What do a grotto and a pool recliner have in common? Shotcrete. If you want a truly custom swimming pool, then you need to leave lesser materials behind and succumb to the beauty to be found within shotcrete.

What is Shotcrete?

Usually when you work with concrete, you have to create forms and then pour the concrete into the form to cure. This is a great strategy when you are pouring a cement slab or a wall, but what if you want to mimic the undulating surface of a natural rock face? For this, you need shotcrete, which is specially formulated to be propelled through a spray nozzle so that the shotcrete can coat a vertical surface or even the ceiling of a room. 

The Basics of Shotcrete and Pool Formation

One key to designing a custom pool is the shape. You could go with the same boring rectangular shape that nearly every pool has, or you create curves. If you want sloped walls and an amoeba-like shape for your pool, then all you have to do is create a framework for the pool out of rebar, and then paint over it with shotcrete. Never again do you have to worry that your neighbor down the street has the same pool shape as you. 

Advanced Shotcrete and Pool Craft

One nice feature to have in a pool is a grotto. Basically, a grotto is a cave that you could use for a number of different purposes. You could make an outdoor theater room that allows you to watch movies from the luxury of a floating pool raft, an outdoor living room, or simply a tunnel for a lazy river.

You can also use shotcrete to sculpt pool loungers that allow you to relax half in and half out of your pool. If you are interested in the use of shotcrete to form seating areas for your pool, then you might also consider forming barstools for a poolside bar or lunch counter. 

When you design a pool for your home, shotcrete allows you to unleash your imagination and create any structure you can imagine—pirate ships, water features, climbing walls, etc. Rather than buy a fiberglass pool insert and create a little water feature next to it, or put a playground slide with a hose next to your pool, use shotcrete to make a swimming pool that adds to the beauty of your home. 

To learn more, contact a company like Bellar Pools Inc.