I've actually had decent luck with landscaping fabric, but the trick is using heavier-duty stuff—not the thin rolls from the discount bin. Double-layering it under crushed stone kept weeds at bay for years... might be worth experimenting with before ditching it completely?
I've seen heavy-duty landscaping fabric work well in some cases, but honestly, I've moved away from it entirely. Even the thicker stuff eventually breaks down or clogs up, and then you're stuck pulling out a mess of fabric tangled with roots and dirt. Personally, I've had better long-term results with a good compacted gravel base and proper drainage. Less hassle down the road, and no fabric to wrestle with when making adjustments later...
I've had mixed experiences myself. Gravel bases are solid, no doubt, but I've actually found fabric useful in certain tricky soil situations. Last year we had a site with really clay-heavy soil, and gravel alone just sank into the mud after a rainy season. Ended up laying down some high-quality woven fabric beneath the gravel, and it held up surprisingly well. Still skeptical about fabric long-term, but sometimes it's a decent compromise depending on your ground conditions...
I've been a bit skeptical about fabric myself, but gotta admit, it saved my butt once or twice. Had a similar clay nightmare a couple years back—gravel alone was basically useless. Ended up biting the bullet and laying down some woven geotextile fabric first, and honestly it held up better than expected. Still prefer a solid compacted gravel base if the soil cooperates, but yeah...fabric can be a decent workaround when you're stuck with tricky ground.
"Still prefer a solid compacted gravel base if the soil cooperates, but yeah...fabric can be a decent workaround when you're stuck with tricky ground."
Interesting point about the fabric. Have you noticed any long-term settling issues with it? I've used woven geotextile fabric on a few projects myself, and while it definitely helps stabilize things initially, I've seen mixed results over time—especially in areas with heavy moisture fluctuations or freeze-thaw cycles.
One thing I've found helpful is combining fabric with a thicker layer of angular crushed stone rather than rounded gravel. The angular edges seem to lock together better, creating a more stable base overall. Have you experimented with different aggregate types alongside the fabric?
Also curious if you've tried non-woven geotextiles at all. They're supposed to offer better filtration and drainage properties, which might help in clay-heavy soils where water retention is an issue. I haven't personally tested them extensively yet, but I've heard promising feedback from colleagues who've used them under driveways and patios.
Another consideration—did you compact your gravel layers in lifts? Sometimes people overlook proper compaction technique, and that can make a huge difference in how well the foundation holds up over time. A plate compactor or even renting a small roller can really improve stability.
Anyway, glad to hear the fabric worked out for you in that tricky situation. Clay soils are always a headache...
