Geotextile for drainage (geotextile) - a permeable layer with an important function

Tags:Waterproofing, With your own hands

With a high level of groundwater on the territory of a suburban area, work is often carried out to drain moisture using pipelines. In modern systems, geotextiles for drainage (geotextile) are necessarily used. The use of a water-permeable layer makes it possible to protect elements with perforation from contamination, and the bulk material from creeping.

Use of a membrane when laying drainage pipes in a trench

The content of the article

1 Considering the general benefits of the material
2 Drainage geotextile (geotextile): a suitable type of product and some manufacturers
- 2.1 Dornit nonwoven geotextile
- 2.2 Non-woven analogue Geotex
3 What geotextile to use for drainage on the site
- 3.1 How to choose the density of geotextiles when draining a site
- 3.2 Additional recommendations for the choice of material
4 The process of laying the sheets and the device of drainage
5 The cost of products from well-known manufacturers
6 Summarizing
7 Video: what density to choose geotextile for the drainage system

Considering the general benefits of the material

An important advantage is a high level of resistance to aggressive environments, so the service life of products when in the ground is very high. Due to sufficient elasticity, the sheets of the material do not break against stones and other objects that come across during laying.

When backfilling with gravel, the geofabric is not damaged

The strength of the geotextile is very high. Plant roots, stones, soil movements and other light mechanical influences are not capable of violating the integrity of such canvases. Despite the increased strength characteristics, the material is well cut with a conventional knife.

It is quite convenient to work with the material

The polymer layer retains its basic characteristics in the temperature range from -60 to +110 degrees, that is, abnormal heat or severe frosts do not have a negative effect on it.

Drainage geotextile (geotextile): a suitable type of product and some manufacturers

Non-woven geotextiles made of threads or fibers located in a chaotic or ordered state are more suitable for the device of drainage systems. The fastening of the elements is most often carried out using a needle-punched or thermal method.

Using a membrane for drainage around the house

The main raw materials are usually:

polypropylene;
polyester.

Helpful information! There is a blended analogue containing secondary raw materials in the form of viscose, cotton and wool waste. However, due to the inclusion of natural substances, it does not last so long in the ground.

It looks like thermally bonded geotextile

Two types of threads can be used in the manufacture:

a staple consists of small pieces of threads 5 to 10 cm long;
monofilament is a long fiber that allows for high strength during production.

The laid sheets of long fibers are pulled out when the ground is displaced, and not torn, ensuring reliable water drainage. As for the staple threads, they may not withstand the load when the soil moves, therefore they are used where the earth does not crumble much.

Needle-punched products are presented in rolls

Related article:

Geotextile: what is it and how is it used? From this publication you will learn information about this material, areas of application, advantages and disadvantages.

Dornit nonwoven geotextile

The products of this manufacturer, with high quality, are quite affordable. The production is based on polyester fiber. To appreciate all the advantages, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the technical characteristics of Dornit geotextiles in more detail.

Table 1 . Technical characteristics of geotextile Dornit

Characteristic	F-1	F-2
Weight in grams per square meter	600	500-600
Thickness in millimeters	4	4
Length of canvases	75-100	75-100
Strength in the longitudinal direction, MPa / cm	1	0,7-1
Strength in the transverse direction, MPa / cm	0,8	0,5-0,8
Passable particle size in millimeters	<0,005	<0,005

Dornit canvases are used in the work process

Non-woven analogue Geotex

Geotex products can be used as an alternative. In terms of its characteristics, it is similar to the aforementioned material. However, in the manufacturing process, polypropylene fibers are used, not polyester. As for the cost, the presented products are quite comparable by this criterion.

What geotextile to use for drainage on the site

Each of the listed manufacturers offers different weights to suit specific situations. The scope of application of the polymer layer is very wide. Webs of the material are also used in paving, building geotechnical structures and strengthening slopes.

Correctly selected material in the ground lasts a long time

How to choose the density of geotextiles when draining a site

For the construction of a system for removing excess moisture directly from the site, a material is needed that will combine rigidity, elasticity and good throughput. With an increase in the density of the membrane, its strength characteristics increase, but at the same time water permeability decreases, so something in between should be chosen.

The membrane of the right density will function reliably

Best of all, a canvas with a density of 200 to 300 g / cc copes with the drainage function. m. If you choose a layer with lower rates, then the risk of damage will be very high. With an increase in density, the membrane surface will quickly silt, which will significantly reduce the efficiency of the entire system.

The edges of the canvases should overlap with a slight overlap

Additional recommendations for the choice of material

it is advisable to purchase products made from monofilament;
a canvas made by a thermal method is less susceptible to the silting process;
a high-quality product usually has a snow-white color, in contrast to low-grade counterparts;
the most effective pore size should be 0.175 mm, then the system will work reliably for a long time;
the choice of the manufacturer should be made taking into account the period of its existence on the market.

Geotextiles must be under all piping in the system

The process of laying the sheets and the device of drainage

In order for geotextiles for drainage (geotextile) to reliably perform the functions that are assigned to it, certain rules and a certain sequence of actions should be followed during laying.

The main layout of the geotextile for the drainage device

The trench is properly prepared. It should not contain debris.
The bottom of the pit is covered with a layer of sand 10-15 cm thick. This is necessary to level the bottom surface.
After that, geotextiles are laid with a release from the trench for at least 1-2 m. If necessary, the canvases are cut with a simple knife.
A small layer of gravel is poured over the material. Its thickness usually ranges from 15-30 cm.
The pipelines are laid on top so that the slope towards the drain well is 2 cm per meter.
Conductive elements are completely covered with gravel, after which the edges are carefully wrapped. The rest of the pit is covered with earth.

Pre-fabricated pipes wrapped in a permeable membrane can be used

Which side to lay geotextiles? Most manufacturers strongly recommend spreading the water-permeable membrane webs as the roll is being rolled.

The cost of products from well-known manufacturers

Consumers, immediately before arranging moisture removal systems from their own site, should study the cost of all elements. As for the prices for drainage geotextile per m2, they are presented in the table. Products of all brands have a density of 200 g / sq. m.

Quality products should have approximately the same color

Table 2. Average cost of geotextile for drainage

Picture	Manufacturer	Cost in rubles per square meter
	Dornit	22
	Geotex	27
	Canvalan	42
	Geokom	22
	TechnoHout	21
	Avantex	22

The production of material is carried out using such equipment

Summarizing

If we refuse to use geotextiles for drainage (geotextiles) when carrying out work, then in the near future we can expect a decrease in the efficiency of the entire system. Modern moisture removal networks cannot be imagined without the use of this material, which plays an important role in the drainage network of pipelines.