Glen Ellyn is one of the farther towns on our list, about 35 minutes southeast of our Elgin shop in central DuPage County. We make the trip because the work here suits us: front walks and steps for older homes, backyard patios on lots shaded by big trees, garden walls, fire pits and planting plans built with care. ZGreen Landscape designs every project and builds most of it with our own crew.
A village with a lot of old houses
Glen Ellyn was settled in the 1830s and grew after the railroad arrived in 1849. In the late 1880s, local businessmen dammed a stream to create Lake Ellyn, and the town took its name from the lake. Today Lake Ellyn Park is on the National Register of Historic Places, and so is the Glen Ellyn Main Street Historic District, a stretch of Queen Anne, Italianate and Gothic Revival homes built between 1874 and 1890. Stacy’s Tavern, from 1846, still stands at Main Street and Geneva Road.
That history shows up in the yards. Near downtown and around the lake, plenty of houses are more than a century old. Lots there tend to be narrower, trees are big, and front walks have usually been patched, heaved and patched again. Newer homes sit alongside them, sometimes on the same block.
Both kinds of house need hardscape that fits. For older homes, that often means clay brick, tumbled pavers, limestone steps and plantings with some formality. For new builds, it can mean larger pavers, crisp edges and a patio that lines up with a wall of glass doors.
What we build in Glen Ellyn
Front-of-house work is a big share of our Glen Ellyn projects. A new brick or paver front walk with proper steps and a landing changes how the whole house looks from the street, and it’s often the first thing an older home needs.
In back, we build patios, garden walls and walkways planned as one design. Smaller in-town lots benefit from a seat wall or low retaining wall that adds seating without adding furniture, and from a built-in fire pit sized to the space. For homeowners who cook outside a lot, we design outdoor kitchens that fit a compact footprint.
On the planting side, our landscape design and installation team handles foundation plantings, shade gardens under mature trees, and screening between houses that sit close together. Landscape lighting finishes the job, especially on front steps and along the walk.
One Glen Ellyn detail: the Illinois Prairie Path runs right through the village. If your backyard faces the path, a layered planting of evergreens and shrubs along the rear lot line gives you privacy from passing walkers and cyclists, and it looks far better than a blank fence.
Tight lots, big trees, heavy clay
Three things shape almost every Glen Ellyn build we do.
Access comes first. A narrow side yard or a garage at the back of the lot can limit how equipment and materials get in. We plan the route before the job starts, protect lawns and neighboring property along the way, and size equipment to fit.
Trees come second. Many of these lots have oaks, maples and other trees that are older than the houses around them. We identify the trees you want to keep, stay out of their main root zones with heavy digging, and adjust walks and patios to go around roots rather than through them.
Soil is third. Like the rest of northern Illinois, Glen Ellyn sits on dense clay that holds water in spring and heaves in winter. We excavate to firm ground, build a compacted gravel base in layers, and pitch every patio and walk so water drains away from the house. Retaining walls are backfilled with clean stone and given drainage outlets. Front walks and steps near the street get materials that stand up to road salt.
Most of our hardscape is built between April and late fall. Requirements vary by village, and they can be different for historic properties. We confirm what’s needed before we build.
Our track record
We’ve been in business 25-plus years, with 150+ completed projects and a 5.0 rating from Google reviewers. We’re also an approved contractor with the City of West Chicago, a few miles west of Glen Ellyn. Most of our work is done in-house by our own crew, from site prep and base installation to hardscape and plantings. Read what customers say on our testimonials page.
Glen Ellyn questions
Is Glen Ellyn too far for ZGreen to work?
No. It’s about 35 minutes from our shop, and we also work in nearby Wheaton and West Chicago. The drive doesn’t change how we design or build.
Our house is over 100 years old. What should the front walk be made of?
Clay brick is the classic choice for a house of that age, and tumbled pavers give a similar look with a little more durability. Limestone works well for steps. We’ll bring samples so you can see them against your siding or brick before choosing.
How do you get equipment into a backyard with a narrow side yard?
We use smaller equipment where needed, lay down ground protection, and plan material deliveries so stone isn’t sitting on your lawn longer than necessary. We walk the access route with you during the site visit.
What does a new front walk or patio cost?
It depends on size, material, excavation and extras like steps and lighting. Our paver patio cost guide explains what moves the price. You’ll get exact numbers in your proposal.
Ready to get started? Call ZGreen at 224-508-0252 or request a free estimate. We’ll reply within 24 hours.