Soil Nail Wall and SOE

Services for Soil Nail Wall and SOE work

SSG Shotcrete supports soil nail wall and support of excavation (SOE) work where shotcrete placement, facing work, and reinforced concrete execution are critical. We work with geotechnical engineers, general contractors, drilling companies  and owners across New England on projects that need stable excavations and predictable sequencing.

Some projects need a temporary SOE system so construction can move forward safely. Others need a permanent earth retention system that stays in place as part of the final structure. Either way, the goal is the same, control ground movement and keep the site stable.

What is a soil nail wall?

A soil nail wall is a reinforced soil retaining system that stabilizes existing ground by installing steel bars (nails) into the soil and grouting them in place, then connecting them to a facing, commonly shotcrete. The nails and facing work together to create a stable mass of reinforced soil.

Soil nail walls are often chosen when the site has tight property lines, limited space for big foundations, or sloped ground that needs reinforcement. They can be temporary or permanent depending on the design and project needs. Another type involves piles drilled straight down into the ground and then shotcrete being installed between the tiles as the excavation moves forward.

What does SOE mean in construction?

SOE stands for support of excavation. Support of excavation is the set of systems used to stabilize excavation walls and reduce the risk of soil collapse during construction. This protects workers, nearby structures, and utilities while the excavation is open.

SOE can include soil nail walls, braced systems, soldier pile and lagging, sheet piles, tiebacks, underpinning, and other methods. The right system depends on depth, groundwater, soil type, adjacent loads, and how long the excavation needs to stay open.

When soil nail walls and SOE are used

These systems show up on heavy civil, commercial, and municipal work, especially in tight urban and coastal environments. Common applications include:

• Support of excavation for building foundations and utility corridors
• Roadway widening and bridge approach work
• Slope stabilization along highways, rail, and site access roads
• Protection of adjacent structures when excavation is close to existing foundations
• Temporary shoring for staged construction

 If the project involves structural stabilization of an existing wall or substrate, building reinforcement may be relevant.

Why shotcrete matters on soil nail and SOE projects

Shotcrete is a practical way to build a facing on vertical and irregular excavation faces. It can follow the shape of the cut, encapsulate reinforcement, and help the wall progress in controlled lifts. On many sites, it reduces the need for full-height forming, which can help with access and schedule constraints.  Additionally since shotcrete does not need any forming materials if there is one existing wall we are able to excavate, install wire mesh, and spray shotcrete for a soil nail wall or other SOE all within just a few hours.  Open soil excavations can collapse quickly especially if its rainy or experience freeze thaw temps so being able to go from excavation to concrete installation in as little as 

It also supports tight sequencing. Soil nail walls move forward when each lift can be completed cleanly, inspected, and signed off before the next lift starts.

Why can’t shotcrete alone handle my SOE problems?

When it comes to SOE there are two components, the barrier which ensures the soil does not move and some sort of tie that holds that barrier in place.  The tie can be a lot of concrete utilizing the weight of strategically placed concrete to hold the soil in place, however lots of concrete is frequently too expensive or would get in the way of what is to come.  This is where the drilling companies come into play.  They install various types of earth anchors whether its driving or drilling piles into the ground that will allow shotcrete to adhere to the piles as the excavation is progressing or soil nails type installers that are like giant screws going 20-40’ deep into the earth and deeper that hold the shotcrete and soil in place.  

Shotcrete alone can perform erosion control but cannot hold back the earth without additional components.

Quality control points that affect performance

Soil nail and SOE performance depends on details. Small misses can create bigger problems later, like localized movement, cracking, or water issues. Common QA/QC focus areas include:

• Drilling alignment and nail length per the design
• Grout placement and consolidation around nails
• Connection details at the facing
• Shotcrete thickness control and curing plan
• Drainage behind the facing to reduce water pressure
• Proper Layout of initial cut

How SSG supports soil nail wall and SOE scopes

SSG typically supports the parts of the scope where shotcrete placement and field execution need to be consistent. That includes:

• Coordination with the geotechnical engineer and prime contractor on lift sequencing
• Shotcrete placement for initial and final facings
• Reinforcement installation support at the face, based on the design
• Access planning and staging for safe production
• Finish work where the facing is part of the final exposed surface
• Site work
• Coordination with drilling contractor

Volumetric concrete delivery is hugely beneficial for this type of work as we can place concrete as soon as the area is ready to receive concrete and just have a truck on site all day to achieve maximum efficiency

SOE can become the building foundation

In very tight sites especially in places like California and Nevada the driller comes in first and install micropiles and lagging to completely support the excavation.  This temporary SOE system can act as the forms for the building foundation construction.  Install SOE, install rebar and shotcrete and the perimeter foundation wall is complete.

Get help with a soil nail wall or SOE project

If you are planning an excavation that needs an SOE system, or you have a soil nail wall in the design set, it helps to coordinate early. Share the drawings, the schedule constraints, and the access limitations.

Contact us to talk through your soil nail wall and SOE scope.

Where We Work

SSG Shotcrete supports residential concrete projects across New England, including Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont. We plan for cold-weather constraints, local site conditions, and the scheduling realities of residential builds.

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