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

 

[Streetcar]

The non woven is more water permeable.
During installation I have laid fabric ,then dumped rock and spread it.
If fabric rips the stone and soil can mix in that area. Not good but not the end of the world either.
I have used in under paved surfaces or rip rap with good results. Installed under gravel drive last year. So far so good

 

[justinramani]

The only thing regret about using geotextile is not starting off with a layer or larger stone. It's easy to snag the geo while doing road maintenance. Not sure how it will work considering that you already have rock down.

 

[summit151]

The only thing regret about using geotextile is not starting off with a layer or larger stone. It's easy to snag the geo while doing road maintenance. Not sure how it will work considering that you already have rock down.

How big of rock did you lay down first? I was going to use 1 1/2 crushed. I am also worried about snagging it and ruining it all and starting from scratch once again. I am also wondering how it would hold up to a skid steer driving not top of it and spinning around with a tire stopped and pivoting??

 

[justinramani]

We went with straight crush and run. Should have gone with base corse first. I've seen dump trucks tail gate loads directly on the fabric. I don't think it would hold up to a skid steer spinning around on it, but that's just my opinion.

 

[summit151]

We went with straight crush and run. Should have gone with base corse first. I've seen dump trucks tail gate loads directly on the fabric. I don't think it would hold up to a skid steer spinning around on it, but that's just my opinion.

I meant once the rock is layed down and packed eventually to be able to spin a skid steer and not worry

 

[justinramani]

Oh - sorry. Yes - we had fully loaded cement trucks going down our road. No reason you would have any issues with a skid steer assuming you have 3-4 inches of material over the geo fabric.

 

[justinramani]

Spinning a skid steer may cause a disruption to the stone, but as long as you aren't doing it over and over in the same spot you will be fine

 

[crazyal]

I've only used the woven type and only on spots that tend to have issues with getting muddy in the spring as the frost melts. It's quite tough and most rocks will not damage it. But you do need to keep enough gravel on top of it to prevent it from getting damaged. Things like snow plows and road maintenance equipment will catch and rip it. Also if on a slope if there's enough water coming up from under the road and not enough gravel on top it will move the fabric, think of a run in a paint job on a car, and create a sag.

Another thing to be careful of, if you don't use enough gravel, is that where your tires travel over it in the spring it will push the material down and force it to the center and edges of the drive. What this will do is make the gravel very thin in the center. It may not be evident until the next winter when you are plowing (most likely before the ground has frozen) and you see ripped fabric. I have one section of my road like this. It's not a killer but I would try to keep a minimum of 6" on top of the fabric. Does your crushed gravel include the fines? If so I think you would be fine putting the 1 1/2" crusher run down on top of the fabric. That's about what I use. If you have the land I will put down a base of hardpan on the fabric before putting down crusher run. I can dig down about 3 feet and get to hardpan that's a combination of clay and small stones that packs down well and doesn't allow the crusher run to mix.

 

[ray66v]

I have used both types, of fabric, in the same driveway. I don't see any difference.

A lot of people feel better, putting a layer of large stone down first. I don't. If you put down large stone, you must put sufficient fine grindings over it, to fill all the voids. If you don't, water will accumulate there. This causes the ground to be soft, and it will sink under load. The best way to make sure it is fill in properly, is to use a mixture of stone and dust to begin with.

Ideally, you can avoid a lot of trouble by having the trucks tailgate it over the fabric. You can spread it with a dozer or loader, if necessary. You better be a good operator.

Use randomly placed roofing shingles, or landscaping staples, to hold the fabric down, if wind is an issue.

Put down your layers of stone, no more than 3" or 4" down at a time. Wet it, and compact it. Ideally you roll it, or plate compact it. You can compact it any way you like, including driving over it with a heavy piece of equipment. But, this is important.

Putting too many inches down at a time, and not using any water, will result in a poorly packed driveway. There will be settling issues.

How thick, depends on drainage, and weight of the equipment you intend to move over it.

I cap it with a neat layer of 3/4" gravel, to keep the fine sand dust out of the garage.