Geotextile selection begins with the job the fabric performs between surrounding materials. nonwoven geotextile fabric may be specified for filtration or protection, while the relevant properties depend on that duty. Choosing a roll by weight or colour alone leaves important questions about soil, water movement and installation damage unanswered.

For keeping base aggregate distinct from underlying soil, separation geotextiles address a different primary purpose. A single installation can require more than one function, so describe each explicitly. This guide helps purchasers organize the selection brief around separation, filtration and protection instead of treating every fabric as interchangeable.

Define the main function

Draw the fabric's position and explain what it must do. Separation keeps adjoining materials distinct; filtration concerns passage of water while retaining the required soil; protection concerns the adjacent component's damage exposure. The specification should identify the required evidence for the actual function. Do not infer all three capabilities from a supplier's general geotextile label.

Describe both adjoining layers

Provide relevant soil or aggregate information and any membrane or drainage core touching the fabric. Conditions on each side influence the selection question. A drain filter and a membrane protection layer can require different data even if both are nonwoven. Keep the material descriptions attached to the enquiry so alternatives are reviewed against the same interfaces.

Ask for performance properties

Request the tests and acceptance criteria identified in the project specification. Weight remains a useful product identifier but does not replace hydraulic or mechanical requirements. Record units and test methods on the comparison schedule. Results reported on different bases should not be ranked as equivalent numbers without the technical interpretation needed for the intended application.

Consider installation exposure

Describe placement equipment, cover materials and the chance of damage before the fabric is buried. Specify handling and repair details through the approved installation method. A fabric that meets operating requirements still needs suitable protection during construction. Check how roll width, overlaps and site access affect the practical arrangement without allowing convenience to replace the performance specification.

Create a function-based enquiry

Send Suneco New Materials the layer drawing, intended functions and required product properties. Include roll dimensions and quantities after the layout is reviewed. A clear enquiry allows the offered fabric to be assessed as a defined component rather than chosen because a familiar GSM appears on a price list.