Geotextiles for road construction are chosen for the job they do, not for a weight alone. A geotextile 200 gsm non-woven can work well as a separator on a firm subgrade and be far too light for a soft, wet one.
The decision comes from the soil, the expected traffic and the function: separation, filtration, drainage or reinforcement. The design engineer sets the requirement, and you buy to it.
Woven or non-woven?
Non-woven needle-punched geotextiles are thick and permeable. They suit separation, filtration and drainage. Woven geotextiles are made from flat tapes and are strong at low elongation, so they suit reinforcement over soft ground.
Our guide to woven vs non-woven geotextiles covers this in more depth, and geotextile uses explains the four functions.
Cost is driven by weight, polymer, strength class and roll size, and we do not quote it here. What you can do is ask for quotes on the same specification so that they compare. A cheaper roll that fails the design strength is not a saving, because replacing a failed layer under a finished road is far more costly than the geotextile itself.
What role does weight play?
GSM is a convenient shorthand, but it does not describe strength or permeability. Two non-wovens at the same weight can behave differently because of fibre, needling and finish. Heavier fabric generally survives installation damage better, which is why rough stone subbase usually calls for a heavier grade than a smooth sand layer.
So treat a weight such as 200 GSM as a starting point, then confirm the properties that the design requires.
Installation conditions often decide the choice. Heavy plant, sharp aggregate and wet ground all raise the risk of damage while the layer is being placed, and a geotextile that passes the design check can still be punctured on site. Ask the engineer whether an installation survivability class applies, and keep spare rolls and an overlap allowance in the order. Handling instructions for storage and unrolling also belong on the delivery note.
Which properties should the spec list?
Ask the engineer for the values and write them into the purchase order. The usual set is:
- Tensile strength and elongation, tested on a wide strip so the result reflects real behaviour.
- Puncture or CBR resistance, which shows how the fabric copes with sharp stone.
- Apparent opening size, which controls how fine a soil the fabric will hold back.
- Permittivity or water flow, so that drainage is not blocked.
- UV resistance, because rolls may sit uncovered on site before they are buried.
Which standards and tests apply?
Projects usually refer to a national or international test standard. In Europe, EN 13249 covers geotextiles in roads and other trafficked areas, and carries CE marking. In the United States, specifications often follow AASHTO and ASTM methods. Which one applies depends on the project, so confirm with the engineer or authority. For how the tests work, see geotextile tests for tensile, puncture and permeability.
Ask for a test report on the production roll, not just a datasheet. Check roll width, length and core as well, since site losses from overlap are real.
Next step
Send us the engineer's specification and the destination. We find Gujarat makers of non-woven and woven geotextiles, check samples and have lots tested before shipment. Book a free sourcing review to begin.