3 Great Benefits of Geotextile Fabric Under Concrete Driveway

drivewaygeek.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

Do You Need Geotextile Fabric Under Concrete Driveway?

Geotextile fabric under concrete, placed between the sub-base and the subgrade of the driveway, prevents the migration and loss of aggregates from the sub-base into the softer subgrade below.

A driveway with geotextile fabric under concrete will be free of large cracks, potholes or sunken spots for a much longer time.

Think of geotextile fabric as a sieve or a filter that separates the hard crushed stone or gravel in the sub-base from the soft, fine soil of the subgrade. The geotextile fabric permits drainage of water from the upper sub-base layer to the lower subgrade but prevents the larger aggregates from falling into the subgrade.

Geotextile fabric ensures that the sub-base remains intact and structurally sound in spite of movement in the subgrade due to the rising & falling water table, minor seismic tremors and weed growth.

What is Geotextile Fabric?

Geotextile fabric is made from polymeric material such as polypropylene, polyethylene or polyester. They are either woven from yarns or made from sheets that are “needle punched” to allow for drainage.

Woven geotextile fabric is made from polypropylene slit films, connected by weaving them on a loom, much like cloth or a jute bag fabric. 

Non-woven geotextile fabric is made from polypropylene strands that are connected in a random fashion. This gives it an appearance similar to felt.

They are manufactured by binding short and long fibers together through needle punching or other alternative methods. Heat treatment is applied to improve the bonding and strength.

Two other types of geotextile fabrics are also manufactured for very specialized applications.

Woven monofilament fabrics combine the strength of woven with the permeability of non-woven fabrics.

Spun bound fabrics combine the toughness of woven geotextiles with the permeability of non-woven fabrics.

Benefits of Geotextile Fabric Under Concrete Driveway

Geotextile fabric under concrete driveway results in 3 clear benefits as under:

1. Separation – between subgrade & sub-base

Geotextile fabric prevents the migration of the subgrade into the sub-base, especially when the sub-base is under compressive stress and the subgrade is soft due to high moisture content.

It also prevents the larger, denser aggregates in the sub-base from falling into the subgrade and getting lost.

2. Reinforcement – of the soil support system

Geotextile fabric helps confine the sub-base aggregates and prevents them from moving sideways under compressive stress. They are a necessary component if you want to build the best base for your concrete driveway.

3.Drainage – improvement in water dissipation

Geotextiles facilitate drainage below the concrete driveway by permitting water to flow from the base and sub-base to the subgrade and be dissipated.

“The benefits derived from these three geotextile functions are most significant when subgrade soils are weak (California Bearing Ratio [CBR] <3)”.

STORMWATER

Installing Geotextile Fabric Under Concrete Driveway (Step-by-Step)

Installing geotextile is not a difficult task. You just need to follow the steps listed below:

STEP 1: Ensure that the prepared subgrade is flat, even and firm. Tamping the subgrade such that you can walk on it without leaving any footprints will get the job done.

STEP 2: Geotextile fabrics come in rolls. Just place it on one end of the driveway and roll it out. Ensure that the fabric is spread out flat. Remove creases, if any, by stretching it out.

STEP 3: When using more than one roll, the adjacent roll should overlap the existing roll by around 4” – 6”.

STEP 4: Secure the geotextile fabric to the subgrade using staples or pins. These should be affixed at all the edges and overlaps.

STEP 5: Place the first layer of the sub-base aggregates carefully onto the geotextile fabric.

How Much Does Geotextile Fabric Cost?

RECOMMENDED PRODUCT

---

The Best Geotextile Driveway Fabric for Your Driveway & Patio Base

Geotextile driveway fabric is a supportive layer that is laid between the compacted subgrade and the sub-base aggregates to prevent the migration and loss of the aggregates in to the subgrade. It helps stabilize the ground, permit drainage and prevent weed growth.

Here is the Geotextile Driveway Fabric I recommend.

---

It is best to use woven geotextile fabrics for your concrete driveway. They have high tensile strength and are puncture resistant.

Geotextile fabrics sell in rolls that are usually 6’ or 12 ½ ‘ wide. The lengths can range from 30’ to 300’. Wider and longer rolls work out cheaper by the square foot. A wider roll also means fewer overlaps.

For example, for a 24’ X 24’ concrete driveway you could buy a roll that is 12 ½ ‘ wide and 60’ long. 

The cost of Super Geotextile Woven Geotextile Fabric for Driveway (12.5×60) on Amazon is around $110.

Alternatively, you could opt for a more rugged commercial grade such as ArmorLay Commercial Grade Driveway Fabric, Stabilization, Underlayment (Black, 12.5′ x 60′) which will set you back about $150.

Thank you very much for reading this post. I do hope you found it informative and helpful.