SHOTCRETE
PRIMER
by Jeff Smith
Concrete shot through a nozzle is just right
for a
variety of repair and construction
techniques
In 1910, a double-chambered cement
gun was introduced to the construction
industry. The sand-cement product
used with this device was called Gunite.
In the ensuing years, the pneumatically
applied material was called by many
names, but today it is widely known as
"shotcrete." Initially, its most frequent
use was to cast in-ground swimming
pools. But the introduction of new mixtures,
and new equipment, have made
shotcrete an appealing alternative to
conventional concrete in a variety of
new construction and repair situations.
Cost and convenience are the primary
benefits. Shotcrete is particularly cost
effective where formwork is impractical,
or where forms can