Excavation & Shoring

Metra Consultation provides geotechnical and structural engineering services for temporary and permanent excavations, shoring systems, underpinning, groundwater control, and construction near existing buildings throughout Québec.

Excavation work can affect soil stability, groundwater, utilities, roads, and neighbouring structures. Early coordination of geotechnical conditions, structural loads, construction sequence, access, and monitoring requirements is essential for safe and efficient execution.

Our Services

Our excavation and shoring services may include:

  • Review of subsurface and groundwater conditions

  • Temporary excavation-slope recommendations

  • Shoring-system feasibility and design coordination

  • Earth-pressure parameters

  • Braced, anchored, or cantilevered shoring systems

  • Soldier piles and lagging

  • Sheet piles

  • Secant or tangent pile walls

  • Soil-nail systems

  • Underpinning of adjacent foundations

  • Excavation-support sequencing

  • Dewatering and groundwater-control recommendations

  • Basal-stability and ground-movement assessment

  • Construction monitoring and site review

  • Preparation of plans, details, and technical reports

Excavation Assessment

Our engineers evaluate:

  • Excavation depth and geometry

  • Soil and bedrock conditions

  • Groundwater levels and seepage

  • Distance to buildings, roads, and utilities

  • Loads near the excavation

  • Available working space

  • Construction sequence and duration

  • Vibration and noise constraints

  • Required deformation control

  • Access for equipment and materials

  • Temporary and final drainage

Open-cut slopes may be feasible where sufficient space and appropriate soil conditions exist. Restricted urban sites generally require engineered shoring.

Shoring-System Selection

The appropriate system depends on excavation depth, ground conditions, groundwater, neighbouring structures, access, deformation tolerance, schedule, and cost.

Potential systems may include:

  • Soldier piles and timber lagging

  • Sheet-pile walls

  • Secant or tangent pile walls

  • Soil-nailed walls

  • Braced excavations

  • Tieback-anchored walls

  • Internally supported systems

  • Permanent retaining structures

Property boundaries and permission for anchors extending beyond the site must be considered during system selection.

Neighbouring Structures and Underpinning

Excavation near existing buildings may require:

  • Foundation exposure and verification

  • Assessment of adjacent loads

  • Underpinning design

  • Sequenced excavation

  • Movement-control criteria

  • Preconstruction condition surveys

  • Vibration, settlement, or lateral-movement monitoring

  • Trigger levels and response procedures

Groundwater Control

Groundwater can cause instability, erosion, piping, inflow, uplift, or movement of surrounding soils.

Recommendations may include:

  • Sump pumping

  • Well points or deep wells

  • Cutoff systems

  • Filter and drainage layers

  • Staged dewatering

  • Discharge management

  • Uplift verification

  • Monitoring of groundwater inside and outside the excavation

Dewatering impacts on neighbouring foundations and soils must be evaluated where settlement-sensitive conditions exist.

Integrated Engineering Coordination

Our geotechnical, structural, civil, and BIM teams coordinate shoring geometry with foundations, underground services, site access, drainage, crane operations, and construction sequencing.

Contact Us

Contact Metra Consultation to evaluate excavation and shoring requirements and develop a coordinated approach suited to the ground conditions, neighbouring structures, and construction plan.