Geotextile Fabric?

[summit151]

So I have a few questions about the fabric I have been reading about. Who all on here has used and the results of it? What is the difference from the woven and non woven? I have put down new gravel every summer and it seems to disappear by next spring. My yard way and drive way are very stiff all summer but get slimy in the spring. I am just getting sick of the mud coming up through the gravel. It seems like the fabric is the the way to go but seems like there is negatives to it . How do you spread the gravel in a large yard with a skid steer and not rip it? I am also worried about snagging it with my gravel drag or a snowplow in the summer. What happens if it does rip? I just trucked in 110 tons of 1 1/2 crushed gravel so now debating to spend more money and buy the material before spreading this stuff

Any help


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[bhonshell37]

When I have used geotex, I would lay down straw first then apply about 4 inches of crush and run or 2in minus. Spread with skid steer or grader. No sharp turns. Sometimes compacted with a hydraulic roller

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[rustyjames]

The fabrics will contain the stone to form one mass. You will need to cover it with at least 6" of stone. I've never been on a project where it was done with a skid steer, always a dozer. Not saying it can't be done though, just don't plan on turning while you're spreading.

 

[jkeyser14]

Our driveway has two layers of woven fabric under it, rated for 250 psi each. The skid steer and vibratory compactor put much less than 250 psi onto the fabric. Yes, some sharp gravel corners may puncture it, but the fabric is very tear resistant and those tiny holes won't open up any further.

It has held up to a year of construction traffic with no trouble. We have had ~ 35 triaxle loads of fill dirt brought in over it, ~10 loads of stone for the septic and and drywell, lots of concrete trucks, building supply deliveries, etc.

 

[bimmer1980]

I bought a roll of it from a paving supply company. There are different grades of fabric. I think I paid about $270 for a 12.5' x 435' roll.

It is my understanding that the fabric keeps the rocks from si king into the dirt. I excavated for my driveway then out the fabric down, then put 6" or more of crushed stone down. All the stone was spread with a skid steer. Just roll straight into the fabric and dump stone as you go. Once there is a layer of stone down, there is less of a chance of twisting up the fabric. It is pretty tough anyhow....

 

[Orionrising]

there are two kind of geotextile (non woven, looks like felt, which is also called filter fabric and commonly used in septic systems) and woven which is a woven nylonish fabric, which is used under roads etc.

 

[CrashmanS]

I used the woven type that looks like typar building wrap. I used it on the bare ground to install a gravel driveway up to my new house. I don't think I could have got by without it in my case. I spread the rock over it with my small bx25 kubota.

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[summit151]

I used the woven type that looks like typar building wrap. I used it on the bare ground to install a gravel driveway up to my new house. I don't think I could have got by without it in my case. I spread the rock over it with my small bx25 kubota.

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Sounds like laying down some woven fabric on top of my base I have now is the way to do it. Seems like a lot of people have positive results with it. How has yours been holding up?


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[CrashmanS]

Seems OK. I had blacktop put on top after about 5 years. Never had any issues. But you still have to worry about proper pitch and drainage still.

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[flat tire]

you definitely need a strong base to begin with other wise the fabric will sink in the soft soil. then you will have a mess

 

[pamike]

I use it all the time on our farm. In the past I would constantly be adding stone. No longer. I use the non woven "felt" style cloth. Its not a strong, but it allows a lot more water to go through it. The woven cloth will still allow water to pass through it, but at a much slower rate.

 

[Jeepster04]

The one time Ive used it I put it down before the dump truck rolled in. Had it laid out and told him to spread the gravel as best he could. Worked out perfect, I figured the truck would move it around as he got positioned but it stayed put.

All of the things you mentioned are just part of it. You drag your blade too deep, it will tear it. You do donuts with a skid steer, it will mess it all up.

 

[alskdjfhg]

Makes a huge difference, even if your subase is weak.

I have about a 12,000 sq ft yard with woven geofiber under it. Spread a layer of 4"-6" road base than a layer of 3/4"-1 1/2" fines to lock it all in place. Works nice and is able to support a 35,000lbs yard worklift on wet days.

The hardest part is unrolling the fiber so it dosent blow away in the wind. The best way to it is drive stakes in the fiber, I didn't and was constantly chasing the stuff and throwing heavy **** on it to try and keep it still.

As long as you aren't an idiot with the truck or what ever is spreading it, you'll be fine.

Layer it in the right direction (edges overlapped in the right direction) so when you spread it rolls from one layer to the next. Otherwise the rock will want to roll under the next layer, looks ugly and leaves a gap.

 

[Ryan Matheson]

So I have a few questions about the fabric I have been reading about. Who all on here has used and the results of it? What is the difference from the woven and non woven? I have put down new gravel every summer and it seems to disappear by next spring. My yard way and drive way are very stiff all summer but get slimy in the spring. I am just getting sick of the mud coming up through the gravel. It seems like the fabric is the the way to go but seems like there is negatives to it . How do you spread the gravel in a large yard with a skid steer and not rip it? I am also worried about snagging it with my gravel drag or a snowplow in the summer. What happens if it does rip? I just trucked in 110 tons of 1 1/2 crushed gravel so now debating to spend more money and buy the material before spreading this stuff

Any help

Hi summit151,
There is a big difference between woven and non woven fabrics in both construction and function. If you are building a driveway I would recommend that you use a woven fabric. DOT grade woven fabric (aka "Driveway Fabric") is designed to act as a separation layer between your gravel and the ground below.
Putting down a layer will help with keeping the gravel from being pushed down and absorbed by the earth. Ideally you have the gravel truck deliver the gravel and pour wile driving in a straight line then hand spreading. If you have to use a skid steer be very careful not to turn on the bare fabric as you will grab / rip it up in no time. If the woven fabric does rip you will have to use ground staples to fix. You should be covering the fabric with at least 3 inches of gravel so there should not be a chance of snagging with the snow plow.
I would not use a non-woven for this application as the material typically is not strong enough to endure the strain from traffic driving above.

Here's the type of fabric i'd recommend using. There are other brands such as Mirafi that would perform similiarly. https://www.mainlinematerials.com/products/terratex-hd-woven-geotextile-fabric-12-5-x-360-roll-hanes

Hopefully this helps. Best of luck.