Choosing the correct geotextile defines the lifespan of walls, road bases, drainage systems, and landscaping projects. The difference between woven and non-woven — and between polypropylene (PP) and polyester (PET) — determines the type of project where each truly performs. This comparison helps you decide which one fits your project, from a farm road to a mechanically stabilized earth wall.
🎯 Choose in 10 seconds
- If you're stabilizing a farm road, unpaved parking lot, or low wall: go to Woven PP Geotextile
- If you're doing gardening, agricultural drainage, or light residential driveway: go to Non-woven PP Geotextile
- If you're building MSE walls, heavy road bases, or audited foundations: go to Woven PET Geotextile
- If you're installing underground drainage, a filter trench, or protecting geomembranes: go to Non-woven PET Geotextile
What to consider before choosing
Before purchasing the roll, evaluate these four criteria. They determine whether the geotextile will fulfill its structural function throughout the lifespan of your project or fail within a few years.
- Main function in the project: Woven geotextiles are optimized for reinforcement and separation under load (roads, walls, bases). Non-woven geotextiles are for filtration and drainage (trenches, geomembranes, landscaping).
- Material: PP vs. PET: Polypropylene (PP) offers a better price/performance ratio and higher chemical resistance to alkalis (fresh cement, alkaline fertilizers). Polyester (PET) has low creep under continuous load for decades, a condition that can be audited in structural work.
- Required strength or grammage: Woven geotextiles are specified by kN/m (tensile strength): 40 kN/m for light work, 80 kN/m for standard road work, 320 g/m² high-modulus PET for MSE walls. Non-woven geotextiles are specified by g/m²: 100 for landscaping, 200 for standard civil engineering, 400 for geomembrane protection.
- Expected lifespan: Virgin PET maintains properties for decades under continuous load, while standard PP is the correct choice for projects with a shorter time horizon or where creep is not a critical factor.
Woven Polypropylene (PP) Geotextile: Economical reinforcement under load
- Calibrated tensile strength (40 or 80 kN/m)
- Compact weave for effective separation between fill and subsoil
- Chemically inert polypropylene: resists acidic soils, alkalis, and roots
- Permeability for passive drainage while retaining fines
- Greater creep than PET under continuous loads for decades
- Weave blocks light: acts as a weed barrier (may not be desired in all cases)
5.2 m × 100 m roll available in two strengths (40 and 80 kN/m). The 40 kN/m works well for farm roads, unpaved residential driveways, and low retaining walls. The 80 kN/m is the option for standard road work, commercial platforms, and areas with heavy equipment traffic. Black woven fabric that also functions as a structural weed barrier in extensive agriculture and landscaping.
Non-woven Polypropylene (PP) Geotextile: Economical and light filtration
- Three grammages available (100, 200, 400 g/m²) in black
- High filtration with fine particle retention
- PP resistant to alkaline fertilizers, lime, and fresh cement
- Flexible material that conforms to curves and uneven terrain
- Not suitable for structural reinforcement under continuous load
- Shorter lifespan than PET in audited hydraulic works
5.95 m × 100 m roll available in three grammages. The 100 g/m² is the usual choice for residential gardening and agricultural drainage; the 200 g/m² for farm entrances and light traffic roads; the 400 g/m² for geomembrane protection and light civil engineering. Its big advantage over PET is chemical resistance to alkalis: it better resists contact with fresh cement and alkaline fertilizers.
Woven Polyester (PET) Geotextile: Auditable structural reinforcement
- High-modulus PET yarns: low elongation under tension
- Low creep under continuous loads for decades
- 320 g/m² grammage in white, 5.2 m × 100 m roll
- Chemical and biological resistance for construction: does not rot or get attacked by rodents
- Higher unit cost than light-duty PP
- Lower chemical resistance to alkalis than PP (be careful with basic soils)
5.2 m × 100 m roll, 320 g/m² grammage in white. The key difference compared to woven PP is the low creep under continuous load: virgin PET maintains dimensions and mechanical properties for decades, an indispensable condition for mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls where the geotextile permanently holds the soil mass. Designed for professional road work, commercial bases, and shallow foundations on soft ground with structural auditing.
Non-woven Polyester (PET) Geotextile: Long-lasting filtration and drainage
- Three grammages (100, 200, 400 g/m²) in white or black
- High permeability with fine retention for French drains
- PET with low creep under continuous loads
- Inert to fungi, roots, and rodents; decades of buried lifespan
- Lower chemical resistance than PP to strong alkalis
- Higher cost than non-woven PP for small projects
5.95 m × 100 m roll available in three grammages. The 100 g/m² for gardening and light drainage; the 200 g/m² for standard civil engineering and low-traffic roads; the 400 g/m² for geomembrane protection in dams, landfills, and reservoirs where hydraulic auditing is stringent. Its great advantage over non-woven PP is low creep: in hydraulic projects with continuous static loads for years, it maintains its filtering function without progressive degradation.
Comparison table
| Feature | Woven PP | Non-woven PP | Woven PET | Non-woven PET |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Function | Reinforcement and separation | Filtration and drainage | Structural reinforcement | Filtration and drainage |
| Material | Virgin polypropylene | Virgin polypropylene | High-modulus polyester | Virgin polyester |
| Key Specification | 40 or 80 kN/m | 100, 200 or 400 g/m² | 320 g/m² high modulus | 100, 200 or 400 g/m² |
| Available Color | Black | Black | White | White or black |
| Roll Width | 5.2 m (17 ft) | 5.95 m (19.5 ft) | 5.2 m (17 ft) | 5.95 m (19.5 ft) |
| Roll Length | 100 m (328 ft) | 100 m (328 ft) | 100 m (328 ft) | 100 m (328 ft) |
| Creep | Standard | Standard | Low — suitable for continuous loads | Low — suitable for continuous loads |
| Alkali Resistance | High | High | Medium | Medium |
| Typical Application | Roads, landscaping | Gardening, drainage | MSE walls, road bases | Drainage, geomembranes |
Use case → recommended product matrix
| If your case is… | Recommended product |
|---|---|
| Stabilizing a farm road or unpaved residential driveway | → Woven PP |
| Separating layers in a garden or landscaping with decorative gravel | → Non-woven PP |
| Reinforcing a heavy road base or constructing an audited MSE wall | → Woven PET |
| Installing a French drain or long-lasting filter trench | → Non-woven PET |
| Protecting a geomembrane in a reservoir or landfill | → Non-woven PET 400 g/m² |
| Structural weed barrier fabric in extensive agriculture | → Woven PP |
| Agricultural drainage in orchards or extensive crops | → Non-woven PP |
| Shallow foundation on soft soil with continuous loading | → Woven PET |
Before purchasing the roll, measure three data points: the useful width you need on site (rolls are 5.2 or 5.95 m, so overlapping consumes linear meters), the actual kN/m or g/m² weight required by your project (do not buy 100 g/m² for geomembrane protection or 80 kN/m for a low-traffic farm road), and chemical compatibility with your soil (PP for alkaline soils or fresh cement; PET for continuous decades of loading).
Do not use non-woven geotextile for structural reinforcement under load (heavy roads, MSE walls, embankments). Non-woven is designed for filtration: under continuous load, it elongates and allows progressive movements of the embankment that compromise the stability of the work. For reinforcement, always use woven (PP of 40-80 kN/m or high-modulus PET).
Don't know what geotextile your project requires?
If you are unsure whether your project needs woven or non-woven, PP or PET, or the appropriate grammage, ask the virtual assistant with details of the work (function, expected loads, service life, soil type). You will receive an instant technical recommendation.
All products compared
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the real difference between woven and non-woven geotextile?
Woven geotextile has interwoven threads in a regular pattern and is specified by tensile strength (kN/m); its main function is reinforcement and separation under load. Non-woven geotextile is a felt made of randomly oriented fibers, needle-punched, and is specified by grammage (g/m²); its main function is filtration and drainage. Confusing them is the most common cause of failures on site.
When is it worth spending more on PET versus PP?
PET justifies the extra cost when the geotextile must withstand continuous loads for decades without deformation: MSE walls, heavy road bases, foundations on soft soil with structural auditing. For farm roads, landscaping, gardening, and residential drainage, PP performs well at a significantly lower cost.
Can I use woven PP geotextile as a weed barrier fabric?
Yes. Woven PP of 40 kN/m blocks light, resists roots and herbicides, and adds structural function when there is traffic (gardening carts, maintenance foot traffic). It is a common choice in extensive agriculture, nurseries, and large-scale landscaping projects.