Description

Gunite and shortcrete are essentially the same material, but they are applied with different processes. Gunite is the popular trade term for dry-gun concrete, while shotcrete is the common term for wet-gun concrete.

With the gunite method, the dry concrete ingredients are placed into a hopper and then pushed out pneumatically through a hose to a nozzle. The nozzle operator then controls the addition of water at the nozzle, turning the dry ingredients into concrete that is fully mixed by the time the material hits the host surface. This gives the operator control over the water content being put into the mix, allowing for a better placement process without the need for additional accelerators. It is the recommended method when the process involves frequent stops during the application process.

Wet-mix shotcrete uses fully mixed concrete and sends it through a hose and nozzle without additional water. This is the most commonly used process, as it produces less rebound (material that falls to the ground and is wasted) and dust compared to dry-mix gunite. The greatest advantage of the wet-mix process is that larger volumes can be placed in less time.