The N&M Homeowner Resource Section
Your Ultimate Information Source for everything Hardscaping, Brick Repair, Brick Paving, Concrete, and Outdoor Living
We’ve been in business for more than 12 years; combined with our decades of knowledge, and understanding of modern techniques and technology, we’re here to answer questions – check out the information below in our blog for helpful tips and information.

Explore Firepit Costs: Material Selection & Budget Planning
- November 17, 2023
- 8:26 am
- Outdoor Space
Understanding the Basics: Navigating the realm of firepit costs involves exploring multifaceted variables, including materials, design, and labor. Professionally built fire pits typically span from $500 to $5000 or more. The key...

Brick Paver Fire Pits: Elevate Your Outdoor Space
- November 14, 2023
- 8:01 am
- Outdoor Space
Materials Matter: The Timeless Charm of Brick and Pavers In the realm of fire pit materials, few options offer the timeless charm and versatility of bricks and pavers. These enduring materials not...

Three Ideal Times of Year to Install a Patio
- November 7, 2023
- 8:10 am
- Helpful Tips, Outdoor Space, Patio
Spring – A Perfect Season for Patio Installation Spring, with its pleasant weather, offers an ideal window to install a patio. The warm temperatures allow for comfortable outdoor work, striking a balance...

Installing Brick Pavers in Fall: Costs, Maintenance, and More
Can You Install Brick Pavers in Cold Weather? The straightforward

How to Use Bricks for Edging: A Comprehensive Guide
If you’re searching for a way to elevate the aesthetics

The Necessity of Outside Brick Maintenance
If you have a brick exterior, you’ve made a wise

Stamped Concrete Design, Colors & Textures
What is Stamped Concrete? Stamped concrete is a textured, embossed,

Concrete Driveways are Best, Here’s Why
Advantages of Concrete Driveways Is concrete a good choice for

The Ultimate Guide to Clay Chimney Flue Liners
What we’ll answer What is a Chimney Flue Liner? The

Transform Your Outdoor Space with Stamped, Textured Concrete
What is Stamped Concrete? Stamped concrete, imprinted or textured concrete,

Does Your Brick Need Attention? Brickwork Maintenance Signs You Need to Look Out For
Bricks have long been a popular choice for building homes

Pros and Cons of Brick Paver Sealer
Brick pavers look great in any application, from driveways to

Brick Works: Comprehensive Maintenance Tips for Preserving Your Brick’s Integrity
Bricks are an enduring symbol of construction, gracing structures worldwide

Chimney Maintenance: Get Your Fall Inspections
Importance of Annual Inspections And Chimney Maintenance Now that we’ve

Masonry Upgrades: How to improve your homes curb appeal
Masonry Upgrades: Elevating Your Home’s Curb Appeal As homeowners, we

Brick Chimney Repair: What You Need to Know
Understanding Brick Chimney Repair: What to Expect and Our Expertise

Building a Retaining Wall, What You Should Know
Site Assessment Conducting a site assessment is crucial before diving

Concrete Driveways: The Ultimate Guide for Homeowners
More than just providing a solid pathway to your property,

Stamped Concrete in Michigan: A Dance of Design & Durability
Like a painter armed with a canvas, a landscaper in

Hardscaping Design: Getting the Basics
Hardscaping Design Elements Defined To fully appreciate the art and

How to Build a Retaining Wall
Building a retaining wall is a crucial undertaking that requires

Modern Hardscaping: Art of Landscaping & Essential Techniques for Outdoor Design
As passionate landscape designers, we’re always excited to talk about

The Importance of Sealing New Concrete
Sealing new concrete is a crucial step in ensuring its

What’s the Best Fire Pit Shape?
Round or Circular Shape One popular shape for a fire

Fire Pit: Designing the Perfect Space
This article will guide you through creating the perfect fire

5 Ways To Enhance Your Outdoor Living Space
Your outdoor living space is a fantastic opportunity to extend

Mortar Joints: Understanding Their Importance and How to Repair Them
Mortar joints are an essential component of any masonry structure.

Brick by Brick: Understanding the Difference Between Tuckpointing and Repointing?
Tuckpointing and repointing are two terms that are often used

The 10-step mortar joint repair process
How to repair mortar joints? Repairing mortar joints is important

Get an A+ with Your Property: Creative Grading to Elevate Your Yard Game
So let’s get started – get ready for an A+

Get Creative with Your Hardscape Design Using N&M Restoration
Why Choose N&M Restoration for Hardscapes? N&M Restoration offers custom

Getting Ready for the Hardscape Season: Tips and Tricks
Measure Twice, Cut Once Before you begin any hardscape project,

Best Mortar Joints: Which Style Is Best?
Understanding the Essentials Mortar joints, the spaces between bricks filled

The Benefits of a Brick BBQ Grill Enclosure for Your Outdoor Kitchen
A brick BBQ grill enclosure is an excellent addition to

Repairing Paver Grout for a Durable & Aesthetic Finish
What is Brick & Mortar Repair? Brick and mortar repair

15 Reasons to Choose Exterior Cultured Stone for Your Home
Durability: Cultured stone is highly resistant to fading and weathering.

What to do about cracked bricks?
No matter which method you choose, it is important to

How to keep your bricks looking new!
Cleaning your bricks can be a bit of a labor-intensive

What to Put Under Pavers
Paver base – what is it? Paver base is a

Should You Seal Brick Pavers?
Break paver sealing step-by-step. What is it? Should you seal

All About Attic Insulation
FIBERGLASS BATT INSULATION I figured we would start with the

How to Clean Tile Floors – Reliable Tips
What to pay attention to when cleaning tiles? When you

Commercial Lintels
Stone Commercial Lintel Quite a few commercial buildings use stone

How Long Do Brick Pavers Last?
Why is it worth investing in brick pavers? Brick pavers

What Is Stamped Concrete?
STAMPED CONCRETE IS IMPRINTED TO LOOK LIKE STONE OR BRICK

Cracked Chimney Mortar – How to Fix It
How to maintain the chimney Regular chimney maintenance is the

Pavers vs. Poured Concrete – What’s Better for Outdoor Spaces?
Poured concrete vs. pavers – cost and maintenance The first

What Is Slate Stamped Concrete?
HOW IT WORKS Stamped concrete is “stamped” to look like

What Is Exposed Aggregate Concrete?
WHAT DOES EXPOSED AGGREGATE MEAN? Within most concrete mixtures is

What is Cultured Stone?
HOW CULTURED STONE IS MADE Cultured stone is made from

What Is a Concrete Overlay?
WHAT DOES A CONCRETE OVERLAY DO? An overlay goes on

Types of Mortar Joints: Which Mortar Style Is Best?
THE BEST TYPES OF MORTAR JOINTS – GROOVE JOINT OR

Top 7 Basement Finishing Tips
1 – RESOLVE MOISTURE ISSUES BEFORE FINISHING THE BASEMENT Moisture

Should I Seal My Concrete Pool Deck?
WHAT DOES CONCRETE SEALER DO? Concrete sealer is a shield

Should I Convert My Garage into Living Space?
PROS OF CONVERTING A GARAGE TO A LIVING SPACE The

Pros & Cons of Multi-Colored Patio Pavers
BENEFITS OF MULTI-COLORED PATIO PAVERS Here are some advantages of

Pros & Cons of Brick Paver Sealer
PROS OF SEALING BRICK PAVERS Brick paver sealant is designed

Professional Tips for Choosing Floor Tiles for Kitchen
How to Choose Floor Tiles for the Kitchen? Avoid Busy

What Is The Purpose of a Retaining Wall?
The Function of a Retaining Wall So, what is the

Walkout Basement Patio Design
Determine the Functional Goal of the Walkout Basement Patio The

Is Tile Flooring Waterproof?
Most Tile is not Waterproof on Its Own There are

Is Cultured Stone Safe for Fireplace?
MOST CULTURED STONE IS SAFE FOR FIREPLACES For the most

Is a Cracked Chimney Dangerous?
CRACKED CHIMNEY FLUE TILES VS. CRACKED CHIMNEY BRICKS When most

How to Stop Brick Pavers from Shifting
WHY DO BRICK PAVERS SHIFT? There are a few reasons

How to Prepare Your Chimney for Winter
Preparing chimney for winter – what you need to do

How to Fix Drainage Problems In Your Yard
THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER WATER DRAINAGE Yard flooding is more

What Is an Outdoor Kitchen? Pros and Cons
Outdoor kitchen – what is it? An outdoor kitchen is

How to care for brick pavers
Sweep your brick paver surface regularly For the majority of

How often should you reseal stamped concrete?
Reseal stamped concrete every 3-5 years Typically, we recommend resealing

How Long Does Stamped Concrete Last?
STAMPED CONCRETE CAN LAST 25+ YEARS Stamped concrete can last

How to Get Rid of Mold on Brick Pavers?
What causes mold? Mold is a type of fungus that

How Long Do Paver Patios Last?
THE AVERAGE LIFESPAN On average, good quality pavers can last

Have You Scheduled Your Chimney Inspection?
HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU GET A CHIMNEY CLEANING AND INSPECTION?

Cultured Stone vs. Natural Stone Veneer
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? To truly compare the options, we

Circle Brick Paver Fire Pit Ideas
ROUND FIRE PIT PATIO VS. SQUARE FIRE PIT PATIO Why

Brick Repair Basics: What is tuck-pointing?
HOW TUCKPOINTING WORKS The surface of the mortar is what

Benefits of Brick Paver Driveways
BRICK PAVER DRIVEWAYS ARE STAIN-RESISTANT AND SLIP-RESISTANT The textured surface

Are Stamped Concrete Patios Slippery?
IS STAMPED CONCRETE SLIPPERY? Many stamped concrete applications look slippery

Are Brick Pavers Permeable?
BRICK PAVERS – WATER GOES AROUND THE BRICKS There are

Brick Pavers or Stamped Concrete?
BRICK PAVERS HAVE NO CURING TIME If you get a

How to Clean Brick Pavers? 4 Things to Keep in Mind
How do you clean brick pavers outside and inside? Are

How to Choose Floor Tile Color? 5 Aspects to Consider
How to choose floor tile color? There are a few

Permit Process in Metro Detroit
Let me give you an example. If you live in

Cost of a New Concrete Driveway & Questions Answered.
How much should a new concrete driveway cost? The cost

5 Types of Decorative Concrete
STAMPED CONCRETE Stamped concrete is the most well known form