Naperville Retaining Wall Installation
Bret-Mar Landscape provides Naperville retaining wall installation that turns sloped yards, soil erosion, and drainage problems into level, usable outdoor space. Our team plans the grade and the water first, then builds a wall on a solid base with the structural support to stand the test of time.
With over 40 years of experience, our second-generation, family-owned firm brings the care of local professionals to every retaining wall project. We work with Naperville homeowners and the surrounding areas, with crews based in Homer Glen.
Why Retaining Walls Fail on Naperville Properties
A retaining wall holds back soil, but the real work happens below the surface. When a wall is built without a plan for grade and water, it can bulge, lean, or crack within a few seasons. These are the site conditions we plan around on Naperville properties:
Soil erosion on slopes. Sloped ground washes out after heavy rain, threatening foundations, plantings, and the existing structure around it.
Drainage problems. Poor drainage leads to pooling and flooding, and sump pump water needs a planned path, too.
Soil conditions that hold water. Much of the soil around Naperville holds water. Without proper base preparation, a wall settles and shifts unevenly.
Freeze-thaw cycles. Our distinct seasons, from winter freezes to summer heat, test every course of a wall.
Older walls that lean or fail. Outdated walls that were never planned for the slope behind them eventually need replacing.
Naperville residents see these problems on sloped backyards, front yards, and established lots alike. Good slope management starts with understanding them before any material is chosen.
What Our Naperville Retaining Wall Installation Includes
Our Naperville hardscaping services cover the full scope of your outdoor space. Each element is designed to connect with the next, so the finished patio, walkway, and walls read as one landscape.
What We Build:
Retaining walls that level a slope. Turn a steep or sloped yard into usable outdoor space for a lawn, garden, or new patio.
Terraces. Step a hillside into levels you can actually use.
Seating walls. Walls that frame a patio and give outdoor gatherings built-in seating.
Replacement walls. New wall construction where an older wall is leaning or failing.
Walls within larger projects. Retaining walls planned alongside custom paver patios and planting beds as part of complete backyard transformations.
We build with proper materials for both the load and the look, including stone, masonry, and custom block options, with natural stones where they suit your home's architecture. For more wall styles, see our retaining walls.
The Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association offers technical resources on segmental retaining walls for property owners who want to learn more about how modular block walls work. (open in new tab)
Click To Learn More About:
How Our Naperville Hardscaping Projects Come Together
Steps:
Plan the whole property first. Our licensed landscape architects, Ashley, Kurt, and Sharon, map grades, water flow, and how you move through the yard before choosing materials. If you're starting with a full redesign, see our Naperville landscape design services.
Build from the base up. Every surface starts with proper base preparation and proper drainage, using heavy equipment to excavate and compact the ground so it holds up through winter.
One team from start to finish. You work with one landscape contractor instead of juggling a paver patio contractor, a wall builder, and a driveway crew. Our project management keeps the schedule clear, and our entire crew follows the same plan.
An expert team, one connected plan, and hardscapes built to last.
What a Connected Hardscape Plan Gives Naperville Homeowners
A connected plan turns separate outdoor living projects into one outdoor living space. Whether it's a single patio or one of our complete backyard transformations, the result is an outdoor living room built for outdoor gatherings and for spending time together.
Aesthetic
Appeal
A paver walkway and driveway that match the patio and walls give your home a finished look from the street, with visual appeal that carries into the backyard.
Low
Maintenance
High quality pavers and walls installed on a solid base need little regular maintenance beyond occasional cleaning.
Increased
Property Value
Well-built hardscaping can add to the value of your home. A cohesive design adds aesthetic appeal and helps protect the value of your property over time.
Built for
Longevity
Every hardscape is backed by our two-year hardscape warranty, so you can enjoy your new landscape with peace of mind and a better outdoor living experience.
Meet the Team
-
![A man with a beard and a blue button-up shirt sitting outdoors next to tall green grass, with a red building in the background, wearing a black cap with 'BRET MAR LANDSCAPE' embroidered on it.]()
Adam
CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER
Adam was raised in the landscape industry and developed an early fascination with heavy equipment and hands-on construction. From a young age, he was drawn to understanding how things work—spending hours building and rebuilding projects with Legos, which naturally evolved into a passion for operating equipment and constructing outdoor spaces. He joined the family business after studying Agriculture and Soil Science at South Dakota State University, where he was also a member of the FarmHouse Fraternity. Adam oversees the operations side of the business, managing project construction and field execution. Outside of work, he is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys spending time with his dog, Charlie, and ice fishing.
-
![A woman with long brown hair wearing a gray shirt and blue jeans standing outdoors next to a small brown dog with black markings, in front of a garden with pink and green hydrangea flowers.]()
Ashley
PRESIDENT
Ashley grew up in the landscape industry and studied Landscape Architecture and Business at South Dakota State University, where she was also a NCAA Division I equestrian athlete. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Landscape Illinois and is a past president of the organization. Ashley is passionate about landscape design and the ability to thoughtfully design outdoor spaces to enrich people’s lives—creating environments that encourage gathering and reflect pride of ownership. Outside of work, Ashley and her husband, Tim, enjoy spending time outdoors with their three dogs, hiking and fishing. She also competes in jumper competitions with her horse, Stella.
-
![A smiling older man with white hair and a mustache wearing a light green button-up shirt stands outdoors in front of lush green foliage and blooming hydrangea flowers.]()
Kurt
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
An avid outdoorsman, Kurt developed an early passion for land management. He studied Landscape Architecture at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he met his wife, Sharon. Kurt leads the development and care of the nursery grounds at Bret-Mar, taking great pride in growing and nurturing plants that go on to thrive in clients’ landscapes. Outside of work, he enjoys being outdoors and spending time with his family on fishing trips.
-
![A woman with glasses and shoulder-length blonde hair sitting outdoors with a white dog. The woman is smiling, wearing a blue plaid shirt and white pants. The setting is a garden with green trees, purple flowers, and rocks.]()
Sharon
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
From an early age, Sharon knew she wanted to pursue a career in the landscape industry. Her first job, while in high school, was at a garden center, where she developed a strong passion for plants and horticulture. She studied Landscape Architecture at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she also met her husband, Kurt. The landscape industry remains a lifelong passion for Sharon, and she enjoys spending time in her garden harvesting vegetables and cut flowers alongside her dog, Elly.
Start Your Naperville Hardscaping Project
From a single patio to hardscaping that ties together your whole landscaping project, Bret-Mar Landscape builds for Naperville properties and homes across Chicago's western suburbs. Our landscape professionals handle the hardscape and landscaping work as one plan, alongside the full range of landscape services we offer throughout Chicagoland. Tell us about your yard and we'll help you plan the next step.