What is gunite?

Gunite is a concrete and sand mixture applied through a spray gun powered by compressed air. The contractor directs the nozzle across a steel-reinforced frame, building up the pool shell layer by layer. Water is added at the nozzle tip as the dry mixture travels through the hose, allowing the material to adhere to vertical and contoured surfaces.

The term gunite is often used interchangeably with shotcrete in the swimming pool industry, though technically shotcrete can refer to either wet-mix (concrete and water pre-blended before spraying) or dry-mix (gunite) applications. In Florida pool construction, gunite dominates because it works well in tropical climates and on custom-shaped designs. The spray method allows builders to follow freeform contours, add structural details, and adapt to site conditions that poured concrete cannot easily accommodate.

Once sprayed and cured, the gunite shell forms a durable, monolithic structure. The surface is then typically finished with plaster, aggregate, or other coatings. Gunite pools are common in Naples and throughout Florida because the spray process is flexible for residential and commercial projects, integrates well with the local construction timeline, and produces shells that withstand temperature swings and ground movement. Pool design and construction specialists use gunite as a standard method for both freeform lagoon-style pools and geometric designs.