Shotcrete/Gunite

Surfaces are extremely important in the construction industry. There may be many different reasons for someone to put in a new surface. For instance they might be replacing their driveway or patio. Then again it might be a construction crew putting a new property together. Due to this there is the ongoing debate as to which material is best.

Most people will say that Shotcrete is much better than Gunite. There are a few reasons for this. One reason is that Shotcrete deals with a much higher psi than Gunite does. But what is the biggest difference between the two?

The truth is that there really is no difference. Shotcrete is mixed with water inside a truck, and it is then delivered to the construction site. Gunite is mixed with water on site. This is a very small difference but as it turns out, Shotcrete is much tougher. Shotcrete does have rock in it, and that not only makes it tougher, it also allows it to stand the test of time. You could have a Shotcrete surface for years without it cracking, and of course there is the fact that Shotcrete is actually concrete.

Gunite, though it is tough as well, is not concrete. The application methods for these two however are quite similar. They are both applied with a gun, and the first shotcrete wet nozzle was invented in 1942. The purpose of the shotcrete spray nozzle was to fix runways that had been shot up by enemy planes, and it worked out quite nicely.

Things have changed a lot since then, but the way shotcrete and gunite are applied has not changed. They are simply sprayed with a nozzle rather than poured from a truck. Due to the nature of the job though, it is not something that the average person can do on his own. That’s not to say that it is impossible, but for the most part you will want to make sure that you get a professional team to assist you with this very complex installation.

Remember to choose a company that will get the job done right. This isn’t the siding on your house, this is a part of your property that is for all intents and purposes permanent, and you will have to look at it for a very long time. Sometimes a surface installation will actually define a house, so with that in mind, how do you want your house defined? You want a great surface job that not only looks professional, but stands up to the elements no matter which you choose, shotcrete or gunite. It may cost a bit to install, but you’ll be glad that you spent the money later on.