Recently, when arranging garden paths, such material as geotextiles is increasingly being used. What is the purpose of its use, how to determine the diversity of a special canvas and much more - below in the article.

What is geotextile for laying garden paths for?

The use of geo-fabric in landscape design is very multifunctional:

• for laying paths and sidewalks;
• for waterproofing pools and other artificial reservoirs;
• for isolation of sewer communications, the foundation, etc.

Simply put, this insulating material extends the life of various structures.

• Its benefits with respect to garden paths are as follows:
• counteracting the germination of grass between building elements;
• maintaining structural integrity;
• extension of the facility;
• ability to withstand increased loads;
• prevention of accumulation of melt and rainwater;
• the strengthening of structures located on the slopes;
• prevention of soil swelling during freezing;
• simplification of repair work when replacing damaged elements and much more.

The advantage of the canvas is its resistance to various external factors, as well as an affordable price and ease of installation.

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Types of geotextiles

In the modern building materials market, a very large selection of geo-fabrics. They differ in size, thickness, density, manufacturing method and other parameters.

By material

Depending on the components used for the production of raw materials, geotextiles are classified into the following types:

According to manufacturing technology

Due to the fact that there are several different methods for the production of geotextiles, the following types of canvas are distinguished:

• woven. Manufacturing technology consists of interweaving warp and weft. Density parameters are regulated by changing the size of the cells. This material is characterized by high strength and has good reinforcing qualities. In garden construction, the use of low density canvas is practiced. It contributes to the strengthening of moving soil and the creation of paths, even in areas with slopes;
• non woven. It is created by mechanical or thermal bonding of polypropylene or polyester fibers. Depending on this, needle-punched, heat-treated and heat-fixed webs are distinguished. The properties of each of them are described in more detail below;
• knitted. The material is stitched with synthetic threads. It is resistant to stretching and stress, passes water well, but is subject to external factors. It is recommended to use when laying asphalt roads.

Non-woven fabrics are divided into the following types:

• needle-punched the option is made by applying a press with needles. In this case, the fibers in the layers are intertwined, and a well filtering material is formed. Moisture in such canvases penetrates in one direction. Particles of soil are fixed in their original position. This is a suitable option in terms of quality, reliability and price;
• at the core heat treated Geotextiles are placed fused and pressed fibers. This material is characterized by high strength and lack of filtration qualities;
• thermofixed geofabric - the most suitable, but also expensive material. Polymer fibers are bonded together by fusion under the influence of high temperature. It is recommended to lay it when high loads are possible. Disadvantages include low filtration and increased web thickness. It is often used in the construction of paths in the process of laying paving slabs.

By appointment

Geofabric must be selected depending on the purpose:

• for the construction of pools, ponds and other artificial reservoirs, a waterproofing membrane with a density of at least 250 g / m² is used. It is the main component of such structures;
• drainage canvas is used in the sewage system. It must be durable, and provide the necessary filtration. Too dense material is not suitable, since its pores are quickly clogged with soil microparticles, which reduces drainage properties. Therefore, the best option is a density in the range of 100-200 g / m²;
• the density of the road geotextile is affected by the expected load during operation. A density of 250 g / m² is permissible for roads with passenger cars, for trucks it should exceed 300 g / m², for heavier traffic (for example, at aerodromes) an even higher density (400 g / m² and higher) is required. For garden paths, density from 100 to 200 g / m² is sufficient.

In addition to the listed functions, geo-fabric is also used for waterproofing roofs and foundations, as well as in the construction of hydraulic structures (dams, breakwaters, dams, etc.).

Geofabric selection criteria

To make the right choice of geotissue, many factors are taken into account. It is not so important what kind of coating (tile, asphalt, etc.) will be used, you need to know what kind of load the garden path or alley will be subjected to. Also you need to consider what is the likelihood of flooding with melt, rain or groundwater. Based on these data, a canvas of the appropriate density, strength and filtration coefficient is selected.

Density

The main determining factor when choosing the right material is its density. The bandwidth of the web depends on this parameter. Less durable material will have this indicator below. The desired web density for various purposes has already been mentioned in the previous section.

Important! The most durable fabric is made from propylene fibers.

The basic rules when choosing building textiles for garden design are as follows:

• for garden paths, the optimal indicator is 100-200 g / m². A denser product will not allow moisture to pass through, and a more loose product is used for greenhouses and greenhouses;
• the higher the soil density, the lower the density of the geotissue;
• geotextiles with values ​​of at least 250 g / m² will prevent dips and raising the sand cushion in winter on a waterlogged area;
• in areas with unstable soil, preference should be given to material with a density of about 300 g / m².

Filtration coefficient

This criterion displays the degree of permeability. During the research it was found that most geotextile webs are prone to clogging (filling pores with fine particles suspended in water), which contributes to a decrease in porosity and filtration properties. This is an unavoidable process, therefore it is very important that manufacturers indicate the real life of the material.

Some types of geotextiles are able to perform filtering functions for a rather long time (up to 30 years), and some not more than 8 years. The desired indicator is selected taking into account the volume of precipitation, the level of groundwater location and the degree of water permeability of the soil. With frequent waterlogging of the site, it is recommended to use a material with a high filtration coefficient. Needle-punched non-woven fabrics are the least susceptible to mudding, so it is preferable to use this particular geotextile.

Strength level

The optimal tensile strength of the material intended for garden paths should not be lower than 1.9–3 kN / m. The bursting strength of the material is selected depending on the composite for drainage and the intensity of soil displacement.

Most often, the advantage is given to geotextiles with indicators of 400-500 N. With the use of crushed stone of a large fraction, the parameter should be higher. All necessary information is indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging.

Cost

The indicator of financial savings plays an important role. It is very important to choose the most optimal ratio of price and quality. In the Russian market, the average cost of the material varies within 20-50 rub / m². Imported products have a higher cost - 200–300 rub / m².

The price ratio depends on the size of the roll, the characteristics of the material and brand of the manufacturer. The most popular products are materials from German, Belarusian and Czech manufacturers. Among domestic brands for the installation of garden paths the most popular Dornite, Geocom, Stabitex and etc.

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How to put geotextiles

For a long service life, it is important not only to choose the right geo-canvas, but also to lay it without errors.

Laying rules

When carrying out work, you must adhere to certain rules:

• the surface for laying the web should be well leveled;
• the package is opened immediately before starting work, as some materials are sensitive to sunlight;
• calculate the required dimensions and cut the strip should be taking into account the supply of material, but also so that there are as few scraps as possible;
• when calculating the dimensions, an allowance of 5–10 cm, which is necessary for a slight deformation of the geo-fabric after coating it with sand above, should be taken into account;
• if geotextiles are laid on a layer of gravel or pebbles, then a single layer is used, when laying directly on the ground - the canvas is placed in 2 or 3 layers;
• the geotextile is laid without tension, but wrinkles must not be allowed;
• overlap of paintings should be at least 20 cm;
• the junction of the paintings with each other must be well fixed. They can be fastened with a construction stapler or soldered with a construction hairdryer;
• when overlapping stripes at the joints, it should be borne in mind that the geo-fabric laid in the upper section should cover the material from the lower section;
• after filling crushed stone onto geotextiles, it is advisable to wrap its edges 15–20 cm from above to prevent contamination of internal components;
• when fixing the material to the soil using long brackets, damaged areas must be glued with bitumen.

DIY step-by-step instructions for building a track

Laying tracks using geotextiles follows a certain algorithm:

1. Mark the tracks with pegs and a rope stretched between them.
2. Dig a trench with a depth of about 30–40 cm, and align its bottom well.
3. Fill a layer of sand (preferably river fine-grained) up to 5 cm thick.
4. Lay geotextiles on a sand cushion so that the edges of the material cover the slopes of the recess by 5-10 cm.
5. Connect the joints with a stapler or solder with a construction hairdryer.
6. Pour a layer of crushed stone of a small fraction 15 cm thick and level.
7. Lay another layer of geotissue in the same way as the first.
8. Cover with sand at 10 cm.
9. Allow to stand for 2-3 days.
10. Moisten a layer of sand or cover with tile glue.
11. Lay the main cover.

Important! When using gravel or pebbles as a final coating, only one layer of geo-fabric can be laid, since these materials do not have a large mass, and will not cause severe subsidence of the structure.

Mounting tracks in the country, many owners are wondering: why spend money on geo-fabric, if you can save money. Experienced developers give a negative answer to this question. The use of geotextiles increases the life of any structures by an order of magnitude, helping to maintain their original appearance for a long time.