Do You Need Landscape Fabric under Pavers?
If you are considering pavers for your backyard, pool area, or patio areas, there are many factors to think about when planning the layout. One of the most important factors is whether you need to install landscape fabric under the pavers. So, do you need landscape fabric under pavers?
Do You Need Landscape Fabric Under Pavers?
No, you don't need landscape fabric underneath pavers. Landscape fabric won’t prevent the growth of weeds in your patio, and using it under pavers can actually make your life more difficult if you later have to remove or repair the pavers.
Landscape fabric is not absolutely necessary when building a paver patio. However, it can help in some rare cases. Landscape fabric, for instance, can be used to stabilize soil that has shifted over the years, spreading out the weight and preventing soil movement
What Is Landscape Fabric?
Landscape fabric is made of polyester, polypropylene, or other organic materials put under a layer of gravel or rock in walkways, patios, and driveways. In most cases, the landscape fabric keeps the base layers from mixing with the pavers.
The landscaping fabric should be placed on a subsoil layer between 3 to 6 inches deep with a slight slope to aid drainage. After laying down the landscaping fabric, you can cover it with gravel or sand before placing the pavers, although it is not ideal to put them under the pavers.
How Experts Install Your Landscape Fabric
If you aren’t sure whether you need landscape fabric under your pavers or not, Aviara can assess your case to make sure your paver driveway needs are covered. In the rare case that you need to install landscape fabric, our paver design and the installation company will professionally install it following this general process as well as ICPI standards.
Measuring the area you want to cover with landscape fabric, multiplying the length by the width to get the square footage
Removing any vegetation in the area where you want to lay the landscape fabric. This is done by special tools as well as shovels or trowels.
Laying out landscape fabric on top of the soil and overlap each piece by 4 inches. It is then secured with the landscaper's pins every 6 inches along each overlap seam
Finally, spreading a thin layer of gravel on top of your landscape fabric to make it less noticeable. The gravel will hide most of it while still allowing water to drain.
Though the installation process requires attention and expertise, the process has very simple steps. You can decide to get an expert to do your work if you are unfamiliar with this process.
Types of Landscape Fabric
There are two types of landscape ground cover: biodegradable and synthetic. While many homeowners use biodegradable ground cover in their flowerbeds for the environment-friendly aspect of it, synthetic is more durable.
Synthetic ground covers last longer than biodegradable ones before they start degrading, but eventually, both types will break down over time and need to be replaced. The following are examples of synthetic ground covers are commonly used by homeowners:
Woven Landscaping Fabric
One of the most common types of landscape fabric is woven landscaping fabric. As the name suggests, this type of fabric is made from a woven material that is affordable, durable, and easy to install.
The main advantage of this type of fabric is that it will last for a long time because it is made from a high-quality material that can tolerate all kinds of weather conditions.
It also comes in rolls of different sizes, making it easy to buy the size you want. The only disadvantage of this material is that it is difficult to cut.
Non-Woven Landscaping Fabric
Non-woven fabric is a prevalent and versatile material that can be used for a wide range of projects. Non-woven fabric is an inexpensive, synthetic material made from polypropylene. It’s typically soft, lightweight, and absorbent, making it an excellent choice for landscaping.
Nonwoven fabric is extremely durable, resisting tearing and punctures. It can withstand heavy foot traffic without damage to the material. The durability of non-woven landscaping fabric makes it ideal for use on paths and walkways, where people will be walking across the fabric.
One of the best features of non-woven landscape fabric is its ability to allow water to pass through while blocking weeds and debris from reaching your plants
Advantages of Landscaping Fabric
Landscape fabric is lightweight and easy to install. It can be cut into different shapes and sizes, making it easy to use around almost any plant or flower bed.
When appropriately installed, landscape fabric will last several years before needing replacement.
Disadvantages of Landscaping Fabric
While landscape fabric helps prevent water evaporation and helps you to conserve soil moisture. However, If too much moisture builds up under the fabric, it can cause mold and mildew to form. This should not be an issue if you do not get too much precipitation in your area, but it can be a problem in damp or wet climates.
Most landscaping fabrics are made from polypropylene, a type of plastic material. These materials do not compose hence leading to poor aeration of your soil.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Best Material to Put Under Pavers?
The best materials to use under pavers are crushed stone, sand, compacted soil, and stone dust. If the bedding material is well compacted, the pavers will be stable and should not settle or shift.
Can You Put Pavers Over Concrete?
You can put pavers over concrete. You will just have to make sure the surface of the concrete is clean and smooth. It would be best if you consider fixing small cracks or holes before you lay down pavers.
Conclusion
So, do you need landscape fabrics under your paver stones? Well, primarily, that depends on your climate and your soil conditions. However, in the majority of cases, it is not required. To get more from the experts, you can call Aviara Pavers for a design consultation and free estimate to determine whether you need landscape fabric under your pavers or not.