Justin Hartley rolled up his sleeves on Monday’s episode of Celebrity IOU as he helped renovate a friend’s backyard.
The 43-year-old actor worked with Property Brothers stars Jonathan and Drew Scott, 42, to upgrade the backyard of his close friend Mat during the one-hour HGTV show.
‘It’s not often we get somebody who actually can probably jump in there and do the demo with us,’ Jonathan said.
Backyard renovation: Justin Hartley rolled up his sleeves on Monday’s episode of Celebrity IOU as he helped renovate a friend’s backyard
‘I can do a little demo, yeah,’ Justin said.
Jonathan noted that Justin asked for some ‘pretty heavy-duty equipment’ and said he brought an excavator.
Justin said he’d try to drive it as he revealed that Mat’s wife Maribel was helping him with the surprise.
‘Now that we have this, I got to be honest we should destroy something with it,’ Justin said.
Helping hand: The 43-year-old actor worked with Property Brothers stars Jonathan and Drew Scott, 42, to upgrade the backyard of his close friend Mat during the one-hour HGTV show
Twin brothers: Property Brothers stars Jonathan and Drew Scott brought heavy equipment for Justin
The guys used a movie-style slow walk to guide Justin in the heavy machinery to Mat’s backyard where he knocked down a fence around his friend’s pool.
Mat was watching television inside when he heard the commotion and came outside to find Justin with the Property Brothers stars.
The actor then told his best friend how they were planning on fixing up his backyard.
Destroy stuff: ‘Now that we have this, I got to be honest we should destroy something with it,’ Justin said after climbing in the excavator
‘I mean, this guy is the best. He’s done, already, so much for my family. He’s my number one guy. I mean, I love this guy,’ Mat said.
Justin also gushed about Mat and their friendship.
‘Mat, he’s one of those human beings that will celebrate the good times with you and celebrate when you’re happy and celebrate when great things happen to you. But the true measure of the man is when things aren’t going your way. He’s the guy that’s going to make sure that you’re not alone or that you remember who you are. When you have people like that in your life, it makes it easier to kind of stay on track,’ Justin said.
Number one: ‘I mean, this guy is the best. He’s done, already, so much for my family. He’s my number one guy. I mean, I love this guy,’ Mat said
Great guy: ‘Mat, he’s one of those human beings that will celebrate the good times with you and celebrate when you’re happy and celebrate when great things happen to you. But the true measure of the man is when things aren’t going your way. He’s the guy that’s going to make sure that you’re not alone or that you remember who you are. When you have people like that in your life, it makes it easier to kind of stay on track,’ Justin said
The longtime friends bonded over beer and the Los Angeles Dodgers and both said their friendship was special because it was non-judgmental.
Mat revealed how he lived in a two-bedroom apartment with his wife and two daughters until they saved enough to get a house about two and a half years ago.
Justin said they saved up enough for the house in the San Fernando Valley, but the family would have to save again to fix the pool and update the backyard.
Broken pool: The pool was broken and drained and had hazardous steps around the deck
Falling apart: The exteriors also needed work as some wood was rotting
Jonathan and Drew instantly noticed the steps around the pool as a potential safety hazard and decided they would need to re-level the whole yard.
They decided on updating the pool with fresh tiles, adding an outdoor kitchen with grill, refrigerator and pizza oven, as well as an electric pergola to provide shade.
The renovation also included a putting green and a fire pit.
Total renovation: They decided on updating the pool with fresh tiles, adding an outdoor kitchen with grill, refrigerator and pizza oven, as well as an electric pergola to provide shade
The three-week time frame worried Jonathan, but Justin assured him they could do it.
‘We can throw an extra man on the job. I can help out,’ Justin volunteered.
Justin got to work with a circular saw as helped demolish metal fencing in the backyard.
Hard work: Justin got to work with a circular saw as helped demolish metal fencing in the backyard
Jonathan admitted that he wondered if Justin was ‘going to bring the grit’ after saying that he portrays ‘a pretty boy’ on the NBC drama This Is Us.
Drew said that Justin brought a ‘lot of passion’ and he has ‘a lot of strength’.
Justin climbed back in the excavator as they tore up pool deck and then joined Jonathan and Drew in a competition to remove pool tiles the fastest.
Driver’s seat: Justin climbed back in the excavator as they tore up pool deck and then joined Jonathan and Drew in a competition to remove pool tiles the fastest
Good effort: Drew won the contest to see who could remove tiles the fastest, but Justin tried
Drew won, but said he and his brother both lost since Justin had to take off for a shoot.
Justin later returned to help pick out materials and finishes that Mat and his family would like.
‘Justin doesn’t have a lot of remodeling experience, but he is confidently picking finishes like a seasoned pro,’ Jonathan said.
Confident choices: Justin later returned to help pick out materials and finishes that Mat and his family would like
The actor also came back to help with construction of the pool deck.
He later phoned Jonathan and revealed that Mat wanted to add a bar inside his home and wondered if they could install an outdoor bar.
Jonathan then added a porcelain-topped bar to the plans in the outdoor kitchen area.
Outdoor bar: The actor later phoned Jonathan and revealed that Mat wanted to add a bar inside his home and wondered if they could install an outdoor bar
Justin also helped out as the crew installed the 900-pound outdoor kitchen, pizza oven and side bar.
With one week to go, Justin returned again to help out with the tiling.
Jonathan gave him tips on how to tile and Drew complimented the actor for his good work on all the projects they assigned him.
Heavy lifting: Justin also helped out as the crew installed the 900-pound outdoor kitchen, pizza oven and side bar
Justin on Reveal Day drove Mat to his home where the brothers met him.
Mat was nervous as he closed his eyes before seeing his new backyard for the first time.
‘Oh, my god. This is my backyard?,’ Mat said.
Total disbelief: ‘Oh, my god. This is my backyard?,’ Mat said after seeing the renovation for the first time
Mat stood in disbelief and got emotional as he took it all in.
‘I couldn’t believe what was actually in front of me. It’s more than what I ever would have dreamed of,’ Mat said in a confessional.
He thanked Justin and the brothers for turning his backyard into an oasis.
Pleasant surprise: ‘I couldn’t believe what was actually in front of me. It’s more than what I ever would have dreamed of,’ Mat said in a confessional
New look: The backyard had a completely new look with a fire pit and putting green
Mat said he loved ‘every inch’ of it and was particularly excited about the outdoor bar.
‘Let me just point out, by the way, Justin didn’t just phone this in. He literally built this with us. So, he carried all of this in, every element. He was here through the whole process to make sure that it happens,’ Jonathan said.
Mat was then surprised by his wife, daughters and mother who also loved the new backyard.
Outdoor space: The new pool included a deck for lounging
Family affair: Mat was then surprised by his wife Maribel, their two daughters and his mother who also loved the new backyard
‘Everything that I could have ever imagined has come true and to share it with these two beautiful kids and my parents and of course, my lovely wife, it’s more than words can say,’ Mat said.
Drew said there was one more thing that needed to happen to fully enjoy it before he and Justin tossed Jonathan in the pool.
Celebrity IOU will return next week on HGTV with Rainn Wilson, 54, surprising his son’s nanny with a stunning home makeover.
Last thing: Drew said there was one more thing that needed to happen to fully enjoy it before he and Justin tossed Jonathan in the pool
Cooling off: Jonathan took being tossed in the pool in stride and asked for a drink as the episode ended