How do you mix concrete for swimming pools?

Asked by: Denise Howell

General use concrete – The most common concrete mix for general construction use is a “3 – 2 – 1 mix“. This mix would have 3 parts gravel (usually 1/2″ or 3/4” clear gravel), plus 2 parts masonry sand, plus 1 part portland cement.

What kind of concrete do you use for a pool?

Shotcrete is one of the most ideal solution in the construction world used to build a concrete swimming pool. The flexibility of this type of concrete allows for the construction of a concrete pool structure of almost all sizes and shapes.

How thick is the concrete at the bottom of a pool?

Generally, the pool walls need to be between three and four inches thick. Smooth the pool walls with your trowel, as you did for the base. Now the concrete has to cure properly before you can fill it with water. The concrete curing process allows the concrete to reach maximum strength and takes approximately 28 days.

What is the mixture for pool plaster?

According to the Civil Engineers Forum, the basic pool plaster recipe is a 1:2 ratio of white Portland cement mixed with some sort of silicate, such as ground limestone, quartz sand or marble dust.

How much cement do you need for a pool?

Plan on at least 5 minutes per cubic yard, for unloading time. How much concrete do I need? Order this much concrete, for these standard pool sizes. 12 x 24 – 5 yards, 14 x 28 – 6 yards, 16 x 32 – 7 yards, 18 x 36 – 8 yards and a 20 x 40 – 9 yards.

What is pool mix concrete?

Concrete is a mix of water, cement, sand, and a coarse aggregate (stone or gravel). A concrete pool shell is created by spraying either gunite or shotcrete. Gunite is a dry mix with water in the sprayer, whereas shotcrete is already wet.

How long does a concrete pool need to cure?

Concrete, when applied using the shotcrete process, or cast-in-place, needs to cure for 7 days. Water is the best curing method (7 continuous days).

Can you pour your own concrete pool?

When you take it into your own hands, the price can vary widely depending on how you choose to build your pool. On one extreme end, some people have been able to construct makeshift concrete pools for several thousand dollars using cinder block.

What size rebar do I need for my pool?

Typically, 10M (11.3 mm), 15M (16 mm) or 20M (19.5 mm) rebar is used in residential swimming pools, spas and water features. Rebar spacing is determined by the structural engineer—generally a larger diameter bar can be spaced farther apart than a smaller diameter bar under the same load conditions.

How thick should a swimming pool floor be?

The pool should be dug 12”(310mm) deeper that the finished dimensions to allow for the concrete floor which is 9”(230mm) thick, and for a 3”(75mm) layer of stone rejects (often called crush and run).

How thick should a concrete slab be for an above ground pool?

Concrete slabs vary from 4 to 8 inches thick. Even a low-strength, 4-inch concrete slab can withstand a weight of 1,700 kilograms per square centimeter, or 24,123 pounds per square inch. This is more than strong enough to support an 18-foot by 4-foot-deep round pool.

How do you build a concrete slab for an above ground pool?

What do I do to level the concrete. Okay so if you're pouring concrete to put a pool on a course you're an omega-level laser. Level I would hope.

What is shotcrete swimming pool?

Concrete shotcrete are formed using pneumatically applied concrete, meaning they are sprayed on with a high-pressure air hose. Crews shoot the material over a reinforcing network of steel bars. Concrete pools provide unparalleled levels of design flexibility and aesthetic quality.

Which is better gunite or shotcrete?

Gunite generally lasts longer and maintains a higher quality than shotcrete. For instance, gunite tends to dry faster than shotcrete, leading to a much smoother surface and avoiding significant cracks from shrinking. Gunite can also withstand up to 9500 psi, a much higher psi than shotcrete.

Is shotcrete stronger than concrete?

Shotcrete takes less time than pouring concrete, and it forms a strong and consistent coating. It also is an inexpensive way to apply concrete in curves and irregular shapes, which are often difficult to impossible to achieve with convention concrete methods.

What is the difference between shotcrete and concrete?

Concrete pools can be made of either shotcrete or gunite. The difference is when the concrete mixes with the water. Shotcrete refers to wet concrete that’s already fully mixed before it’s shot out of a hose. Gunite is dry concrete mix that only mixes with water at the nozzle when it’s sprayed.

How thick can shotcrete be applied?

There is no stated maximum thickness for shotcrete used in shear walls or any other type of wall. Walls have been successfully placed to a thickness of 36 in. (914 mm) for some time. The two main concerns are the heat of hydration and proper encapsulation of the reinforcing steel.

What is better gunite or concrete pool?

Unlike concrete, when building gunite pools, you can stop and start without any problems, which will help give a smoother finish. With a skilled nozzleman, the mix of cement and water can be adjusted at the point of delivery as required, while it is also less prone to cracking than concrete.