PoolQ We are having a swimming pool constructed. The pool consultant is concerned about cold joints during construction if walls and the floor are shotcreted on different days. The shotcrete subcontractor states that there is no problem as the next layer of shotcrete will knit itself to the previous placement and form a solid bond. Is the shotcrete subcontractor correct?
Yes, if care is taken to prepare the receiving surface properly. The receiving shotcrete edge must be sound (no loose or unconsolidated material), clean (no traces of laitance or gloss), rough, and dampened to a saturated surface-dry condition. If these steps are followed, there should be no concern about the soundness of the joint.
