How Outdoor Kitchens Increase Home Value
An outdoor kitchen is the ideal way to expand your living space while enjoying more of your yard every day. They’re great for homeowners who entertain a lot, have a …
How to Design a Kid-Friendly Paver Patio
If you are considering installing a paver patio in your backyard and you have kids, take a moment to think about how you can best accommodate the little ones. Safety …
How Do Paver Driveways Boost Curb Appeal?
From visual interest to long-lasting durability, there are many ways in which paver driveways can boost your home’s curb appeal. More and more homeowners are embracing the trend of this …
Fall: The Best Time to Install a Paver Patio
If you’re considering patio replacement or any other outdoor home project, you may assume spring or summer is the best time to do it. While these seasons certainly have their …
Driveway Edging: Why it’s a Good Idea
If you’re looking to inject some personality and curb appeal into your driveway, the best way to do that is with driveway edging. Not only can edging your driveway with …
Outdoor Entertainment: Should You Get a Wood Deck or Paver Patio?
If you’re looking to boost your outdoor entertainment space, a big component of the project will likely be the addition of adequate and plentiful seating areas. You have two general …
Should You Use Brick or Stone For Your Retaining Wall?
A retaining wall serves dual purposes: one for function and one for aesthetics. These walls are critical structures in landscaping, with the goal of managing soil erosion, providing level areas …
Brick Walkway Maintenance: Tips and Tricks
Brick walkways, whether at a home or business, are meant for convenience, guiding guests safely to their destination. However, neglected bricks can fall into disrepair, which can impact the safety …
Why is Summer the Best Time For Masonry Repairs?
From mild weather to preparation of the fall season, there are many reasons why summer is the ideal time of year to get those masonry repairs done. Whether your chimney …
How Long Do Brick Repairs Last?
If you need brickwork repaired at your home, whether to your porch, steps, walkway or retaining wall, you may wonder: how long will those repairs last? The good news is, …
Best Brick Patio Patterns for 2024
We’re halfway through the year and some amazing brick patterns have started to emerge for 2024. From modern eye-catching designs to tried-and-true classics, bricks make for the perfect patio design …
How to Safely Clean Your Brick Patio
You spent a lot of money on your custom brick patio in Michigan: it’s understandable you want to keep it looking its best for many years to come. However, like …
What to Look For in a Michigan Masonry Contractor
Whether you’re looking to add a new brick porch to your home or you need chimney repair, hiring a trusted masonry contractor in Michigan is job #1. But where do …
Why Hire a Professional For Brick Porch Construction?
If you’ve been meaning to repair or create a new brick porch for your home, you may wonder if you can save a few bucks by doing it yourself. But …
Outdoor Living Upgrades to Spruce up Your Spring
Spring is the perfect time to spruce up your outdoor living spaces and take advantage of your property’s full potential. It’s The Brick Guys offers hardscaping and brick paving services …
Why It’s Important to Seal Cracked Brick Joints
If you notice cracks along your brick joints, get them sealed as soon as possible. Bricks are designed to protect your home from rain, wind, pests, and other issues. They …
Are Brick Houses Worth More Money?
If you’re building a house or want to make a smart decision for your next home purchase, you may wonder how brick siding affects your home’s value. Are brick houses …
How to Utilize Extra Space in Your Backyard
Do you feel like your backyard is missing something? You have grass to mow and a yard for the kids to play in, but what about the rest of the …
What Is Hardscaping?
You’ve browsed the internet for outdoor makeover ideas, and you keep seeing the word “hardscaping” pop up in your search results. Now you’re wondering, “What is hardscaping?” and how you …
Can Paving Bricks Hold a Car?
If you want to expand or replace your driveway, you may be comparing brick pavers and concrete. Brick pavers are beautiful and durable, but can they stand up to the …
How to Maintain Brick Siding on a House
Brick siding is beautiful, durable, and timeless. It can withstand hefty abuse from Mother Nature and protect your belongings within. Nevertheless, it’s important to maintain your brick siding if you …
Can You Paint Over Cracked Bricks?
Some brick cracks are concerning, while others are basic wear-and-tear. If you’re unhappy with the look of your bricks, you may be tempted to paint them to hide the blemishes. …
Check out This 50-Year-Old Brick Paver Restoration from ITBG!
Did you know that brick pavers can last for decades? You can use them for almost any exterior surface, ranging from walkways to driveways and beyond. It’s The Brick Guys …
Concrete vs. Brick Porch Steps
Are you rebuilding your porch or designing a porch for a new construction home? If so, you have several materials to choose from. Each option has pros and cons, and …
How to Blend Old and New Bricks
Are you worried that your brick repairs will look noticeable? Have you seen patchwork where it’s obvious that there’s new brick mixed with old? Our goal with any brick restoration …
Why Do Some Bricks Have Holes in Them?
Have you ever noticed that some bricks have three holes in them? You may not think much of it, but this unique design has an equally unique purpose. Here at …
How to Clean Brick Pavers
Are your brick pavers looking dull and dirty? You might be surprised by how easy they are to clean! We recommend incorporating brick paver cleaning into your outdoor fall maintenance, …
Pros and Cons of Cultured Stone
Cultured stone adds beautiful texture and dimension to vertical surfaces. You have likely seen cultured stone on siding, fireplaces, porch columns, and more. This versatile material comes in various colors, …
How to Get Rid of Weeds on a Brick Patio
Tired of seeing weeds on your patio? Does it feel like you’re constantly pulling weeds and grass out from between the pavers? Here are some tips to get rid of …
Can You Repair Painted Brick?
Painted brick homes are pretty and trendy. They’ve been featured on countless interior design shows, and you’ve likely seen some in your neighborhood. Before you commit to painting your bricks, …
Outdoor Living Room Designs for Small Backyards
Outdoor living rooms are here to stay. If you’ve debated whether or not to add a proper patio to your backyard, now is the time to do it. A staggering …
Will a New Front Porch Add Value to My Home?
Not sure if you should add a front porch to your property or expand the porch you already have? Debating whether to upgrade your porch before you sell your home? …
Should Landscaping Blocks Be Glued Together?
Landscaping blocks are often used for retaining walls, planter boxes, tree rings and other forms of hardscaping. They may look glued together at first glance, but the reality is, most …
Top Tips for Spring Brick Paver Cleaning
The grass is growing, the flowers are blooming, and you’re prepping for outdoor fun. If you have brick pavers on your property, they may need some sprucing up. Dedicate part …
Should Exterior Bricks Be Sealed?
You seal your fence and your car paint. Shouldn’t your exterior bricks get the same treatment? Brick sealant seems helpful on paper, but it’s not always necessary or ideal. In …
What Is Verazzo Stone?
Verazzo stone is a versatile, durable, and beautiful material for retaining walls and hardscaping features. This is one of our favorite products to use here at It’s The Brick Guys …
Amplify Your Curb Appeal with Custom Porch Columns
Do your porch columns look plain, boring, or disproportionate to the rest of your façade? This is a common problem with older homes or builder-grade homes with basic materials. The …
Pros and Cons of Black Pavers
Color selection is important for any home project, whether you’re painting a wall in your house or redoing your brick patio. Black has become a popular choice for interior and …
Red Flags to Watch for during Your Brick Paving Estimate
Before you get that custom brick driveway or gorgeous brick patio out back, you’re going to need a brick paving estimate. This is the first step in your outdoor transformation, …
Poured Concrete vs. Pavers for Outdoor Spaces
Want to turn your backyard into usable living space? This is a great way to boost your property value and give your home an even greater purpose. Poured concrete and …
How Do You Fix Cracked Chimney Mortar?
The mortar around your chimney isn’t just decorative. It acts as a support system for the bricks and it seals the edges for maximum protection. Unfortunately, mortar wears down much …
5 Benefits of Driveway Edging
Feel like your driveway looks a bit boring? Want a way to protect your driveway and boost your curb appeal all at once? If so, you may be in need …
How to Design a Pet-Friendly Paver Patio
Your pets are an active part of your life. They go where you go, even if it’s only to the backyard. If you’re redesigning or expanding your patio, you may …
Should You Grout or Sand Patio Pavers?
When you think of brick, you think of mortar. The two go hand-in-hand. Mortar and grout may be common for indoor brick applications, but they aren’t ideal for most outdoor …
Enhance Your Curb Appeal with a Custom Front Patio
Feel like your home is missing something? Want to jazz up your curb appeal without major reconstruction? A front patio may be the perfect way to reach your goals. It’s …
Can You Use Regular Bricks for a Fire Pit?
A fire pit is an excellent addition to any backyard. Whether you’re planning autumn get togethers or you just want a peaceful retreat for the cold months, a fire pit …
Wood Deck vs. Paver Patio – Which One Is Better?
If you want an outdoor entertainment space, there are several ways to go about designing it. Two of the most popular options are wood decks and paver patios, and they …
Can a Retaining Wall Be Repaired?
Do you have a retaining wall that’s falling apart? Worried that the blocks are going to collapse at any minute? Not only is this an eyesore, but it can also …
What Causes Chimney Brick Damage? (AKA Brick Spalling)
Do the bricks on your chimney look like they could fall off at any minute? Has your disheveled chimney destroyed your curb appeal? If so, you may be the victim …
What’s the Difference between Cultured Stone and Stone Veneer?
If you’re thinking about adding to your curb appeal or interior design features, you might look into stone veneer. This is a great option to add color, texture and visual …
Will an Outdoor Kitchen Increase Home Value?
Have you been thinking about adding an outdoor kitchen to your home? Once the COVID-19 pandemic happened, we saw a big surge in homeowners enhancing their outdoor living spaces. If …
Why Do Brick Pavers Sink?
Brick pavers stand the test of time, and they can be used in a variety of outdoor surfaces. If your brick paver patio, driveway or walkway is a few years …