Linda Jensen heads Arrowwood Landscape Design in Northern Virginia. Here, she explains geotextiles.
Geotextiles are separation fabrics designed to provide stability for paved surfaces such as interlocking concrete pavers. They are typically installed between the soil and aggregate layers in interlocking concrete paver systems. Sometimes called filter fabric, geotextile is made of plastic threads that allow water to pass around them, but not small particles of soil.
Geotextile allows the base to shed water and can extend its life for many years. Without geotextile, the soil will work its way into the base and weaken it. This is a slow process that happens when the soil is saturated with water or during periods of thawing. Geotextile stops this process, which can compromise the stability of the paved surface. And that means a weaker sidewalk, driveway, or street. Geotextile is recommended for use over silt and clay soils. It is not essential in sandy soils.
It is important to use geotextiles where poor soil conditions exist, as well as to use a 4- to 6-inch compacted base of three-quarter inch aggregate, combined with stone dust beneath the pavers. This, followed by a one-inch layer of sand, pavers, and more mechanical compaction, give the homeowner with an installation that is as durable as it is beautiful. A properly installed interlocking paver project will last much longer than concrete or asphalt because of its unique properties, should remain level, and will not crack with the freeze-thaw cycle.
Don’t use fabric designed to prevent weed growth in planting beds instead of geotextile because this material is sometimes not as strong as geotextile and can tear easily. Geotextile is designed and manufactured specifically to improve the performance and durability of your investment in an interlocking concrete pavement project.
