What is causing this wet spot on the shotcrete?

[ajw22]

The issue is not with the rebar. It is the way the gunite was applied in that area over the rebar.

 

[kwest]

@ajw22 - do you have any advice as to what should be done? While I’ve tried to educate myself on pool basics, I’m completely clueless here and unfortunately have lost some faith in what I’m being told by our builder.

 

[ajw22]

It looks like they did not leave enough space in that area between the wood forms on the outside and the rebar to blow in 2 to 3 inches of gunite.

I don’t know the exact process to fix things. Is that the only bad area and void or the only one discovered? You need a careful examination of the shell and looking for other signs of rebar close to the surface or voids.

Eventually the voids need to be opened and patched and the outside built up in a proper way.

 

[JamesW]

It's hard to say. It looks like there's a weak spot in the gunite, but you really can't tell from pictures. Maybe they used rebound to build up the wall?

Horizontal cracks on gunite pool & spa steps- aka Rebound Cracks (with photos & video)

Rebound cracks are predominately horizontal cracks that occur 2-3” below the top of steps and love seats.

mikethepoolman.com

 

[jimmythegreek]

If it's just one spot they could chip there way down til its embedded enough and then bang rebar down and patch it. If that whole wall is that way then there could be issues down the road. Rebar needs proper placement to be effective. I have seen stuff like this where a small section was tied together leaving a bow in the bar and having it shallow but your pics are too far away to tell. The weight of the mix should have that mix much tighter usually big holes are from rebound being used