Introducing PermaSEAL 8 GeoWrap: one metre external GeoDrain membrane

Permagard are proud to introduce our new PermaSEAL 8 GeoWrap membrane. As a company, we pride ourselves on listening to our customers, and GeoWrap is a product created in direct response to their feedback. They couldn’t find a suitable membrane for easy application to shallow structures, so we made one.

Join us as we take a closer look at this innovative membrane and discuss everything you need to know about its installation and benefits.

What is PermaSEAL 8 GeoWrap?

PermaSEAL 8 GeoWrap is a 1-metre high external geodrain membrane. It’s composed of an 8mm studded cavity drain membrane with geotextile filter fabric that’s bonded to the stud face. This forms an 8mm cavity that prevents water pressure from affecting the structure by safely channelling water into a drainage system.

Its purpose is the same as our other highly effective geodrain membranes - to protect whatever it's applied to from hydrostatic pressure and the effects of water ingress. Its innovation is in its 1-metre design, providing easier and more effective application. We explore this in more detail in the next section.

Five things you need to know about GeoWrap

Here are five things you need to know about why and how you should use this membrane.

1. One-metre roll height is an innovative solution to a common issue

   The 1m roll height has been carefully chosen in response to feedback from our customers as an alternative to the 2m industry standard. Its height means it can be wrapped around foundations in a single, continuous band, meaning fewer, if any, joints are needed - making life easier for installers.

   Additionally, 1m is the full height of the geotextile filter - the stud face is slightly shorter at 0.97m. This allows a capping strip to be fixed to the excess of geotextile fabric, without affecting the membrane's performance - ensuring no backfill can fall into the membrane cavity from above.

2. Multi-purpose

   GeoWrap is a truly multipurpose product. Its versatility means that almost any external retaining wall that needs to drain water to avoid pressure building up can use it as part of a waterproofing strategy. It’s ideally suited for:

   • Shallow external foundation waterproofing to deliver structural protection and external drainage of foundations up to one metre.
   • An addition to traditional, simple aggregate drainage systems in vertical applications, and it works well in conjunction with French drains.
   • Landscaping, with common use cases being retaining walls, sunken gardens, behind sleeper walls and in large planters.

3. Utilises market-leading Geodrain manufacturing process

   Underpinning the GeoWrap’s performance is our market-leading Geodrain manufacturing process.

   The success of these membranes rests on their ability to maintain a defined cavity - preventing soil or any fine substance from stopping water from flowing freely.

   Where other manufacturers fail is by applying the geotextile in the extrusion process - creating a nominal cavity. While this might work in theory, in practice, the cavity often proves insufficient and is prone to getting clogged.

   At Permagard, we use high-quality materials and two-phase production. First, the membranes are extruded fully, then the high-spec Typar geotextile is applied. This creates a true, defined cavity that ensures quick and efficient drainage.

4. Quick and easy installation

   A key part of the GeoWrap design brief was making installation quick and easy. Depending on the application, you just need to stand it against the structure with the geotextile overhang at the top and unroll it, fixing the membrane as you go. To make things even easier, we offer the membrane as a kit with all the components needed for installation, except for a drill and a hammer.

   We explore the process in more depth later, but it’s the easiest way to install a drainage and protection membrane for this application.

5. Wide range of benefits

   When designing this membrane, we considered every aspect - from installation to long-term performance. In addition to the ones we’ve looked at above, GeoWrap offers the following benefits:

   • Suspended-soil filtration by the geotextile layer.
   • Resistance to all chemicals commonly found in the ground.
   • Extremely strong construction. The risk of damage when backfilling is minimal, even when not using a protection board.
   • High compressive strength of 250kN/m²
   • Ability to withstand stress and movement and act as a slip membrane as backfill settles.

Who is GeoWrap for?

Our products are designed to be accessible to all. This remains the case with GeoWrap. It’s a multipurpose product, but here’s who will find it particularly useful in their projects:

• Landscapers - Thanks to the range of landscaping applications it’s suitable for.
• Groundworkers - Its ease of use and long-term effectiveness make it the obvious choice as part of many foundation waterproofing jobs.
• DIYers - Its manageable size and simple installation mean it can confidently be used by non-professionals working on home improvement projects.

Installing GeoWrap - overview and tips

As we’ve already talked about, installing PermaSEAL GeoWrap is quick and easy. There are some differences in the process depending on whether it’s applied to external foundations and retaining masonry walls or landscaping wooden structures.

External foundation and retaining masonry wall waterproofing

GeoWrap must always be used alongside a primary waterproofing system (we recommend using PermaSEAL PRO MP 2C or PermaSEAL Self Adhesive Tanking Membrane). Once waterproofing is completed, the GeoWrap membrane can be applied.

1. Place the membrane against the foundation, ensuring the geotextile overhang is at the top.
2. Make sure the top of the membrane is level with your ground level line and unroll the membrane to 1 metre.
3. At the one-metre mark, pull back the geotextile at the top of the membrane and drill a 10mm hole 70mm deep into the masonry.
4. Remove any dust in the hole and hammer in a PermaSEAL Brick Plug until the rubber seal is compressed.
5. Push back the geotextile fabric and repeat this process every one metre.
6. When the membrane is fixed, fit a PermaSEAL Capping Strip along the top of the membrane over the geotextile overlap to close the system.

Landscaping wooden structures

1. Place the GeoWrap against the structure, ensuring the geotextile overhang is at the top.
2. Make sure the top of the membrane is level with your ground level line and unroll the membrane to 1 metre.
3. Every 250mm, pull back the geotextile at the top and hammer a galvanised clout nail into the surface, between the studs.
4. Push back the geotextile fabric and repeat this process along the length of the membrane.
5. When the membrane is fixed, fit a PermaSEAL Capping Strip along the top of the membrane over the geotextile overlap to close the system.

When the membrane is fixed in place, you can backfill. This must be done by hand or light machinery, and it’s important not to place unnecessary downward pressure on the membrane to avoid damage. When possible, use a good drainage material rather than soil.

GeoWrap: a market-leading GeoDrain membrane from Permagard

We’re really happy with this addition to our range of membranes. When you come to use it, we’re sure you will be too. We supply GeoWrap as a:

• 1m x 20m roll
• 1m x 20m kit, containing everything you need to install except for a drill and a hammer (1m x 20m roll of GeoWrap, 10mm SDS drill bit, 20 x 1m PermaSEAL Capping Strips, box of 25 PermaSEAL Brick Plugs with Sealing Washers).

If you have any questions about the membrane or are unsure about a potential application or installation, we’re always on hand to help. You can contact us by calling 0117 982 3282 or emailing [email protected].

Further reading:

• How To Waterproof Foundation Walls
• External Waterproofing Guide for New Build Basements
• What Is External Wall Tanking?