I've used lighter-weight fabric on a small retaining wall project a couple years back, and here's what I noticed:
- Initially, everything seemed fine—installation was straightforward, and the savings were definitely appealing.
- After about two winters (I'm in a region with pretty harsh freeze-thaw cycles), I started noticing some sagging and shifting in spots where water tended to pool.
- Heavy rains seemed to accelerate the issue, especially in areas with less-than-perfect drainage.
- Ended up having to reinforce a few sections with heavier fabric anyway, which was a bit of a hassle and extra expense.
From my experience, lighter fabrics can hold up okay if your drainage is spot-on and the area isn't too exposed. But if you're dealing with significant moisture or temperature swings, investing upfront in something heavier might save you headaches later. Just my two cents...
I definitely agree with your observations about lighter-weight fabric. Did you find the sagging happened mostly in areas where water pooled, or was it pretty widespread? I've noticed similar issues on a couple of retaining wall projects I've tackled over the years—especially in spots where drainage wasn't ideal.
One thing I've learned (sometimes the hard way...) is that drainage really makes or breaks these DIY projects. Even if the fabric is heavier-duty, poor drainage can still cause headaches down the road. A few years back, I built a small retaining wall behind a garden area, and initially, I underestimated just how much water runoff we'd get during heavy rains. I thought I'd planned well enough, but after one particularly wet spring, I had some noticeable shifting and bulging. It wasn't catastrophic, but enough to annoy me every time I walked by.
After that experience, I started using heavier fabric by default and also spent more time on drainage prep—adding gravel, proper slope, and even some perforated pipe in tricky areas. It's a bit more upfront work and expense, but honestly, it's been worth it for peace of mind. Haven't had any major issues since.
Have you tried incorporating any drainage solutions like French drains or gravel trenches alongside your walls? Curious if anyone else has found other effective ways to manage moisture around these DIY foundations.
"After that experience, I started using heavier fabric by default..."
I get why you'd go heavier, but honestly, I've stuck with lighter fabric and just doubled down on drainage prep. Gravel trenches and careful sloping have done wonders for me—cheaper and still effective so far...
Good points about drainage prep—it's often overlooked. A few thoughts:
- Heavier fabric definitely has its merits, especially in areas prone to soil erosion or shifting. It can save headaches down the road.
- But you're spot on about drainage. Proper gravel trenches and sloping can be just as critical, if not more so. I've seen foundations fail even with heavy-duty fabric because drainage was neglected.
- A balanced approach might be best: moderate fabric weight combined with thorough drainage prep usually covers most bases without overspending.
Guess it depends on local conditions though...
Yeah, totally agree drainage is key... but have you considered soil compaction too? I've seen cases where even solid drainage setups struggled because the soil underneath wasn't compacted properly. Maybe that's another factor worth thinking about?
