Can shotrete wall got hand trowel finish? 2

[ANgK]

I hope to have a smooth finish of the shotcrete wall but my contractor said it is not possible to do some hand trowel to smooth it because hand trowel will compromise the integrity of the wall, causing cracks in the wall.

Is it accurate?

 

[BridgeSmith]

We had shotcrete done on some damaged concrete columns and bridge girders to restore the cover on the reinforcing steel. They smoothed the surfaces of the columns and the girders without any problems. as far as I know, there was no significant cracking. If there had been, they would've had to redo it.

I think either the contractor doesn't know what he's doing, or he's trying to get away with only doing half the job.

 

[Ron]

Makes no sense! HR10 is exactly right....contractor doesn't know what he's talking about. Smooth finish is no problem.

 

[PEinc]

How smooth of a finish is desired? Most shotcreted finishes I see for walls really are not very smooth.

http://www.PeirceEngineering.com

 

[BridgeSmith]

PEinc, it depends on what is desired. Many times shotcrete is chosen for the 'rough' aesthetic look without finishing, but it can be smoothed, as well.

 

[cvg]

that is a typical gun finish in the photos and by far, the most common. (ie, no troweling or any other type of finish. I would not expect a good smooth troweled finish on unformed, vertical structures without a lot of work. But if done right, should not cause cracks.

see examples of troweling and finishing:

https://www.shotcrete.org/media/Archive/2002Win_Beaupre.PDF

 

[ANgK]

Thanks!

Anyone have literature about hand trowel on shotcrete so that I can show it to the contractor?

 

[Retrograde]

https://www.shotcrete.org/media/Archive/2002Win_Beaupre.PDF

 

[oldrunner]

I've seen some really good finishes where the contractor used horizontal screeds up and down the wall. Also have seen ferro cement material pumped rather than shotcreted that were beautiful that the finishers were able to obtain.

 

[Obregon]

SURE YOU CAN..

 

[Obregon]

 

[msquared48]

Smooth finish is done for pools all the time. No worries.

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)