Not all geotextiles are created equal—and choosing the wrong one can cost you time, money, and structural integrity. This guide breaks down woven vs. nonwoven specs with real-world clarity, contractor-tested logic, and cost-smart insights. Whether you’re stabilizing soft subgrades or reinforcing haul roads, you’ll walk away knowing exactly what to spec and why.
Why Geotextile Selection Isn’t Just a Line Item
The wrong fabric can sink your project—literally.
Most contractors and engineers have seen geotextile listed as a line item in the plans—usually buried somewhere between aggregate base and compaction specs. It’s easy to treat it like a commodity: just grab a roll, lay it down, and move on. But here’s the thing—geotextile isn’t just filler. It’s a functional layer that can make or break the performance of your entire structure. Whether you’re building a haul road, prepping a laydown yard, or stabilizing a slope, the fabric you choose directly affects how well your base holds up under stress.
Let’s say you’re working on a temporary access road over soft subgrade. You spec a lightweight nonwoven geotextile because it’s cheaper and available. Six months later, the road starts pumping fines, rutting under traffic, and losing shape. Now you’re looking at rework, downtime, and explaining to the client why the road didn’t hold. That’s not a geotextile problem—it’s a spec mismatch. The fabric wasn’t designed to handle the load or resist deformation. A woven geotextile with high tensile strength and low elongation would’ve locked in the aggregate and kept the fines down.
The real issue is that most spec sheets don’t tell you what the fabric actually does in the field. They list grab strength, AOS, permittivity—but unless you’ve seen those numbers play out on a jobsite, they’re just numbers. What matters is how the fabric behaves under compaction, traffic, water flow, and time. That’s why smart contractors treat geotextile like a structural layer, not a commodity. They match the spec to the stress environment, not just the budget.
Here’s the insight that separates good installs from great ones: geotextile selection is strategic. It’s not just about getting the job done—it’s about keeping it done. When you choose the right fabric, you reduce maintenance, extend lifecycle, and build trust with your client. When you choose wrong, you inherit problems that show up months later, when the job’s already closed out. That’s why this isn’t just a technical decision—it’s a business one. And it starts with knowing what the fabric is really there to do.
Woven vs. Nonwoven: What You’re Actually Buying
Specs are nice. But what does it do in the field?
When you’re staring at a product sheet full of acronyms and numbers—grab strength, AOS, permittivity—it’s easy to get lost in the weeds. But contractors don’t build with spreadsheets. They build with materials that either hold up or fall apart. Woven geotextiles are built for strength. They’re made by weaving polypropylene fibers into a grid-like structure that resists stretching and handles heavy loads. Nonwoven geotextiles, on the other hand, are made by bonding fibers together—usually through needle-punching—which gives them better filtration and drainage properties but less tensile strength.
Here’s the real-world difference: woven geotextiles act like a stabilizing net. They hold aggregate in place, resist deformation, and keep fines from pumping through. Nonwovens behave more like a sponge—they let water through, trap sediment, and conform to uneven surfaces. If you’re building a road over soft soil, you want the net. If you’re wrapping a French drain, you want the sponge. It’s not about which one is “better”—it’s about what the job demands.
Let’s say you’re prepping a laydown yard over a silty subgrade. You spec a woven geotextile with a grab strength of 250 lbs and low elongation. That fabric will lock in the base material, prevent rutting, and hold shape under compaction. If you used a nonwoven instead, the fabric might stretch, deform, and allow fines to migrate—especially under repeated traffic. That’s not a failure of the material. It’s a mismatch between spec and use case.
The takeaway here is simple: don’t buy specs, buy performance. Ask yourself what the fabric needs to do—hold load, allow flow, resist puncture—and match that to the environment. Specs are just the language. Performance is the outcome. And when you understand how woven and nonwoven behave in the field, you stop guessing and start specifying with confidence.
Use Case Breakdown: What Works Where
Match the fabric to the job, not the catalog.
Every jobsite has its own stress profile. Some are load-heavy. Some are water-sensitive. Some are both. That’s why geotextile selection should start with the use case—not the product catalog. Woven geotextiles are ideal for road base stabilization, laydown yards, and any application where you need to reinforce and separate. Nonwoven geotextiles shine in drainage applications, erosion control, and areas where filtration is critical.
Picture a contractor building a haul road across a soft clay field. They lay down a woven geotextile, then compact 12 inches of aggregate over it. Trucks roll in daily, and the road holds up for over a year with no rutting. That’s the woven fabric doing its job—resisting deformation, keeping fines down, and maintaining separation. Now imagine using a nonwoven in that same scenario. The fabric stretches, fines migrate, and the road starts to fail within months. Wrong fabric, wrong result.
Now flip the scenario. You’re installing a trench drain along a retaining wall. You wrap the perforated pipe with a nonwoven geotextile that allows water to pass while trapping sediment. The system drains cleanly, and the wall stays dry. If you used a woven fabric here, the water flow would be restricted, and the drain could clog. Again, it’s not about good vs. bad—it’s about fit.
The best contractors don’t just know what fabric to use—they know why. They understand that woven geotextiles are built for strength and separation, while nonwovens are built for flow and filtration. They match the fabric to the stress, not the spec sheet. And that’s what keeps their installs performing long after the job’s closed out.
Road base stabilization → Woven
French drains or trench wraps → Nonwoven
Riprap underlayment → Nonwoven (needle-punched preferred)
Soft subgrade reinforcement → Woven with high modulus
Silt fence or erosion control → Nonwoven (but check for UV resistance)
Cost vs. Performance: Where to Spend and Where to Save
Cheap fabric isn’t cheap when it fails.
Let’s talk dollars. Woven geotextiles often cost less per square foot than nonwovens, especially at higher weights. But that doesn’t mean they’re always the better deal. The real cost of geotextile isn’t in the roll—it’s in the performance. If the fabric fails, you’re looking at rework, downtime, and client frustration. That’s why smart contractors spend where failure hurts most—under load-bearing zones, water-sensitive areas, and long-term infrastructure.
Imagine a contractor building a parking lot over a silty subgrade. They choose a lightweight nonwoven geotextile to save $0.10 per square foot. After the first rainy season, fines migrate into the base, the asphalt cracks, and the client demands a rebuild. The rework costs four times the original savings. That’s not just a budget hit—it’s a reputation hit. And it all started with a fabric that wasn’t built for the job.
On the flip side, there are places where you can save smart. For example, in temporary erosion control or silt fencing, a lower-weight nonwoven may be perfectly adequate. You don’t need high tensile strength if the fabric isn’t under load. The key is knowing where performance matters most—and where it doesn’t. That’s how you protect margins without compromising quality.
The bottom line: don’t chase the cheapest roll. Chase the best value. That means factoring in lifecycle cost, performance risk, and install conditions. A few cents saved on fabric can cost thousands in rework. Spend wisely, and your installs will speak for themselves.
Specifying with Confidence: What to Ask Your Supplier
Don’t just ask for ‘geotextile.’ Ask for the right one.
When you call your supplier and say, “I need geotextile,” you’re leaving the door wide open. There are dozens of products under that label—some built for strength, some for flow, some for nothing in particular. If you want to spec with confidence, you need to ask better questions. Start with the basics: tensile strength, elongation, AOS, permittivity, puncture resistance. Then ask for ASTM references. If the supplier can’t provide them, walk away.
Good suppliers will give you more than a product sheet. They’ll give you install guidance, use case examples, and performance data. They’ll help you match the fabric to the job, not just the budget. But you have to lead the conversation. Ask for samples. Feel the fabric. Is it stiff or soft? Does it stretch or hold shape? These tactile cues often tell you more than the spec sheet.
Let’s say an engineer is prepping a stabilization job and requests woven geotextile. The supplier offers a generic roll with no ASTM data and vague specs. The engineer pushes back, asks for certified product, and gets a fabric with proven performance history. That decision avoids a spec violation during inspection and ensures the install holds up. That’s the power of asking the right questions.
Spec clarity builds trust—on the jobsite, with clients, and with inspectors. When you know what you’re asking for, you get what you need. And when you settle for vague answers, you inherit vague results. So don’t just spec geotextile. Spec the right one, for the right job, with the right data behind it.
Installation Tips That Make or Break Performance
Even the best fabric fails if installed wrong.
You can spec the perfect geotextile, but if it’s installed poorly, it won’t perform. Installation is where theory meets reality. Overlap matters—typically 18 to 24 inches for stabilization applications. Wrinkles and folds create stress points that lead to tearing. And if the fabric isn’t anchored properly, it can shift under compaction or float during rain events. These aren’t minor issues. They’re performance killers.
Let’s say a crew installs woven geotextile under a haul road but skips the overlap and uses minimal ballast. After the first rain, the fabric floats, the base shifts, and the road starts to rut. The spec was solid. The install wasn’t. That’s why experienced contractors treat geotextile like a structural layer. They prep the subgrade, lay the fabric flat, overlap properly, and anchor with aggregate or staples depending on the application.
UV exposure is another silent killer. Most geotextiles aren’t designed to sit exposed for more than 30 days. If your fabric is going to be exposed longer, ask for UV-resistant options or cover it quickly. Otherwise, you risk degradation before the job even starts. It’s a simple detail that can save you thousands in rework.
The best installs are boring. They follow the rules, respect the material, and avoid shortcuts. That’s how you get performance that lasts. So treat geotextile like the structural layer it is. Install it with care, and it’ll pay you back in durability, client satisfaction, and fewer callbacks.
Top Takeaways
- Match the Fabric to the Job: Woven for strength and separation. Nonwoven for filtration and drainage. Don’t mix them up.
- Spend Where It Matters: Saving pennies on fabric can cost thousands in rework. Prioritize performance zones.
- Spec with Confidence: Ask for ASTM specs, use case guidance, and install tips. Don’t settle for vague answers.
FAQs: What Contractors and Engineers Ask Most
Straight answers to common geotextile questions
1. Can I use nonwoven geotextile under a gravel road? You can, but it’s usually not the best choice. Nonwoven fabrics tend to stretch and deform under repeated traffic loads. Woven geotextiles are engineered to resist that kind of stress, making them a better fit for road base stabilization.
2. What does AOS mean and why does it matter? AOS stands for Apparent Opening Size. It tells you how large the pores in the fabric are, which affects how well it filters soil particles. A lower AOS means tighter filtration—important when you’re trying to keep fines out of drainage systems or prevent soil migration.
3. How do I know if a geotextile is UV-resistant? Check the product sheet for UV resistance ratings or ASTM D4355 test results. If the fabric will be exposed to sunlight for more than 30 days, UV resistance becomes critical. Otherwise, degradation can start before the job is even finished.
4. What’s the difference between grab strength and tensile strength? Grab strength measures how much force it takes to tear the fabric when pulled suddenly—like during installation. Tensile strength measures how much force the fabric can handle when stretched slowly. Both matter, but grab strength is often more relevant for field handling.
5. Do I need to pin the fabric down before placing aggregate? Not always. In many cases, placing aggregate directly over the fabric provides enough ballast. But in windy conditions or uneven terrain, pinning or stapling can prevent shifting during install. Always follow manufacturer guidance.
6. Can I use the same geotextile for separation and filtration? Sometimes, but it depends on the job. Woven fabrics are great for separation and reinforcement, but they don’t filter well. Nonwovens filter better but may not hold up under load. If you need both, consider a composite solution or prioritize based on the dominant stress.
Summary
Choosing the right geotextile isn’t just about ticking a box—it’s about engineering performance into the foundation of your project. Whether you’re stabilizing a soft subgrade, reinforcing a haul road, or wrapping a drainage system, the fabric you choose directly affects how well your structure holds up over time. And that’s not theory—it’s jobsite reality.
The difference between woven and nonwoven isn’t academic. It’s practical. Woven geotextiles give you strength and separation. Nonwovens give you flow and filtration. When you match the fabric to the stress, you get installs that last. When you don’t, you inherit problems that show up months later—when the job’s closed and the client’s calling back.
So here’s the real win: when you spec with clarity, install with care, and ask the right questions, you build trust. With your crew. With your client. And with the ground beneath your work. That’s what separates good contractors from great ones. And it starts with knowing your fabric.