A Guide to Geotextile Membranes

What are geotextile membranes?

A geotextile membrane is a type of fabric that is inserted under the ground as a form of protective membrane. Other names for them include geotextiles or Terram. 

Geotextile membranes have a variety of different applications. They are most commonly used in drainage and engineering projects.

What types of geotextile membrane are there?

There are two types of geotextile membrane: permeable and impermeable. Permeable geotextile membranes can be woven or non-woven. All permeable membranes are porous to a degree which means water can pass through. 

Woven permeable membranes are less porous, but are strong with high load capacities. They are therefore more suited for erosion control than drainage solutions. 

On the other hand, water cannot pass through impermeable membranes. This means they can be used for retaining water or preventing it moving to another place. 

What are the uses of Geotextile Membranes?

Separation

Membranes can be used to separate different kinds of soil from each other. There are times when it is necessary for different types of soil to be separate. 

Soils come in different consistencies, and when there is water passing through the soil, it causes them to mix. This can have the downside of causing the ground to sink or become uneven. So with geotextile membranes you can keep soil separated and prevent mixing. 

Filtration

Membranes can also be used for filtration. With a geotextile membrane in the ground, debris can be prevented from passing through. This can prevent unwanted contaminants entering a drainage system, whilst water passes through the membrane unimpeded. 

Reinforcement

Another use for membranes is for building reinforcement and engineering projects. Due to their toughness, they can be used to reinforce things like roads. Geotextile membranes can allow for steep embankments to be constructed without the risk of them sinking or collapsing. 

Protection

Geotextile membranes can provide protection by reducing erosion. They are frequently used to prevent erosion from taking place on coastal defences. 

Drainage

Geotextile membranes can be used in drainage projects, for example land drains and soakaways. They can be inserted around a land drain hole before the crates are added in order to prevent debris or contaminants entering the soakaway. This will reduce the chance of blockages occurring later on. 

Geotextile Membranes with Rouden Pipetek

At Rouden Pipetek we have total underground solutions, including Geotextile membranes.

We stock a complete range of geo-synthetic materials for separation, filtration, drainage, erosion control, ground reinforcement and more. 

Our stock range includes:

– White non-woven: 4.5m x 100m rolls / 2.25m x 50m rolls

– Black non-woven: 4.5m x 100m rolls / 2.25m x 50m rolls

– Terram 1000: 4m x 100m rolls

If you require different sizes, please ask a member of our sales team.

For pricing and further information, please contact us today.