Texas retailer chooses modern engineering solutions

Overview

Construction of a fast-food chain in Palestine, Texas, required asphalt removal, sewer and water line installation, a retaining wall, and a subsurface drainage solution to manage seasonal groundwater rise. Traditional crushed stone was initially considered for the drainage layer, but Burger Engineering, the project’s design firm, sought a more efficient alternative. Solmax recommended FABRINET^® TP, a geocomposite comprising a tri-planar geonet core heat-laminated between two nonwoven needle-punched geotextiles. Approximately 4,200 m² were installed. The product offers high drainage capacity in a compact 7.6 mm (300 mils) profile – significantly thinner than the 460 mm (18 in) typically required for aggregate – while also serving as a separation layer and capillary break.

Challenge

The project faced several constraints:

A tight timeline due to delays from rain and COVID-related supply issues
Vertical space limitations on-site
A need to reduce environmental impact from trucking and excavation

Traditional aggregate would have required deep excavation, more labor, and extensive material transport – none of which aligned with the project’s time or sustainability goals.

Solution

FABRINET TP met all project needs. The geocomposite replaced aggregate drainage, reduced excavation volume, and simplified installation. It minimized environmental disruption and required only three days to install. Solmax delivered the product within a week of the order, enabling the contractor, Regas Contracting, to get back on schedule.

Switching to FABRINET TP reduced drainage installation costs by 54 percent compared to crushed stone, primarily through savings in excavation, backfill, and material transport. Installation was fast, simple, and required minimal training – even for a team unfamiliar with geocomposites.

The client benefited from a streamlined construction process, reduced environmental impact, and a high-performance drainage system, which was delivered efficiently despite initial project delays.

Installation of FABRINET TP geocomposite drainage layer in Texas construction project

Close-up of FABRINET TP showing tri-planar geonet core with geotextile

Contractors installing geocomposite drainage to replace traditional aggregate

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