Soil nailing is a construction technique that can be used as a remedial measure to treat unstable natural soil slopes or as a construction technique that allows the safe over-steepening of new or existing soil slopes. Soil nailing is an economical, top-down construction technique that increases the overall shear strength of unsupported soils in situ through the installation of closely spaced reinforcing bars (nails) into the soil/rock. Typically, a structural concrete facing (shotcrete) is sprayed against the excavated earth face to connect the nails and reduce deterioration and sloughing. Soil nailing is a specialty geotechnical technique. Owners, specifiers and general contractors should ensure that the work is designed and constructed only by firms with the requisite experience.

Soil nailing is a technique in which soil slopes, excavations or retaining walls are reinforced by the insertion of relatively slender elements - normally steel reinforcing bars. The bars are usually installed into a pre-drilled hole and then grouted into place or drilled and grouted simultaneously. They are usually installed untensioned at a slight downward inclination. A rigid or flexible facing (often pneumatically applied concrete otherwise known as shotcrete) or isolated soil nail heads may be used at the surface.

At Sinorock, we know soil can present many challenges: underground slip zones, consolidation upon wetting, under or over compaction, or sometimes soil with normal parameters need to be strengthened to provide support for excavations or additional loads. Contact us today for help with your problem soils. Don't let soil problems create costly foundation repairs; we can help identify and fix foundation problems before they happen!