Should I add a geotextile fabric under my Vancouver pavers?

Yes, you should absolutely install geotextile fabric under your Vancouver pavers. Given Metro Vancouver's clay-heavy soils and persistent rainfall, geotextile fabric is essential for long-term paver stability and drainage performance.

Geotextile fabric serves as a critical separation barrier between your native soil (subgrade) and the compacted gravel base. Without this barrier, clay particles from the subgrade gradually migrate upward into the gravel base over time — a process called "pumping" that's accelerated by Vancouver's frequent rain and high moisture levels. When clay contaminates your gravel base, it destroys the base's drainage capacity and load-bearing properties, turning a well-engineered foundation into a saturated, unstable mess that causes pavers to settle, shift, and become uneven.

Metro Vancouver's soil conditions make geotextile fabric particularly important here. Much of Surrey, Richmond, Delta, Langley, and parts of Burnaby have clay-heavy soils that don't drain well naturally. These clay soils expand when wet and contract when dry, creating movement in the subgrade. The geotextile fabric prevents this clay from working its way up into your gravel base while still allowing water to drain through. This is especially critical given that Vancouver receives over 1,200mm of annual rainfall, with most falling between October and March when the ground is already saturated.

Use non-woven geotextile fabric rated for separation applications — typically 4-6 oz per square yard weight. Brands like Mirafi, Typar, or Geotex are commonly available through landscape supply yards in Metro Vancouver. The fabric should be installed directly on the excavated subgrade after it's been graded and compacted, but before any gravel base is placed. Overlap fabric edges by 6 inches and avoid walking on it with heavy equipment that could puncture it.

The fabric pays for itself in long-term performance. While geotextile adds roughly $0.50-$1.00 per square foot to your project cost, it can prevent thousands of dollars in future repairs. Without it, you may need to excavate and rebuild sections of your paver installation within 5-10 years as the base becomes contaminated and loses its structural integrity.

When to hire a professional: Any paver installation larger than a small garden path should include proper geotextile installation. Professional contractors understand the critical importance of this step and won't skip it to save a few dollars — it's fundamental to a quality installation that will perform well in Vancouver's challenging climate conditions.