What's the Difference Between Woven and Non-Woven Geotextile?
What Are Geotextiles?
Geotextiles are fabrics commonly used for erosion control, soil stability and drainage. They play a vital role in landscaping projects by keeping the soil compacted and assisting with water flow through and down into the soil. They’re used in drainage projects to stop any silt or debris from entering the system.
Woven and Non-Woven geotextiles both have different benefits and characteristics that make them suitable for specific projects.
Woven Geotextile
How is it made?
Woven geotextile fabric is made by weaving polypropylene tapes together in a crisscross pattern. These threads could be monofilaments, fibrillated yarns, slit films or other material.
What is it used for?
Woven geotextile is often used under patios, paths, roads and parking areas where high strength is required.
Advantages
Woven geotextile is strong and durable, and often a cheaper and more economical option. Because of it’s strength, it also has an incredibly high load capacity. Woven geotextile will also resist corrosion and hold up for long-term applications.
Disadvantages
Woven geotextile is limited in their drainage and filtration capabilities compared to the non-woven variety, and they is susceptible to losing strength over time. The tightly woven threads mean the fabric isn’t overly porous, making it a poor fit where drainage is a key factor.
Non-Woven Geotextile
How is it made?
Non-woven geotextiles are made by bonding materials together through heat or chemicals, and then finished by needle punching or similar methods. These fabrics are made from synthetics.
What is it used for?
Non-woven geotextile is most commonly used for long term ground stabilisation, filtration and protection. This makes it ideal for use beneath driveways and roads and in land and stormwater drainage systems such as soakaways.
Advantages
Non-woven geotextile has excellent drainage properties and is easy to cut. For projects involving drainage or pooling water, it is a a great choice thanks to its high-water permeability rate.
Unlike woven geotextiles, non-woven fabrics will not lose their strength over time when fitted underground.
Disadvantages
Non-woven geotextile is likely to break down slightly faster than woven fabrics. It also has a lower tensile strength and isn’t as good a fit for reinforcement or stabilisation projects. The non-woven geotextile will break down faster than its woven counterparts.
If you still need a little more help deciding which type of geotextile is suitable for your project, our expert team are happy to advise.