Geo Fabric that Actually Works | REAL TRUTH about FABRIC, French Drain, New Amazing

[@duba]

It’s refreshing to see someone just show demonstrations without trying to sell me something.

[@BRAVO_TWO_NINE]

HONESTY, love it. Back in February we followed your videos and built up and graded down the exterior walls of the house. Two-three months later groundwater has been diverted. The current pump has not come on, even after local heavy rains and the recent 3.5 inches from Tropical Storm Isaias. Yet to be safe we will install E-Z Flow, for our soil type, the sump basin with the M98 pump. THANKS, CHUCK.

[@lsabik88]

Just searched online, Home Depot, Lowes, Amazon, eBay are not carrying this item. I'm still searching. I've tried other liners and they all have failed. With your recommendation, this one looks great! I will keep looking for it.

[@BigmanKris]

I have a drainage issue in front of my house. The front yard slopes towards the house. I’m going to install a French drain . Your videos are detailed and very informative. Thank you !

[@yume816]

What was your solution?

[@BigmanKris]

@@yume816 I had to dig all the way to the bottom of my basement wall and install 4 inch drain pipe and stone. I also cleaned the block wall and rolled a couple coats of tar on it . What a job it was .

[@hjc0706]

So what do you suggest for clay?

[@yetolaoluwasina5282]

I have also contemplated about the effectiveness of the Geofabric. The video was very helpful in determining the choice of fabric for an effective drainage system. Thank you.

[@TimG...]

Chuck, can you clarify which variation of Sta-Green fabric you're referring to? There are many different variations with significant differences. A link would be ideal.

[@JamesZ1025]

Question, what if you tested with a couple inches of stone on the fabric and then placed dirt on the stone?

[@chrisdesimone4249]

HI Chuck, been a fan in NJ for a while and enjoy your content! We have a full French drain in my yard to capture water coming from upper neighbors. Although it works well, the trail of river rock in the middle of the yard is an eyesore.... Would it be ok to use 1 sheet of this product and do a thin layer of dirt and plant grass on it to flow with the rest of the yard? The original installed always told me to keep the rock so dirt would not filter into the rock / pipe and eventually clog it up. Thanks for your time, Chris

[@mlhm5]

Link to product or close up picture - cannot find it online.

[@Sam-vd1ce]

took like 2 seconds to find it using bing.

[@muskrat11000]

So I have watched your videos, some touting using fabric for French drains and some saying fabric is a problem. I have a area in my yard that I am adding a sump and some French drains. Not sure if I should use fabric or not for the French drains. I am in Ohio and our soil has a lot of clay in it. Any suggestions?

[@ssmithshawn30]

Great video chuck, as a DIY’er have used your videos for a couple years now with great success. I believe the other guy is comparing apples and oranges here with the love of fabrics. I have watched all of his videos and don’t see a single soil type that has thick gumbo type clay I have in Louisiana, he moves dirt completely out and has a sod cutter that goes down several inches as well, all great things to offer as a contractor I guess but realistically how many of us on fixed budgets can do that? I believe you both have good design points on French drains that possibly cater to different budgets and soil types. I personally would never haul out massive amounts of clay bring in new dirt, cut the sod first just not happening. Give me a good grade on a lawn throw in some catch basins if there is an area that needs a French type drain and no other way to move that water out then I’ll consider one but it will not have fabric and will be solid pvc with the perforated holes if I need to clean it out one day.

[@doylemaleche9937]

i am trying to find the exact Sta-Green fabric at Lowes. What "Level" rating is on the one in this (GREAT) video? thank you!

[@dwaynejohnson3928]

Can you put a link to that geo fabric

[@allpointsorganized]

This video is good, however ambiguous it might feel after watching it all. I think Chuck is not an advocate of any fabric at all, except in sand. I live in Oregon and there's just clay mixed with soil but mostly clay in all of the soil in Oregon. He said, the the soil packs up against the fabric, and disallows the water to penetrate because it's blocked with soil against the fabric. I'm about to take a French drain in a few weeks against the interior photos of the perimeter of my crawl space. I'm just going to use Rock in the trench with three inch perforated pipe, and no fabric.

[@praypal5606]

Geez. I'm just finishing my drain. I used the geo fabric. And it was not cheap. I tested it and yes water runs thru really well. Didnt think about how the dirt( lots of clay here) will stop the water from going in. I may just leave the burrito unwrapped...an experiment. And see what happens. Thanks for all the help.

[@antonios4926]

I have clay too. Did you use gravel around the pipe then wrap all of it. The one KZbinr said not to cover the wrapped gravel with pipe with the clay soil u took out. Replace it with normal soil. Who knows????

[@praypal5606]

@@antonios4926 I dug my trench and lined it with the geo cloth. (The one i bought I tested with water to see how fast it would go thru and it did pretty well. ) Then put the pipe in and covered it with rock and wrapped the top and put dirt back on top. It has worked well. Im glad it is done. It was a big job.

[@antonios4926]

Thanks for your reply. Be well

[@daibonehead]

@@praypal5606 Hi Rebecca. How is the drain performing after a year or so?

[@praypal5606]

@@daibonehead It seems like it has held up pretty well. and drains well. For a complete amateur I'm happy with results.

[@amilcarbacala9535]

Hi Chuck! Lowe's sells different Sta-Green geo fabrics... The one you are showing is green, but they also sell a black color St-Green. Is it the same thing? Does it work as good as the green one? Thank you.

[@appledrains]

Yes

[@lsabik88]

I have learned so much from you. Wish my home is close to your business. Thanks for your great videos.

[@kl8878]

do you guys recommend using sta fabric with clay?

[@taleaceliceo3664]

Does this product break down over time? Will it need to be replaced in a certain time?

[@arayahomes4308]

I love your outro, every time it feels actually heart warming hahah, funny to say that but it's true, and my father was great growing up lol! Thanks again, love your videos.

[@wildonemeister]

I have a slight issue with the usage of that spray nozzle in your demonstrations as it forces the water through the fabric instead of seeping through as it would do in the ground.

[@KIPS123]

Hi Chuck , how many layers do i use for french drain ? Is one layer enough ?we have red sand not clay. Can we wrap the fabric arond the pipe only.we bought Bidim ,looks like your green fabric

[@1953Spock]

So if I'm hearing you correctly, are saying you would not use any fabric for dense orange clay "soil" like we have here in my area of North Carolina, or, just some fabric to cover the top of the rocks when the sod is put back on?

[@bradleypianoman]

Legend has it that he’s not a big believer in fabric 🤔

[@mdnt_ramble7]

You haven’t heard that one? Home depppppo legend

[@officemanager8624]

It's not the fabric, unless it's the wrong fabric. The reason it slows down when you add soil is you are actually seeing the porosity rate of the soil medium.

[@ヴァニラコトコ]

I do think that I agree. It is as if he had placed the sandy soil from his yard on top of clear gravel and placed his gopro beneath, the water would drain at the same rate as with the fabric in place of the clear gravel. This illustration reveals that it must be the porosity rate of the soil.

[@Fierythefaerie]

So living in SC, with the clay soil...I shouldn't use any fabric?

[@ReapWhatYouSowGardening]

Great video!

[@robertreeves4231]

Thanks for the great videos . I am needing to do a foundation drain interior and exterior of the crawlspace> With all our clay soils here I wanted a good fabric to prevent the gravel from migrating and clogging up.

[@jhbahk]

Won't water flow slowly if there is no fabric, but gravels with clay soil on top? I think it will be the same with and without the fabric!

[@Avalanche2]

Regardless of what you do, if you have clay your system is going to stop working eventually .

[@appledrains]

Fabric slows down the inflow of water. Add catch basins to collect the flood water 👍

[@gabrielbyrne6676]

Dear boss. Would you use fabric in loam soil ?

[@appledrains]

If you can find StaGreen (green color) it will work great 👍

[@HELPTHEMPLEASE]

Chuck my are is half clay and dirt ……standing water should I use fabric if o don’t the dirt will block holes in perforated pipe

[@appledrains]

Sure Either way it will work! Guaranteed

[@HELPTHEMPLEASE]

Thank you sir Love your videos

[@antonios4926]

Hi thanks for the video. When you say 8oz, is that the weight of the fabric per foot or meter?

[@lexkwekudarko7698]

Hello, I already have a long discharge pipe of 4inches that leads to daylight but does not have a good slope, but it works. Will the pipe work effectively when connected to a sump pump in a sump bin? Your videos shows a 3inch or 2 inch pipe if i could remember. Can you also post a link to the GEO fabric. Thx

[@Confeddy]

Do you have any other suggestions for fabric because this green one is not and has not been available to purchase anywhere i can find??

[@sophiestewart3289]

its been out on the shelves for at least a month now. it probably wasn't coming out until closer to the season.

[@Anthony-wx4pe]

Will this fabric work on clay type soils ?

[@qwer01230]

EXCELLENT VIDEOS! SUBSCRIBED. I live in Florida also. Mixed soils with some clay. Would u recommend pipe and lots of gravel with no fabric at all?

[@sophyia09]

Can I just fill back the soil right on top of gravel without putting any fabric on it?

[@johnharrison5656]

Too bad you can’t use the sta green geo fabric as a filter for the catch basins. Seems to me like it would help stop the French drain from clogging up from debris from the inside out

[@squeekhobby4571]

Excellent demos. This is more like a lab test for common man. Thanks a ton

[@MrMusic55123]

Under my drains in the patio I didn't find any pipe, it's like a hole only to soil. Where would the water go? Just underground? How risky for the house Fondation

[@michelleshorey8103]

Well, should you use fabric or not? I have oregon sticky clay mud.

[@gaelind3576]

What are we people on clay suppose to use/do?

[@tbarbuto2345]

@@gaelind3576 I've been watching tons of videos on this subject, seems bringing drainage rock to the surface without any fabric works best for clay. Doesn't look the best but performs well. Gate City Foundation Drainage has good videos showing this and he goes back during storms to show how the systems are performing.

[@matthewlucas7078]

Hi Chuck. I think I am going to pick this up instead of buying another expensive product. If I am in clay soil to build a french drain, would I layer be sufficient and do you think it will hold up to protect the corrugated pipe?

[@appledrains]

Sure. Most all products work

[@dmdm9198]

You are not supposed to put dirt directly on top, supposed to be covered with some type of stone then dirt on top of that

[@randymiller8194]

Why?

[@josesantiago5829]

What is name of fabric and how long would last ? Thanks

[@trevor-bd4kt]

Please give link as i'm having trouble finding this online.

[@norcaltrav]

If you were not worried about cost, would you choose the easy flow or this new recycled fabric french drain?

[@appledrains]

Depending on your soil type, in sand I love EZ FLOW. It works far better than gravel. In clay, gravel!

[@babooll5632]

Star green or Sta green ? I can't find anything in Star green

[@catalinseverineanu2550]

What is the weight of the Sta Green fabric?

[@Losbitiboys4441]

I used that for planting so grass wont grow well grass grew so what makes you thing grass wont grow into that pipes

[@This_Account]

I wrap my French Drain systems plastic drop cloth sheeting. If I let any ground water into my French Drain, then the gravel will get all dirty and the pipes could get clogged up.

[@LuminairPrime]

Engineers only specify the thickness of non-woven geotextile necessary to survive the installation and use. More isn't better when it comes to filter fabric! Just need enough to separate the soil types without ripping to shreds.

[@Jeff-ik3hn]

do you recommend using geotextile fabric in Massachusetts?

[@appledrains]

Depends on the soil type. If it’s solid clay the fabric will slow down the system

[@eriklee9462]

spraying with a jet stream of water is not the same as water sippage under ground condition

[@limadu671]

would it better to eliminate the fabric but add more gravel thickness?

[@antonios4926]

Definitely not. Need the gravel with the geofabric

[@PNWLiving1725]

I'm about to get some at home dep po

[@imjustmekarnoski6010]

Gravel or no gravel with this fabric?

[@antonios4926]

gravel definitely

[@mekelly999]

Don't see that product at HD. Link?

[@noriejoboperio1687]

Thanks! Needed this

[@stevent5571]

I looked at lowe's in Oklahoma and they have several types of fabric. Could you give the full name please.

[@debbykoken1936]

Sta Green

[@107gunner]

Awesome 👏🏽

[@robertfox2551]

The name showed up on his video right after I posted

[@imjustmekarnoski6010]

So should we use gravel with this and wrap the pipe with this and the gravel around say a house...where we don't have plants lol 18 inches down right !

[@lindabird3437]

But will clay clog it?

[@randymiller8194]

Clay will clog itself with or without fabric you must add organic material to clay (straw )

[@mattfoley6082]

So after all that you admit it doesn't work with clay and gets clogged. So I still don't know what fabric to use in clay.

[@tbarbuto2345]

I've been watching tons of videos on this subject, seems bringing drainage rock to the surface without any fabric works best for clay. Doesn't look the best but performs well. Gate City Foundation Drainage has good videos showing this and he goes back during storms to show how the systems are performing.

[@fuzzydon3291]

@@tbarbuto2345 I heard that geotextiles that have drainage apertures of 60 microns or less work for clay, but that stuff costs an unbelievable amount of money, and is normally sold only in quantities that a government agency would buy. We bought a house which had been built into the hillside, so 2.5 yards deep to the foundation in back. We got an inch of water in the basement, I dug down outside and found they had made a French drain with head-sized rocks, and no geotextile, all around the back, but over 50 years the clay had got in everywhere, so the drain had no function. Digging rocks out of pure clay is no fun; the rocks do not give at all. I've got a system that's worked for 7 years; it's basically just an open trench around the back with a deck over it, but underneath it looks like WW I. The system diverts a quart per minute of water round to the front of the house, but that leaves other water that I can't capture, which the foundation slab is just sitting in, but that water seems to just pass under the house without doing any harm. At 62 years old, I would like to put the system in better aesthetic shape right now, so that when I check out, my daughters can sell the house without too much trouble. A really functioning geotextile would be part of a great solution. Does anyone know if this 60 micron stuff really works?

[@tbarbuto2345]

@@fuzzydon3291 I'd bet the clay would still clog that fabric. If you are dealing with surface runoff, I would open the trench and install a perforated pvc pipe (holes facing down) as low as you can in the trench. Fill up to grade with course angular rock without using any fabric. Also don't forget to install cleanouts so you can jet out the clay that inevitably gets into the system. Make sure your gutters and clear and dispensing far away from the foundation. Make sure you have proper grade away from the house. Hope this helps.

[@tbarbuto2345]

@@fuzzydon3291 If you are having trouble digging the trench, try using a pick or pry bar to move the rocks.

[@fuzzydon3291]

@@tbarbuto2345 Thanks, yeah, I'm delaying the geotextile. I can do other parts of the project and see if a better idea comes along in the meantime.

[@dd-ow6pe]

chuck you're awesome .. thank for vid.

[@zinc470]

I'm afraid Clay soils would still clog up this fabric pretty quickly, deeming the French drain useless

[@trevor-bd4kt]

Top bad this doesn't come in 4 ft which would be perfect for French drains. 3 ft simply isn't wide enough.

[@smplyizzy]

Any luck on the part number yet?

[@bfl9076]

Hi. The star green fabric upc is 085972005109

[@sun9912]

Did he say home depo

[@Jonathan-bm9yy]

Mmmm. I don't see much of a difference. Also in fairness to the geotextile fabric you added a lot more water to that trial in your experiment. 16 seconds for Spa Green but 24 seconds for the nameless geotextile.

[@limpfinger12]

Didn't I watch this already?

[@stefanmeier6763]

I even commented on that first viedo - maybe it got reuploaded...

[@mmcgahn5948]

Wouldn’t the scent from recycled plastic attract animals who may dig up the material from the scent?

[@stefanmeier6763]

No, this is just an urban Legend. Recycled Plastic from bottles has no scent that attracts animals.

[@Note10plusAura]

@@stefanmeier6763 you sure? Have any data?

[@ericmccolough2482]

@@Note10plusAura to recycle it, the plastic has been melted. No I don't have any data but melting it means SFA survived to attract animals.

[@javedgom]

Sta green

[@Arbitrageur_]

Why not just add more holes to the pipe

[@wallrunner87]

These tests are not the same. Garden soil vs Sandy soil.

[@pretzeltss]

Home depoe😂

[@Bill123058]

home "dee poe"