In this technique, parts of the retaining wall (soldier piles, cast-in-place or precast columns) taking the passive earth pressure (at the toe) and the active earth pressure (multiple tie-backs or struts) are built before excavation commences.

When these are in place, excavation proceeds in stages (one to a few metres deep, depending on the stand-up time of the soil). Struts or ground anchors are immediately installed on the soldiers previously built, and sheeting is placed against the exposed soil faces.

Several stages of excavation may be necessary (there are cases of six rows of tie-backs). The sheeting spanning between the soldiers may be made of precast concrete slabs, wood timbers, steel beams or shotcrete.