(HGTV)
Property brothers Jonathan and Drew Scott are the ultimate good sports, and they prove it on the latest “Celebrity IOU” when Drew accepts a dare to do a little topless jackhammering alongside former football star turned “America’s Got Talent” judge Terry Crews.
The sight of Drew’s dad bod, next to Crews’ ripped contours, is not all that flattering, but it’s all in the interest of helping Crews create a backyard fitness sanctuary for his family’s beloved driver, Frank.
In the episode “Terry Crews’ Outdoor Upgrade,” Crews insists that Frank is much more than a driver.
“He’s a friend and like an older brother to me,” Crews explains.
At one point, Frank’s weight got up to 560 pounds. That’s when he realized he had to lose weight to save his life. He has since dropped over 200 pounds and hopes to shed 80 more.
To help, Crews wants to transform Frank’s Northridge, CA, backyard into a family gathering spot and a place that “will inspire him to continue achieving his life-changing goals.”
Jonathan believes they can renovate the large space in about eight weeks. But after he loses an arm wrestling match to Crews (what was he thinking?), they’re stuck making over the entire backyard in half the time, at just four weeks!
Despite the rush, the property brothers manage to pull off this renovation in record time—and deliver some fantastic ideas in the process that might inspire you to flex your muscles and mind making over your own outdoor space, too.
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“What’s great is that we have a lot of space to work with back here,” says Drew. “But how we delineate the function and flow is crucial.”
“We just need to decide which pieces go where to optimize Frank’s oasis,” Jonathan adds.
There are many pieces to this backyard puzzle: They’re adding a workout station, a new outdoor kitchen, and a new fire pit and seating area. Plus, they’re incorporating the koi pond and existing pre-fab sheds. All must be well arranged instead of randomly stationed.
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There’s a lot of cement back there, but not all of it has to go. It can be resurfaced and repurposed.
“We’re updating Frank’s backyard with a mix of pavers and turf,” says Drew. “And because the concrete pool deck is so massive, instead of removing it all completely, we’re cutting out a linear pattern and then we’ll lay in turf in between.”
“Not only is saving most of the concrete good for the environment,” Jonathan explains, “but it’s also helping us with our very tight four-week timeline.”
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Sadly, the California sun has fried Frank’s back lawn.
“The one area where you can’t control the sun is the lawn,” says Drew, “and Frank’s old, scorched grass was victim to the California heat and drought.”
“California is not easy on grass,” adds Jonathan. “Some people water too much, or they don’t water enough, and it can get really hot, so their grass dies. That’s why this time we’re adding irrigation. The system will have sensors, a schedule, and a pressurized regulator to avoid waste and runoff.”
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The brothers are creating four separate workout stations under pergolas in the backyard, so Frank can have workout space with fresh air and a view. But it’s not just about pouring a cement slab and putting a canopy over it.
“This is a workout area, so you need to make sure that the surface that your equipment is on is solid,” says Drew. “A combination of water and a specialized machine will allow us to tamp down the dirt so it’s compact and level.”
Crews is thrilled to acquire a new skill as he waters down the ground while Drew runs a compacting machine over it.
“Once we’re done,” says Jonathan, “we can pour the individual slabs that will support the gym equipment and finish with our crushed-granite border.”
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Although there are about six outdoor shelters being created, “Possibly the most important pergola we’re assembling is the one over the dining table,” says Drew.
“The one thing that is not nice is when you’re sweating over a family dinner,” jokes Jonathan.
“You want to have barbecue, not feel like you’re on a barbecue,” adds Drew.
“It adds too much salt to your food—you’re sweating on your food,” Jonathan says, upping the ante.
Then Drew explains their genius remedy for the situation: “We have louvers up top that you can adjust for the amount of sun you want depending on the temperature,” he says. “It’s fully powered, so even if it was raining you could still sit out here.”
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The property brothers find a way to finish all of their plans in four weeks—and Frank is blown away once he sees the results.
“To have this environment that he created for me? It’s motivational,” he says. “I’ve been climbing that hill for many years. It’s life-changing and life-saving.”
Lisa Johnson Mandell is an award-winning writer who covers lifestyle, entertainment, real estate, design, and travel. Find her on ReallyRather.com
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