Soil Nails

A Soil Nailing System is utilized to support top-down excavation methods in certain soil conditions. Soil nail systems are most effective in very dense granular soils and cohesive soils and they can be designed as either a temporary or permanent support wall.

The excavation generally progresses in vertical increments of approximately five feet. The exposed soil is then covered by a layer of shotcrete having an approximate thickness of four to eight inches. Once the shotcrete has been applied, a row of soil nails is drilled into place on a four to six foot horizontal spacing. Once the nails are installed, the above process is repeated in five foot vertical increments until subgrade elevation is reached.