Non-woven polypropylene (PP) geotextile is available in three weights: 100, 200, and 400 g/m², all in black. Choosing incorrectly can mean overpaying for oversized reinforcement or having the sheet fail at the first puncture. This comparison helps you decide which weight suits your project: separation in gardens, drainage and protection under geomembrane, or reinforcement under medium traffic roads.
🎯 Choose the variant in 10 seconds
- If your case is gardening, landscaping, or separation under decorative gravel: go to 100 g/m² variant
- If your case is drainage, protection under geomembrane, or light roads: go to 200 g/m² variant
- If your case is medium traffic roads, reinforcement, or stony soils: go to 400 g/m² variant
What to consider before choosing the variant
All three variants share the same material (PP filament), color (black), UV retention (≥ 80%), and come in rolls of 5.95 m × 100 m (595 m² per roll). The differences are in weight, thickness, and mechanical resistance. These are the key criteria:
- Main function: separation and filtration require light weights; protection under HDPE geomembrane and reinforcement under load require medium or heavy weights.
- Load on the geotextile: the more static or dynamic load, the higher the tensile strength and CBR. Pedestrian traffic with 100 g/m²; light vehicular traffic with 200 g/m²; medium traffic with 400 g/m².
- Nature of the soil: sandy and clean soils allow for low weights; stony soils require higher weights. The CBR puncture resistance (1.1 / 2.3 / 4.2 kN) is the critical data when the geotextile is under a geomembrane.
- Sun exposure: all three retain at least 80% of their strength after UV exposure. Even so, do not leave the geotextile uncovered longer than necessary.
- Complete system: geotextile is often combined with dimpled drainage sheet, PE geocell, or geomembrane. Consider the overall system before setting the weight.
100 g/m² variant: the light option for gardening and separation
- Lightest and most economical in the range
- Thickness ≥ 1.0 mm: discreet under gravel or soil
- O95 opening 0.07–0.3 mm: filters fines without clogging
- UV retention ≥ 80% for brief exposed periods
- CBR of 1.1 kN: not suitable for protection under geomembrane
- Tensile strength 7 kN/m: insufficient under vehicular traffic
The 100 g/m² weight functions as a separation layer between two materials that should not mix: soil and decorative gravel, substrate and subbase, etc. It also serves as a filter in small domestic drains to prevent fines from clogging the pipe. It is not designed to support vehicular traffic or to protect geomembranes in stony soils.
200 g/m² variant: the standard for drainage and protection
- Tensile strength 15 kN/m: more than double that of 100 g/m²
- CBR 2.3 kN: suitable under geomembrane in prepared soils
- Thickness ≥ 1.9 mm: effective protection against small stones
- Grab strength 0.8 kN: withstands punctual efforts on site
- Insufficient for heavy vehicular traffic
- For unscreened soils, it's advisable to upgrade to 400 g/m²
The 200 g/m² weight is the most common reference in light civil engineering. It functions as protection under geomembranes in small to medium ponds and reservoirs, as a drainage layer in construction site gardens, and as separation under pedestrian access and light traffic roads. If your project includes an HDPE geomembrane, this weight is the reasonable starting point unless the soil has many stones or sharp edges.
400 g/m² variant: the robust option for reinforcement and demanding civil engineering
- Tensile strength 30 kN/m: four times that of 100 g/m²
- CBR 4.2 kN: ideal under geomembrane in demanding projects
- Thickness ≥ 3.5 mm: reinforced protection against sharp edges
- Grab strength 1.7 kN: maximum in the range
- Most expensive per m² in the range
- Oversized for gardening or domestic drains
- Heavier to handle (bulkier roll)
The 400 g/m² weight is the specification for projects where the risk of puncturing or mechanical stress is high: protection under geomembrane in municipal landfills, subbase reinforcement on secondary roads, separation in civil engineering works with stony soils. If your project does not fall into these categories, the 200 g/m² variant is likely more appropriate and economical.
Comparison table of variants
All three variants share the same material (PP filament), color, elongation (60–100%), UV retention (≥ 80%), equivalent opening, and presentation. The differences are concentrated in weight, thickness, and resistance.
| Feature | 100 g/m² | 200 g/m² | 400 g/m² |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ideal Use | Gardening and separation | Drainage and protection | Reinforcement and civil engineering |
| SKU | 534623 | 623451 | 654237 |
| Material | PP filament | PP filament | PP filament |
| Thickness | ≥ 1.0 mm | ≥ 1.9 mm | ≥ 3.5 mm |
| Tensile Strength | ≥ 7 kN/m | ≥ 15 kN/m | ≥ 30 kN/m |
| Grab Strength | ≥ 0.4 kN | ≥ 0.8 kN | ≥ 1.7 kN |
| Tear Strength | ≥ 0.21 kN | 0.4 kN | 0.75 kN |
| CBR Puncture Resistance | ≥ 1.1 kN | ≥ 2.3 kN | ≥ 4.2 kN |
| Elongation | 60–100% | 60–100% | 60–100% |
| O95 Opening | 0.07–0.3 mm | 0.07–0.3 mm | 0.07–0.3 mm |
| UV Retention | ≥ 80% | ≥ 80% | ≥ 80% |
| Color | Black | Black | Black |
| 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 |
| Filtration in domestic drains or construction site gardens | → 100 g/m² |
| Protection under geomembrane in a medium pond or reservoir | → 200 g/m² |
| Drainage in gardens and light pedestrian traffic areas | → 200 g/m² |
| Medium traffic roads or stony soils | → 400 g/m² |
| Protection under geomembrane in landfill or industrial reservoir | → 400 g/m² |
When in doubt between two grammages, be guided by the CBR puncture resistance rather than the grammage itself. The difference between 2.3 kN (200 g/m²) and 4.2 kN (400 g/m²) is almost double: in stony or unscreened soils, that extra reserve is what prevents a stone from puncturing the upper geomembrane after years of service. The right grammage is paid for once; a punctured geomembrane is paid for every time it has to be repaired.
Do not use 100 g/m² for protection under a geomembrane, no matter how much cheaper it is. A CBR breaking force of 1.1 kN will not withstand medium-sized stones under hydrostatic pressure, and a single puncture compromises the entire waterproofing. For geomembrane protection, always start with 200 g/m² and go up to 400 g/m² if the soil is not completely screened.
Are you hesitating between 200 and 400 g/m² for your project?
Tell us the type of soil, if it goes under a geomembrane, what load it will support, and the square meters to cover. You will receive the exact grammage recommendation and, if applicable, complementary geosynthetics for your system.
Frequently asked questions
PP or PET: which non-woven geotextile should I choose?
Polypropylene (this product) offers better chemical resistance to acids and alkalis and is usually more economical. PET (polyester) has higher creep resistance under sustained load and better withstands high temperatures. For drainage and protection under geomembrane in Dominican civil engineering, both work well at the same grammage; PP is the standard option and PET is the upgrade for critical reinforcement.
How much should I overlap between rolls?
In drainage and filtration applications, a minimum of 30 cm of sewn or heat-fused overlap. In separation under gravel or landscaping, 15–20 cm is sufficient. If it goes under a geomembrane, maintain 30 cm and avoid wrinkles: high spots in the overlap concentrate tension on the upper sheet and are a frequent source of punctures.
When to use woven instead of non-woven?
Use non-woven (this product) when the primary function is to drain, filter, or protect; it allows water to pass through and absorbs punctures. Use PP woven geotextile when the main purpose is to separate and reinforce under medium or heavy traffic loads: it offers more tensile strength for a similar density, but lower filtering capacity.