What's the Best Landscape Fabric for Draining Water?
Not all Landscape Fabrics function the same way, so be sure to use Non-woven geotextile for proper drainage
On the surface, there seems to be little difference between woven and non-woven geotextile landscape fabrics. Both are designed to increase soil stabilization and ground support. However, depending on what surface you have and what your goals are, choosing the right landscape fabric for drainage makes all the difference to the outcome of your project.
Non-woven geotextile fabric is the best choice for drainage applications where water flow through (permeability) is the main concern. Non-woven landscape fabric is commonly used in French-drains, drain-fields, and erosion control.
There are only two primary types of fabrics used in landscape, and construction applications; woven geotextile, and non-woven geotextile fabric. Read on to discover which one is more suitable for your application.
Geotextile Landscape Fabrics: Non-Woven VS. Woven
Woven Geotextiles are strong, finely spun strips of linen, polypropylene, or polyester material. It is typically impermeable, and water drainage through the material is minimal.
This geotextile’s durability (pull strength) and warp resistance is ideal beneath high load capacity surfaces, including gravel/rock footpaths, highways, and parking lots.
Common Non-Woven Fabric Applications
- Water flow (permeability)
- Xeriscaping
- Filtration
Common Woven Fabric Strengths:
- As a weed barrier
- Beneath roads/paths
- Parking lots
Nonwoven fabric in French Drain
Woven fabric layer under driveway
Below are the benefits of woven and non-woven geotextile products to help you make an informed decision.
Non-Woven geotextile fabric explained
Needle-punched and poly-spun varieties of non-woven geotextile fabric allow water to easily flow through and are both sturdy and versatile for landscaping drainage. The non-woven geotextile fabric is most commonly used as a landscape material to support adequate drainage, filtration, and ground stabilization.
Available as lightweight, medium weight, and heavy weight, these fabrics feel like felt to the touch.
Fabric Weight Categories:
Light weight (2 oz. to 3 oz.)
High flow rates, substrate cushioning, and drain-field type applications. The 3 oz weight is often used behind retaining walls to act as a barrier between the dirt and gravel.
Medium weight (4 oz. to 6 oz.)
A medium weight non-woven fabrics allows water penetration without displacing existing soils. It also helps in controlling soil erosion, separation and drainage functions (French-drains). Additionally we see these weighted fabrics utilized beneath gravel paths acting as a separation barrier between the gravel and the dirt below.
Heavy weight (8 oz. to 16 oz.)
Heavy weight non-woven fabrics are great for applications requiring strength and permeability. They are more resistant to puncturing and their durability makes them a good choice underneath large rip-rap, geomembrane cushioning when applied to retention barriers and artificial lakes. Please note that toward the upper end of the weight spectrum (10 oz +) the water flow rate diminishes significantly due to the thickness of the material.
Heavy non-wovens are also used as a separation layer for sand under volleyball courts (8 oz), and to prevent the mixing of ballast and soil under railroad tracks (16 oz).
Note: If you are installing artificial turf, or pavers we have a Drainage mat roll available in multiple sizes and types.
For a french drain application, 4 oz fabric is most commonly used. This fabric provides a nice mix of durability and high water water flow rates.
View our full selection non-woven fabric by weight and size >
Woven Geotextile Fabric Explained
Woven Geotextiles also called driveway matting are processed by pressing and cutting polypropylene layers and then weaving them into high tensile sheets. The result is a premium filter that is resistant to foreign particle clogging from dirt, sand, or other debris.
The woven geotextile fabric can bear heavy loads, tolerate road rut, extend pavement life, and act as a significant sediment barrier.
It should be noted that this fabric’s low permeability is not ideal where drainage is necessary. Woven geotextile fabrics work best when a tightly wound, nonporous, uniform material is needed.
Woven geotextiles are an excellent choice for projects requiring water to flow over a subsurface.
Advantages of Woven Fabrics:
- Strength and durability
- Ground stabilization
- Woven ground cover fabrics resist UV decay
- Retains tension
Three categories of woven fabric:
Woven geotextiles are versatile and are manufactured in three varieties: slit film woven geotextiles, monofilament geotextiles, and combination woven geotextiles.
Silt Film Woven Geotextiles
Made of interlaced plastic sheets, Silt Film is used to separate and stabilize weaker soils. It is has a lower permeability than drainage fabric and can be quickly setup around a jobsite. This product is also known as silt fence and serves as a vertical barrier held in place with wooden or metal stakes to help prevents sediment from flowing downhill.
This type of fabric is also used under gravel paths and for some road construction applications.
Monofilament Geotextiles
Monofilament fabrics are typically constructed from interlaced poly fibers or tape yarns. This class of fabric is much stronger than silt film and will perform well on under heavy loads.
These fabrics are typically used for filtration projects, such as spillway areas, bulkhead applications, seawalls, and securing shorelines.
Combination Woven Geotextiles
Combination or hybrid fabrics consist of yarns woven together in alternating patterns that provide greater strength than monofilaments. The weave also enables water to flow through easily. These fabrics are most appropriately used in projects requiring strength and specific fluid mechanics.
In general these high end geotextiles are typically specified by a project engineer or called out on a plan.
Woven fabrics excel at strength, but typically suffer in drainage unless they are a high end monofilament or combination fabric.
Woven Geotextile Fabrics
The Bottom Line
The best type of fabric for a drainage project such as a drain field or french drain is non-woven geotextile landscape fabric.
If you're project requires high strength and also good drainage then a high end combination woven fabric could be suitable for your application. If you're looking for a particular model/brand of fabric that you don't see on our site then please contact us and let us know what you're looking for as we likely supply the fabric or offer an equivalent product.
Note: We also offer Curlex erosion control products as well.
Eastgate Supply Sales and Support - (800) 583-4891
Resources:
DOWNLOAD FULL GEOTEX INSTALL GUIDE HERE >
NONWOVEN FABRIC APPLICATION SHEET >
- https://blog.alliancegator.com/the-difference-between-woven-and-non-woven
- https://www.layfieldgroup.com/Knowledge-Center/October-2019/What-is-the-difference-between-a-woven-and-nonwoven-geotextile.aspx
- https://www.ecomerchant.co.uk/blog/tag/eco-friendly-geotextiles/
- https://igin.com/article-3459-versatility_of_geotextiles_in_the_landscape.html
The Eastgate Supply staff includes former landscape contractors and customer service reps who are glad to help and discuss your project. Reach out and get your project started today!
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