Identification please
Abi4
Posts: 49
Have just tried to attach photo re my comments below and it won't let me. Could someone please tell me the trick to get it to post? As I said in my earlier post, I had a contractor supposedly remove all the grass on my block and replace with membrane topped by gravel. It is now clear that he didn't remove any of the grass or weeds and they are all poking through the membrane. I queried the membrane when he brought it to the property and the contractor said that it was much better than the black type and that he used it on all his jobs. After doing some research, I'm not convinced that it is fit for purpose and indeed looks like the cheap germination fabric for sale on ebay for £29 per 100 metres. I am attaching some photos ...if it will let me ...and would be grateful for opinions on the suitability of the fabric. I don't want to bring it into the equation when I take the contractor to the Small Claims Tribunal if it isn't relevant.
Posts
I managed to upload the photos. Would be grateful for opinions
That looks like horticultural fleece that you cover plants with to protect from frost damage.
Membrane is generally black and you can get different densities to match your conditions.
Looks like fleece. Does it tear easily?
I'm no expert, but I thought that weed-suppressant membranes were brown or black to exclude light. That looks like a thick fleece-type fabric which would let at least some light through. I would ask the contractor for some more details about the fabric, he must know the manufacturer. He probably did remove the weeds but they will always come back in gravel, I'm afraid, it's an excellent seed medium.
That's what I thought Gardenmaiden. Thanks for the response. I can't find anything that looks like the good quality membrane he said it was. The contractor isn't answering my emails. Worse part is that the fix is so much harder than the original
Thanks for replies Landgirl and Ceres. No it doesn't tear easily, I had to cut a piece off with scissors but it does let single blades of grass through and he has left gaps all over the place. the work was only completed in April. Contractor just won't reply to my emails and tomrequests to him to remedy
You can get white membrane, it's known as "NW8 non-woven geotextile membrane " ; it looks like fleece but feels much rougher, however it comes in a huge array of thicknesses and thus quality.
I recently built a horse manege for riding, and the layer between the 300tonne of limestone for drainage and my precious riding surface was this, BUT the super-thick super-expensive stuff! The cheaper stuff to me felt like it would rip, I had some left over, and cheapskate that I am, I used it under a bark path and have not had a problem like yours.
Sorry me again, just had a google! The nw8 I used for my manege apparently should only be used for those sorts of projects, drainage etc, where you want the water to go through quickly, in a down pour, it says it shouldn't be used for weed suppressant due to that exact porous property. I may live to regret being a cheapskate on my path! Ha ha!! Hope that helps!