Answering Five Key Questions about Soil Nails

Soil Nailing is a technique used for retaining walls and other projects, as a way of reinforcing the soil. Soil nailing can be used as a solution for both permanent and temporary retaining walls. As part of soil nailing, the slope or wall which is required to be stabilised first needs to be predrilled. Long steel rods are then put in place and grouted in to hold the soil in place. If the soil contains corrosive elements, then the steel rods need to be coated in anti-corrosives to protect them. To give the soil optimum stability, a covering later fixes the rods in place.

1. It is ideal when working on sites which have a limited amount of space, as there is little need of room to manoeuvre.
2. Soil nailing can follow irregular and tight corners, as well as providing stability to the wall from the top to the bottom. This means that the soil can be secured whilst workers continue to dig down deeper.
3. It is a rapid and economical method
4. Grouting is only required once
5. Soil nails are not prestressed

A budget plan for pricing soil nailing work would include preparatory work, drainage system, soil nailing, and shotcrete (facing).

A cost estimation for soil nailing considers the four variables:

1. Length
2. Horizontal distance
3. Safety factor (SF)
4. Time