Top Hardscaping Contractors in Lombard, Illinois Ranked

Transforming your outdoor space with stone, concrete, and other permanent structures requires specialized expertise. Hardscaping, which includes patios, walkways, retaining walls, and other non-living landscape features, is a significant investment that enhances your home's functionality, curb appeal, and value. In Lombard, successful projects depend on navigating unique local challenges like heavy clay soil and freeze-thaw cycles. This guide will help you understand the key considerations for your project and how to connect with qualified local professionals who specialize in masonry and outdoor construction.

Ross & Jack's Landscaping Inc

chicago

Ross & Jack's Landscaping Inc is a family-owned landscaping company based in Elmhurst, Illinois, serving Chicago and surrounding towns. Since 1975, they have offered comprehensive landscaping services including landscape design, installation, grounds maintenance, lawn care, sod installation, drainage solutions, and hardscaping such as retaining walls and brick paving. Their expertise includes digital landscape design layouts to help clients visualize projects before installation, as well as specialized drainage solutions like dry wells to manage water issues effectively. The company focuses on creating functional and aesthetically pleasing outdoor living spaces that enhance property value.

5.0

157 Reviews

Platinum Patio and Pavers

1125 Candlenut Dr, Naperville, IL 60540

Platinum Patio and Pavers is a landscaping and hardscaping contractor based in Chicago, IL. They specialize in creating outdoor living spaces, including outdoor kitchens with various countertop options such as natural stone and engineered quartz. The company also installs paver sidewalks and entryways that enhance curb appeal and functionality. Their services focus on integrating natural-looking pavers into landscapes to improve garden aesthetics and home entrances.

5.0

115 Reviews

Junior's Landscaping Inc

831 Dennis Dr, Bensenville, IL 60106

Junior's Landscaping Inc is a landscaping and hardscaping company based in Chicago, IL. They provide services including landscape design, lawn seeding and blanketing, spring cleanup with mulching, and the installation of paver patios and retaining walls. The team handles project permitting and cleanup, ensuring a smooth process from design to completion. Junior's Landscaping Inc is known for transforming outdoor spaces to enhance curb appeal and functionality.

5.0

98 Reviews

Pavestone Brick Paving, Inc

1645 Elk Blvd, Des Plaines, IL 60016

Pavestone Brick Paving, Inc is a family-owned hardscape contractor serving Chicago, IL, and the surrounding north and northwest suburbs. They specialize in designing and installing brick and stone patios, driveways, walkways, retaining walls, outdoor kitchens, and outdoor lighting. As an authorized contractor for Unilock and Rochester, Pavestone offers high-quality paver products and provides full 3D hardscape and landscape color renderings to assist with project visualization. With over 24 years of experience, they focus on craftsmanship and structural integrity to create durable and aesthetically pleasing outdoor living spaces. Pavestone also offers permeable paver installations for environmentally sustainable projects.

4.9

255 Reviews

Chino's Tree Care & Landscaping Inc.

chicago

Chino's Tree Care & Landscaping Inc. is a full-service tree care and landscaping company based in Chicago, IL. They provide tree pruning, removal, and stump grinding services to maintain safe and healthy outdoor spaces. The company also specializes in fence installation and high-quality paver patio hardscaping, enhancing both security and outdoor living areas. Serving Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Will, and McHenry counties, they emphasize safety with experienced crews and proper equipment. Their team handles projects with care to meet structural and building code requirements.

4.9

240 Reviews

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Understanding Lombard's Hardscape Challenges

The longevity and stability of any patio, walkway, or wall in Lombard are directly tied to the local environment. Two primary factors-soil composition and climate-demand careful planning and expert installation.

Clay Soil and Drainage Imperatives

Lombard's prevalent heavy clay soil presents a fundamental challenge for outdoor masonry work¹. Clay expands significantly when wet and contracts as it dries, leading to constant soil movement that can crack, shift, and settle improperly installed hardscapes². This movement is exacerbated by water. Without proper management, heavy rainfall and snowmelt can pool, saturating the soil and potentially threatening your home's foundation^{3 4}.

Effective solutions are non-negotiable. A critical first step is ensuring your property's grading directs water away from structures. The Village of Lombard requires ground to slope away from foundations at a minimum 4% grade⁵. For chronic issues, the village even offers a Residential Drainage Program⁵. For your hardscape project, this means contractors must prioritize a well-compacted gravel sub-base to provide a stable foundation and often integrate subsurface drainage systems like French drains or catch basins to control stormwater^{6 7}.

The Freeze-Thaw Cycle and Frost Heave

Illinois's climate subjects hardscapes to repeated freezing and thawing each winter and spring⁶. This freeze-thaw cycle causes water in the soil to expand as it freezes, a force known as frost heave, which can lift pavers, crack concrete slabs, and destabilize walls^{2 8}. Mitigating this risk is a core component of professional installation in our region. It requires excavating to an adequate depth below the frost line, using proper compaction techniques for the base materials, and selecting products designed to withstand these pressures⁹.

Choosing the Right Materials for Durability and Style

Selecting materials that can endure Lombard's conditions while matching your aesthetic vision is crucial. Here's a look at the most common and suitable options for local patio and walkway construction.

Concrete and Brick Pavers: These are a top choice for patios and pathways due to their flexibility and durability. Unlike solid slabs, individual pavers can shift slightly with ground movement without cracking, making them ideal for our unstable clay soils^{2 10}. They offer immense design versatility in colors, shapes, and patterns¹¹.

Natural Stone: For a high-end, timeless look, materials like flagstone or bluestone are excellent options. They are exceptionally durable when installed correctly but come at a higher cost^{12 13}. Their natural texture and color variations create unique, elegant surfaces.

Poured Concrete: This is a more budget-friendly option for a seamless look. However, standard poured concrete is highly susceptible to cracking from frost heave and soil movement². If you choose concrete, ensure it includes proper reinforcement and base preparation. Stamped and colored concrete can mimic the look of stone or brick at a lower price point but carries the same structural risks if not installed to high standards.

Retaining Wall Systems: For managing slopes and creating level terraces, segmental concrete blocks (like Versa-Lok or Allan Block) are the industry standard. They are engineered to interlock, providing strength to hold back earth and prevent erosion¹⁰. Natural stone walls are another beautiful but more labor-intensive option.

Key Hardscape Project Types and Considerations

Patios: Your Outdoor Living Room

A well-built patio becomes a central hub for entertainment and relaxation. Beyond material choice, consider size, shape, and integration with drainage. In Lombard, ensuring the patio has a slight pitch to shed water is critical. The complexity of the design (curves, multiple levels, integrated lighting or fire features) will influence the project scope and cost.

Walkways and Paths

Functional and inviting walkways guide movement through your landscape. The principles are similar to patios: a stable base and proper drainage are paramount to prevent tripping hazards from settling pavers or cracked concrete. Wider paths and more intricate patterns will increase material and labor requirements.

Retaining Walls: Function and Form

Retaining walls serve essential engineering purposes on sloped Lombard lots. They prevent erosion, create usable flat spaces, and can help manage drainage². The Village of Lombard has regulations on maximum slopes (4:1 ratio), and walls over a certain height may require an engineering permit¹⁴. Professional installation is critical here, as a failing wall can be dangerous and cause significant property damage.

Driveways and Parking Pads

While often considered separately, driveway expansion or replacement with pavers or patterned concrete falls under hardscaping. These areas must support heavy vehicle weight, making the depth and quality of the base aggregate even more important.

Navigating Costs and Planning Your Investment

Hardscaping costs in Lombard vary widely based on materials, site accessibility, project complexity, and the necessary ground preparation. The following estimates provide a general framework, but obtaining detailed quotes from local contractors is essential¹⁵.

What Influences the Final Price?

• Site Preparation: Extensive grading, tree root removal, or complex drainage solutions add cost.
• Material Quality: Premium natural stone or high-end pavers cost more than basic concrete.
• Labor and Design: Intricate patterns, curves, and multi-tiered designs require more skilled labor time.
• Permits: Some projects, especially those involving significant grading or tall retaining walls, may require a permit from the Village of Lombard¹⁷.

The Professional Installation Advantage

Given the technical challenges in Lombard, DIY hardscaping carries a high risk of premature failure. Professional masonry and landscape construction contractors bring vital expertise:

• Site Evaluation: They assess soil conditions, slope, and drainage to plan effectively.
• Engineering Knowledge: They understand load requirements, frost depth, and how to build stable structures that comply with local codes.
• Proper Technique: They have the equipment and know-how to excavate to the correct depth, create and compact a proper aggregate base, and install materials with the right spacing and alignment.
• Drainage Integration: They can seamlessly incorporate necessary drainage solutions into the design.
• Efficiency and Warranty: Professionals complete the job faster and often provide a warranty on their workmanship.

When evaluating contractors, look for those with specific experience in the Chicago-area climate, ask for local references, and verify they are licensed and insured. Viewing a portfolio of their completed projects, especially those a few years old, can demonstrate the durability of their work.

Maintaining Your Hardscape Investment

Once installed, proper care extends the life and beauty of your investment.

• Pavers: Regular sweeping and occasional washing are needed. Sealing pavers every 2-3 years can protect against stains and color fading. It's also important to check for and replenish joint sand between pavers if it washes out, to prevent shifting¹³.
• Concrete: Seal concrete surfaces to protect against water penetration, freeze-thaw damage, and salt corrosion (for driveways).
• Drainage: Keep drain inlets, catch basins, and swales clear of debris to ensure water flows away as designed.
• Winter Care: Use plastic shovels instead of metal on pavers to avoid scratching. Avoid using harsh de-icing chemicals, which can damage surfaces; use sand or a product labeled safe for pavers/concrete instead.

A well-planned and professionally installed hardscape not only creates immediate enjoyment but also builds long-term value for your Lombard home by defining outdoor rooms, solving landscape problems, and enhancing its overall appeal^{18 19}.

Frequently asked questions

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