Soil nails are typically used to treat unstable natural soil slopes or to allow the safe over-steepening of new or existing soil slope. Soil nail installation involves the insertion of relatively slender reinforcing elements into small diameter holes drilled into the slope in a regularly spaced pattern which are then grouted into place. Often, general purpose reinforcement bar (rebar) is used, though proprietary solid or hollow-system bars are also available.
A rigid facing (often pneumatically applied concrete, otherwise known as shotcrete) or isolated soil nail head plates may be used at the surface. Alternatively, a flexible reinforcing mesh may be held against the soil face beneath the head plates.
Soil nail components may also be used to stabilize retaining walls or existing fill slopes (embankments and levees), though this is normally undertaken as a remedial measure.
