions deserve early attention. Those requirements apply to every pool type; concrete gives the design team broad control over how the structure and features are resolved.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Straight answers before the first dig.
Is gunite stronger than wet-mix shotcrete?+
Not inherently. Both can produce quality structural concrete. Mixture design, reinforcement, placement, crew skill and curing determine performance.
How long must a shotcrete pool cure?+
The curing plan should follow the project specifications and material guidance. The American Shotcrete Association recommends continuous wet curing for seven days for typical pool shells unless project documents require otherwise.
Can a concrete pool be any shape?+
Concrete offers the greatest practical design freedom, but engineering, hydraulics, access, covers and budget can still influence the final geometry.
Why choose concrete instead of fiberglass?+
Choose concrete when custom geometry, integrated features and site-specific design matter more than selecting a pre-manufactured shell and accelerating installation.
KEEP COMPARING
See how the other pool structures work.
American Shotcrete Association: gunite vs. shotcrete · American Shotcrete Association pool guidance. Manufacturer sources describe their own systems; final suitability depends on the selected product, installer, site and engineering.