Moltexo non-woven polyester (PET) geotextile is available in three different grammages: 100, 200, and 400 g/m². Choosing incorrectly can mean the sheet tears with the first ground movement or that you overpay for reinforcement your project doesn't need. This comparison helps you decide which grammage fits your project, whether it's domestic drainage, geomembrane protection, or medium-traffic roadways.
🎯 Choose the right variant in 10 seconds
- If your case is gardening, landscaping, or layer separation under decorative gravel: go to the 100 g/m² variant
- If your case is drainage, geomembrane protection in a pond, or light roadways: go to the 200 g/m² variant
- If your case is medium-traffic roads, structural reinforcement, or landfill protection: go to the 400 g/m² variant
What to consider before choosing the variant
All three grammages share the same material (non-woven polyester filament), the same manufacturing structure, and the same presentation in rolls of 5.95 m × 100 m (595 m² per roll). The differences are in thickness, mechanical resistance, and application. These are the most important criteria for the decision:
- Main function of the geotextile: separation, filtration, drainage, protection, or reinforcement. Drainage and filtration require light-to-medium grammages; protection and reinforcement require heavy grammages.
- Nature of the contact soil: sandy and clean soils allow for low grammages; stony soils or those with sharp edges require a higher grammage to prevent puncturing. If the geotextile is under an HDPE geomembrane, the critical data is the CBR puncture resistance.
- Traffic load and depth: more static or dynamic load above requires greater tensile strength. For pedestrian traffic or gardens, 100-200 g/m² is sufficient; for light vehicle traffic, 200-400 g/m².
- Overlap and joining between sheets: for drains and filtration, the minimum recommended overlap is 30 cm, sewn or heat-fused; for separation under gravel, 15-20 cm is enough.
- Compatibility with other geosynthetics: geotextile is frequently combined with nodular drainage sheeting, PE geocells, or geomembranes. Consider the entire system, not just the isolated geotextile.
100 g/m² white variant: the light one for gardening and separation
- Lightest and most economical in the range
- 0.8 mm thickness: discreet under gravel or soil
- Easy handling by 2 people and cutting with a utility knife
- 0.05–0.3 mm opening: filters fines without clogging
- Low CBR puncture resistance (0.9 KN)
- Not suitable for protection under geomembrane in stony soils
- Not recommended under vehicular traffic
The 100 g/m² grammage is the entry-level option and is mainly used as a separation layer in gardening and landscaping: under decorative gravel, under paving stones in patios, in flower beds, and in small domestic drains. Its role is to prevent layers from mixing (gravel sinking into the soil and soil rising into the gravel). It is not designed to withstand traffic or protect geomembranes under pressure.
200 g/m² black variant: the standard for drainage and protection
- Tensile strength 12 KN/m: double that of 100 g/m²
- Grip resistance 700 N: withstands localized stresses
- 1.6 mm thickness: effective protection against small stones
- CBR puncture resistance 1.9 KN: suitable under geomembrane in prepared soils
- Still insufficient for heavy vehicular traffic
- For unscreened soils, consider upgrading to 400 g/m²
The 200 g/m² grammage is the most commonly used reference in light civil engineering in the Dominican Republic. It functions as protection under geomembranes in small to medium-sized ponds and reservoirs, as a drainage layer in construction gardens, and as separation in pedestrian access and light traffic roads. If your project includes an HDPE geomembrane, this grammage is a reasonable starting point unless the soil has many stones.
400 g/m² white variant: the robust one for reinforcement and civil engineering
- Tensile strength 24 KN/m: 4 times that of 100 g/m²
- Grip resistance 1400 N: maximum in the range
- 2.8 mm thickness: reinforced protection against sharp edges
- CBR puncture resistance 3.9 KN: ideal under geomembrane in demanding construction
- Most expensive per m² in the range
- Oversized for gardening or domestic drains
- Heavier to handle (more bulky roll)
The 400 g/m² grammage is specified for demanding projects: protection under geomembranes in municipal landfills, subbase reinforcement in secondary roads, separation in civil works with stony soils, and applications where the risk of puncturing is high. If your project does not fall into these categories, the 200 g/m² is likely more appropriate and economical.
Comparative table of variants
All variants share the same material (non-woven polyester filament), the same elongation (30–80%), and the same roll presentation of 5.95 m × 100 m. The differences are in grammage, thickness, mechanical resistance, and color.
| Feature | 100 g/m² white |
200 g/m² black |
400 g/m² white |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ideal Use | Gardening and separation | Drainage and protection | Reinforcement and civil engineering |
| SKU | 764389 | 709840 | 909095 |
| Type | Non-woven filament | Non-woven filament | Non-woven filament |
| Material | Polyester | Polyester | Polyester |
| Thickness | 0.8 mm | 1.6 mm | 2.8 mm |
| Tensile Strength | 6 kN/m | 12 kN/m | 24 kN/m |
| Grab Resistance | 300 N | 700 N | 1400 N |
| Tear Resistance | 0.15 kN | 0.29 kN | 0.57 kN |
| CBR Puncture Resistance | 0.9 kN | 1.9 kN | 3.9 kN |
| Elongation | 30–80 % | 30–80 % | 30–80 % |
| Equivalent Opening | 0.05–0.3 mm | — | 0.05–0.3 mm |
| Color | White | Black | White |
| Presentation | 5.95 m × 100 m | 5.95 m × 100 m | 5.95 m × 100 m |
Use case matrix → recommended variant
| If your case is… | Recommended variant |
|---|---|
| Separation under decorative gravel or patio tiles | → 100 g/m² white |
| Drainage in built gardens or raised beds | → 100 g/m² white |
| Protection under geomembrane in pond or reservoir | → 200 g/m² black |
| Light roadways or pedestrian access | → 200 g/m² black |
| Medium traffic roads or soils with stones and sharp edges | → 400 g/m² white |
| Protection under geomembrane in landfill or industrial reservoir | → 400 g/m² white |
When geotextile is placed under a geomembrane, the critical data is not the grammage itself, but the CBR puncture resistance. The difference between 1.9 kN (200 g/m²) and 3.9 kN (400 g/m²) is more than double. As a practical rule, use 200 g/m² on screened and clean soils, and 400 g/m² on stony or unscreened soils. This data is what prevents a stone from puncturing the geomembrane years after installation.
Do not use 100 g/m² geotextile to protect geomembrane. Its CBR puncture resistance (0.9 kN) is insufficient against medium stones under hydrostatic pressure, and a single puncture ruins the entire waterproofing. For geomembrane protection, always start with 200 g/m² and go up to 400 g/m² if the terrain is not completely screened.
Don't know what grammage your project requires?
Tell us the area to cover, the type of soil (sandy, silty, stony), if it's under geomembrane, and what load it will support. You will receive the exact grammage recommendation and the square meters you need to purchase.
Frequently asked questions
Does the color difference (white vs. black) affect performance?
Functionally, mechanical properties are defined by grammage, not color. White makes the geotextile easier to see during installation and for delimiting areas on-site; black tends to blend in with dark soils and better tolerates short sun exposure during installation. Always choose by grammage and resistance, not by color.
How much should I overlap between rolls?
It depends on the function. For drainage and filtration applications, the minimum recommended overlap is 30 cm, sewn or heat-bonded to ensure continuity. For separation under gravel or in gardening, 15–20 cm without sewing is sufficient. If the geotextile is placed under a geomembrane, maintain 30 cm and avoid wrinkles, as high points in the overlap concentrate tension on the upper sheet.
When should I use woven geotextile instead of non-woven?
Use non-woven (this product) when the dominant function is to drain, filter, or protect: it allows water to pass through, retains fines, and absorbs punctures. Use woven geotextile when the main purpose is to separate and reinforce under medium or heavy traffic loads: it has greater tensile strength for a similar density, but poorer filtration capacity.