Soil Nails: Why They Matter To Your Project

Whether the plan is to dig into the earth for a mining operation, build a road or shore up existing construction threatened by soil erosion, a drilling company may be called into to provide dewatering services and the placement of soil nails. This common construction technique is required to ensure ground stability in excavations.

Soil nails are part of a retention technique that is meant to hold the earth in place to provide security and stability for excavations. The idea is the create a wall of sorts to hold the earth in place so other work can continue safely.

Soil nail construction involves the creation of a top down wall. This wall involves the placement of nearly perfect horizontal holes into the earth. Inside the holes, steel bars are generally placed and then grouted to hold. This “nails” will then be reinforced with shotcrete or another reinforcing material to essentially create a wall that holds the earth in place. Dewatering is generally required to go along with this since soil nail wall construction must often extend below the water table to provide necessary support. Drilling companies provide this service, as well, pumping water out of the way so reinforcement work can go off without a hitch.

Soil nails are used to provide earth retention in a number of different scenarios. This type of wall, for example, is often built on the sides of highway overpasses. The technique may also be used to stop soil erosion that threatens existing properties. In addition, it’s commonly used in mining operations and other excavations where worker safety hinges on holding the earth around the excavated hole in place.

When there is a need to keep the earth in place, drilling companies have a number of techniques at their disposal. Soil nails may be the best option in many cases because of the relative ease and relative low expense associated with this method of earth retention.