This Specification describes the requirements for shotcrete lining in a tunnel project. Applied shortly after excavation, the shotcrete lining shall rapidly medigate any disintegration or detrimental loosing of the surrounding rock.

1. Shotcrete Dry Time
2. Dry Shotcrete Mix Design
3. Shotcrete Dry Process
4. Dry Shotcrete Machine

1. Shotcrete shall be comprised of Portland Cement, coarse and fine aggregate, water and admixture(s), properly mixed to provide a consistency to allow spray onto a construction face by means of compressed air using pneumatic pumps and special nozzles.

2. Shotcrete shall be applied on a tunnel face, by itself or in conjunction with welded wire fabric and structural steel (in accordance with drawing requirements) as a structural tunnel lining. Shotcrete shall also be used as sealing along the tunnel and in structural concrete type applications in accordance with drawing requirements and/or as may be required by the Engineer.

The dry process entails first placing pre-blended dry or semi-dampened materials into the shotcrete equipment’s hopper, which is subsequently metered into a delivery hose. Then, compressed air conveys material at high velocity to the nozzle, where water is added. The more advanced shotcrete process can be used to drive down cost and completion time! Wet vs Dry Is it Gunite or Shotcrete Many pool builders use the term Gunite for both the wet & dry process of shooting concrete.

3. Shotcrete may be applied using either the “Dry Method” or the “Wet Method” as described herein:

• Dry method

The dry-mix process means thoroughly mixing the solid materials, feeding these materials into a special mechanical feeder or gun, carrying the materials by compressed air into a special nozzle, introducing the water and intimately mixing it with other ingredients at the nozzle. The mixture is the jetted from the nozzle at high velocity onto the surface to receive the shotcrete.

• Wet Method

Shotcrete Dry Time

The wet-mix process, means thoroughly mixing all the ingredients except the accelerator, but including the mixing water, introducing the mixture into the delivery equipment end delivering it by positive displacement or compressed air to the nozzle. The mixed shotcrete is the air-jetted from the nozzle at high velocity onto the surface in the same manner as for the dry-mix process. The accelerator for the wet-mix process shall be added to the shotcrete mixture in such a way that the quantity can be properly regulated and the material uniformly dispersed throughout the shotcrete when it is applied.

4. Shotcrete, regardless of application methods shall comply with the requirement of this Specification.

5. Time is of the essence for work associated with this Specification Section. Therefore laboratory and field-testing shall commence as soon as possible after the Notice to Proceed in order to obtain an approved shotcrete mix before it is necessary to apply shotcrete to the permanent work.

Placing concrete since 1975. Based in San Antonio.
Shotcrete AKA Gunite Wet Process

Our bread and butter projects are 30 – 60 CY swimming pools, and we shoot them weekly. This continuous workload allows us to continuously sharpen our skills.

Many of our projects require some amount of on site prep work, and this is critical. With concrete, preparation is everything, so we take this stage seriously. On site pump placement, hose locations, surface preparations, cutting guides and other preparations are planned for and prepared for in advance.

Our team is strong with decades of experience in shotcrete. Experience is earned and our crew has it, with some of its members shooting since the 1990’s.

Gunite Pools

Residential & Commercial pools come in all shapes and sizes. Many with details that require a high level of finish work, and tight dimensional tolerances. The cutting and shaping requirements require a large team all working in concert.

Wall Shoring / Retaining

Quickly shore retained soils from erosion and loads.

Walls can be quickly shot with out the need of forming, reducing the time and cost.

Dry Shotcrete Mix Design

Finishes can be varied from rough unfinished to troweled smooth.

Detention Ponds

Shotcrete Dry Process

Detention ponds can be formed and pored as usual, wasting form material and time. The more advanced shotcrete process can be used to drive down cost and completion time!

Many pool builders use the term Gunite for both the wet & dry process of shooting concrete. We use the wet process where the concrete is pre mixed for consitancy and pumped and sprayed wet.

When chosing between wet vs dry do your research. We did, and only wet works for us.

Dry Shotcrete Machine