3 Excavation Shoring Buy-out Pitfalls

By Jeffrey W. Coonse, PE / May 31, 2023

General Contractors have a huge responsibility when buying out the many trades. Excavation shoring can be difficult as some GCs may only hire this trade once a year. Buy-out gets more tricky in a tough economy. Unscrupulous subcontractors are tempted to push hidden risks onto the GC in hopes of having the low number. Honest…

Read More
Anchor rig drilling soil nails

Quality Control for Soil Nail Walls

By Jeffrey W. Coonse, PE / February 17, 2021

Soil Nail Walls Quality Control One of our founders has a saying, “checking is cheap.”  Another one most of us have heard is, “measure twice, cut once.”  Using some basic soil nail walls quality control measures will help your project move forward with fewer mistakes and will avoid dreaded rework.  With that in mind, here…

Read More
Photo showing installation of a soil nail wall

How Does a Soil Nail Wall Work?

By Jeffrey W. Coonse, PE / January 25, 2021

How does a soil nail wall work? Concept Soil nail walls are typically designed using a limit equilibrium analysis.  Think of the sliding block experiment in high school physics lab where you may have calculated what force is required to overcome friction and move a sandpaper block along an incline.  In a soil nail wall,…

Read More
Permanent soil nail wall during shoring construction project

Soil Nail Wall Advantages

By Jeffrey W. Coonse, PE / January 5, 2021

What are the advantages of a soil nail wall? Speed and Cost Soil nail walls are installed more quickly and cost effectively than other shoring systems.  Soldier pile walls or sheet pile walls require large equipment to drill in place or drive the piles or sheets.   Soil nails avoid the time and cost of installing…

Read More
Permanent soil nail wall during shoring construction project

Permanent or Temporary Soil Nail Wall?

By Jeffrey W. Coonse, PE / August 15, 2020

Do you need a permanent or temporary soil nail wall?  Here are the similarities and differences. Both Remain in PlaceBoth permanent and temporary soil nail walls remain in place.  Temporary soil nails are backfilled against and abandoned in place.  Permanent soil nail walls remain in place to serve as site retaining walls or to keep…

Read More
Anchor rig drilling soil nails

The things we (and you) should ask when Preparing and Evaluating a Shoring Bid

By Joseph Nixon, PE / July 16, 2019

Common questions we ask ourselves when preparing a shoring bid: 1.Have we clearly communicated the scope of work included in our shoring bid proposal? 2.Will the ground water table cause trouble? 3.How deep is rock? 4.Open hole drilling or casing? 5.Are there reasons to expect drilling obstructions? 6.Can sloping be used to avoid utilities and/or reduce…

Read More
Subsurface Construction Company Develops Senior Community Site

Subsurface Helps Develop Senior Community Site

By Jeffrey W. Coonse, PE / April 2, 2015

Developer taps into demand created by Triangle’s growing senior population DAVID BRACKEN RALEIGH With the Triangle’s job market proving itself to be among the best in the country in recent years, this region has been adding new residents at a faster rate than all but a handful of other metropolitan areas. That population growth is…

Read More