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[ Chuckles ]
NARRATOR: Licensed contractor Matt Blashaw is everybody's best friend.
And I just want to come and say hi.
He's turning on the charm
because he needs to find an awful backyard.
The camera's weird?
The lucky homeowner who takes a shine to him
will be rewarded with a new fun-filled party yard
with a custom concrete-counter cook station...
a firewall, complete with built-in seating...
free-running stream...
practice putting green...
and a lot more.
I can make your dreams come true.
[ Chuckles ]
That kind of depends on what that is.
You want to take me home?
Professional contractor Matt Blashaw stakes out
I'm giving away gold.
looking for do-it-yourselfers
who need an extra hand from a pro.
I don't know.
What they don't know is
he's gonna transform their simple project
into a total backyard makeover.
WOMAN: It's amazing!
It's like winning the landscape lottery.
Yes!
No.
Nope.
No.
I'm looking for some work.
You need a partner?
I got a partner, unless you think you could outwork him.
I'm like the Superman of backyards.
I swoop in, I pick you up, and I save the day.
I'll do what your husband can't do...
in terms of yard work.
Well, you know.
In terms of yard work.
You do?
Right there?
We're getting close.
Man, they didn't have this
on my contractors test.
Everyone, come here. Come look for 37 for her.
Here's seven.
35... It should be right over there.
We're awful. There's, like, 10 of us, and we can't even find...
That's okay.
Hey, you're all fired.
I quit.
What's on the shopping list today?
What do we got?
We came for this lovely piece of plastic.
We have a flooding issue.
Is that why the boots?
Yes. Yes. Exactly.
Gotcha.
You never know when a flood's gonna occur.
You never know.
Now, okay, what's in the backyard?
We don't know what to do with it because it's just random.
We don't know how to make it all work.
Are you wondering why I'm asking you all these questions?
Yes.
Yeah. It's kind of nerve-racking.
Yeah.
Oh.
And it sounds like we can make a connection here.
Perhaps. Make a deal.
Perhaps I follow you home.
Like, from here, you follow us home?
Yes.
Like, remember your parents said,
"Don't take candy from strangers"?
Yeah. Right.
[ Laughs ]
Yeah.
This is weird, but I like it.
But I have a feeling that when you see the backyard,
you're gonna understand why I'm game.
Yay!
Handshake. Handshake.
Okay. Fantastic.
All right. Check out.
Do what you need to do.
I'm gonna meet you guys up front.
At first, I was confused.
Don't leave until I'm behind you.
Apparently he's selling a yard makeover.
I know, I know. Truck's in the shop.
You guys got the corner lot!
Tell me that forest is not your backyard.
It's right on the other side of the fence.
Okay, good.
Let's go check it out.
REBECCA: Welcome to the randomness that is our yard.
MATT: This is hodgepodge city.
You got literally like 16 or 17 types of materials back here.
BOTH: Right.
And they all don't go together.
Like, this is ugly.
They capped a wall with pavers!
This is probably the most unusable space.
I just hope there's no bodies buried under there.
[ Laughs ]
Yeah.
It shouldn't be doing that.
Okay. What else? What do we got?
Well, we have this lovely kitchen with big windows,
and we look out into nothing.
JIMMY: This is our entertaining space when we're outside.
If we have a party and there's 12 people here,
it's standing room only on the patio.
Which happens, I'm not gonna lie.
This is probably the worst thing, too,
in the whole backyard.
Seasonally -- I don't know what kind of tree this is,
but all it does is drop various forms of crap.
It's just a mess.
So, if something were to maybe happen to that tree,
you know...
I would thank whoever made it happen...
I'm just hoping it's not God.
I actually went through and shop-vacced
all the pine needles.
No, you didn't!
REBECCA: I told you he has OCD.
He vacuums the dirt.
It filled up the shop-vac at least 10 times, just this area.
You vacuumed your backyard?!
I vacuumed the lawn.
[ Laughs ]
Synthetic grass?
Easier to vacuum.
I was kind of thinking about that.
I know you were.
Can we turn it into a putting green?
Can you?!
It's built for it!
Where would you like this space to be?
I would want an outdoor kitchen
and maybe a fire-pit area just to kind of relax.
A fire pit would be cool.
Yes.
If...
You need to bring about 7, 10, 11 friends.
Diggin', paintin', whatever they do,
Okay.
Yay!
And OCD's gonna go away for two days?
All right.
Don't worry, man. We're gonna do it well.
All right -- my pleasure.
See you, guys!
Relinquish control.
Matt's got control now.
[ Horn honks ]
Yay!
[ All cheering ]
Everybody, jump!
Jump! Jump! Jump! Here we go!
You guys ready?!
ALL: Yeah!
Right next to me, this is Todd Larimer.
He's with Clean Cut Landscape.
Helping him out, that's gonna be Kate Bowers.
And then the man with the concrete plan.
And all the help.
And all the help!
This is Mike Todd.
They are concrete artisans.
There's nothing this family can't do.
You guys ready to go?
Oh, yeah!
All right.
[ Cheers and applause ]
I want to see! I want to see!
You want to see what's behind the board?
Whoa!
Oh! [ Laughs ]
Oh, nice!
No way!
NARRATOR: Matt's design starts
with a new concrete-countertop cook island,
covered by a custom shade structure.
A much larger stained-concrete patio
features a firewall with built-in bench seating
next to a pondless stream water feature.
Yeah.
Yay!
A whole brand-new fence.
NARRATOR: The old stone wall gets refreshed, too,
and the raised area becomes a new putting green for Jimmy.
That is awesome!
There we go. I got a hug.
Give me a hug, too!
Dive in! Let's go!
It's in the hole!
[ Saws buzzing ]
It's loud.
There's so much noise everywhere.
It's scary.
I have been defeated by a 10-inch slab of concrete.
[ Saws buzzing ]
You know the one thing that this dead tree did produce
that's pretty good?
Mistletoe.
Huh?
Ohh, whoa!
[ Laughter ]
NARRATOR: Coming up... a simple fix for an ugly retaining wall...
What is in here is a 50/50 mix of sand and plaster cement.
...the fine art of making concrete stepping stones...
The key on these, instead of so much the shape,
is the distance apart, and how many you have.
...and Matt tackles Rebecca's power-tool phobia.
REBECCA: [ Laughing ] To scare women.
To scare women -- No, to empower you.
Yes.
NARRATOR: When Matt Blashaw went home with Jimmy and Rebecca,
he was in for a surprise.
This is hodgepodge city.
NARRATOR: Their overly shady, underutilized yard
was desperate for a yard crash.
[ Horn honks ]
Out came the old patio, down came the old tree.
Whoa! [ Laughs ]
With the tree gone, you can see the sky, which is beautiful.
NARRATOR: Now, with the last of the stump going,
the crew gets ready to lay patio base rock and build a new fence.
Right now I'm wondering how this is gonna be possible
to get it all done by tomorrow.
NARRATOR: A form for a new concrete countertop is built
and rebar support prepared.
Jimmy helps install the new fence,
and Rebecca helps Matt start building a bench for the new firewall.
I am mocking up right now
what that back wall is gonna be like,
'cause we're gonna build some benches in between.
It looks like these benches are gonna be a part of that wall.
So, I want it to end perfectly,
we're gonna say, about 93 inches right here.
Let's get on it. Come on.
We want to start from here at a 45-degree angle, okay?
And we want to cut.
Matt sets the chop saw for 45-degree mitre cuts.
No.
You know why I do this show?
To scare women --
Okay.
You want to press this trigger.
Okay.
Nice and easy.
Aah!
Ladies and gentlemen, the first mitre cut.
I did it. I did it.
They mitre cut lumber for the rest of the frame
and lay it out.
Okay.
Whoa.
Then Rebecca uses the nail gun for the first time
to nail it together.
Were you up all night thinking about new tools?
Power tools. Yeah.
I'm thinking about a new profession right now.
That's what I like to hear.
NARRATOR: They pre-drill
and screw wood screws through the corner joints.
Cool. We got our frame.
Then they staple 2x4s across the frame
to complete the side of the bench.
They add a seat using finish screws and 13-inch 2x4s.
Last piece.
How sexy is that bench?
It's beautiful!
Isn't that great?
An array of colorful plants
that Matt's chosen for the yard arrive.
MATT: Winter red leucadendron.
Abelia kaleidoscope.
You get reds, greens, yellows,
and then daisies for color, all right?
NARRATOR: Base rock for the putting green goes down.
So, we're gonna get this up about 4 inches
Mm-hmm.
Okay, then we're gonna take a plate compactor
Yeah.
...nice and smooth so your putts --
smooth as silk.
Are you like Tiger Woods or like Rodney Dangerfield?
[ Laughs ]
The crew screeds base rock for a new huge party patio,
then brings on the concrete -- lots of concrete.
MATT: They're gonna do an old-world finish to it.
They're gonna put a nice little coloring to it.
Excellent.
Let's come in right in the middle here.
NARRATOR: More concrete is brought in to create stepping stones.
So, now we got the puddle down.
So, basically, we're gonna form it out.
It's like playing with clay, you know?
It's total fun.
It's just artistic freedom.
As it hardens, then we can round that edge
just a little bit, like that.
Really, the key on these, instead of so much the shape,
Yeah.
And in the end, that's gonna make them look a lot better.
NARRATOR: Boulders are hauled in for the water feature,
and 4x4 posts for the shade structure
are set in place and plumbed.
Right there.
That'll work.
JIMMY: We've got the posts set, finally poured the concrete.
So it's just a matter of letting that set up, I think,
before we start to frame it out.
NARRATOR: Todd and Rebecca stack concrete blocks for the fire feature.
This is gonna be 16 high.
And Matt decides to fix the old retaining wall.
What is in here is a 50/50 mix of sand and plaster cement.
What plaster cement does is it makes it nice and fluffy.
All right, so, instead of replacing this whole thing,
this is an easy way just to give it a nice, clean look.
Into the cracks, just like that.
Good to go.
Yep. just like that.
This is just the first layer.
And now we got to take care of this,
'cause this is just ugly.
What you're gonna do
is you're gonna grab that plastic trowel, okay?
You want to get it actually...
...pretty thin.
The plaster will dry overnight
and have color added tomorrow.
Sun's going down!
You know what that means?
That means we gather around.
Check it out. No more tree.
REBECCA: It's amazing.
In a matter of just under eight hours,
you got a brand-new patio.
Mike Todd?
Yes?
How much longer till it dries?
[ Laughter ]
We have the barbecue island. That needs to come back here.
We need to pour the concrete countertop in place, okay?
So, we're hanging out for a little bit.
Can you at least say "bye" to the cameras?
'Cause they're going bye.
Okay. Cameras out of here.
We're working into overtime.
Yep. Let's do it!
Mike! Quicker!
NARRATOR: Coming up...
Rebecca builds a firewall with fabricated stone...
And the pumice makes it...
...makes it light.
Yes.
It's cantilevered.
So, that's gonna allow us to put that lattice on it.
...and Jimmy's new putting green is a hole in one.
It's good!
It's in the hole!
NARRATOR: For Matt's favorite projects and tips,
head on over to the "Crashers" page
at diynetwork.com/crashers.
It's the second and last day of this party-pad yard crash
at Rebecca and Jimmy's.
Good morning!
I have never been so tired in my entire life.
We got a lot done last night.
REBECCA: Yay.
Okay, we've got all the blocks set for our firewall.
And where we're standing will be a nice flowing stream.
Yep! Let's do it!
Let's start working and warm up.
Let's go! Day 2!
NARRATOR: Jimmy and Todd start laying down the lining
for the water feature.
Yeah.
This felt basically protects the liner from punctures.
And Rebecca learns another new skill --
stacking a firewall.
So, what we're gonna start with on the wall
is gonna be the ledge stone.
So, the top cap,
and then we're gonna do the stacked stone after.
So, grab a nice scoop.
Just to set that mortar right on top,
and then just scrape down the middle of it just like that.
Yes. [ Laughs ]
And then just set it lightly down.
What we're looking for is about 2 inches.
See where our 2 inches is? Just like that.
The stone is gonna butt up right against it just like that.
And I just hit with the back of the hammer
to make sure it's level this way all the way down.
NARRATOR: They finish the cap and move on to the ledge stone.
And this is fabricated stone.
Here, they've put a white cement and pumice.
And the pumice makes it...
...makes it light.
Yes.
[ Laughs ] Got it.
Just press it in?
Yeah, just like that. Not too much.
Just enough to get a nice little stick.
They create a random brick pattern on the firewall
with the fabricated stones.
Now that the firewall's going up,
I just think it's gonna be incredible and so beautiful.
NARRATOR: The crew anchors the creek liner
and outlines the stream bed with rock,
and Todd creates one more stepping stone.
MATT: What are you building now?
JIMMY: Hey.
Are those piped through it?
So, the water's gonna go around it.
We have the stepping stone, and then, just in case,
the water's gonna go through it.
I love it, man. Okay, keep on going.
NARRATOR: The crew cuts notches
in the 6x6 redwood posts of the shade structure
and cantilevers 12x12 beams at an upward angle.
Man, I love this tool.
Nice work.
NARRATOR: They drill through and hold long bolts in place with bridge washers.
Holy smokes.
[ Whistles ]
So, let's put some lattice on, stain it up, and we're done.
This outdoor cooking station is finished off
by adding 4x4 lattice beams for shade,
and removing the forms
reveals the new custom concrete countertop.
A layer of sand is spread for Jimmy's new putting green.
Then the artificial turf goes down and is cut to size.
This is awesome!
[ Laughs ]
This is my, like, boyhood dream.
Jimmy's gonna have a putting green in the backyard.
Lucky me!
Now we're making the holes.
Oh, yeah!
You being the golf pro, you make the hole choices.
A couple different angles.
Yeah, I like that.
Now we dig.
We want to have this sticking up about 1/4 inch above.
That 1/4 inch is gonna take what the turf is.
Recess it below the grass line.
That's what we're looking for.
Then we can take this little blade,
Yep.
How about it?
[ Chuckles ] Thanks, sir.
Oh. Money.
NARRATOR: Matt jumps back in to help Rebecca finish the firewall.
Nice.
Whoo!
This is the keystone.
Look at that!
Sit back. Check that out.
Beautiful.
It's great.
My first stone wall.
Coming up...
the pondless creek begins to flow...
The most beautiful thing I have ever seen.
...adding color to an old retaining wall...
That locks that stain right in.
...and this crash is really far better than par.
REBECCA: No!
Ohh! [ Laughs ]
Whoo!
It sounds like we can make a connection here.
REBECCA: Perhaps.
NARRATOR: It was a connection
that led to a sweet deal for Rebecca and Jimmy.
Yes.
NARRATOR: Now Matt's keeping his promise
as he and his crew change their shady disaster of a yard
into the perfect party place.
The stucco on the firewall gets dried with a blowtorch...
plants are going in...
and the new creek starts to flow.
Oh.
We have water!
We have water!
This is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.
We have water!
Last step to the wall.
Yep.
Okay, and this is just an acrylic, water-based stain.
NARRATOR: Matt and Jimmy finish off the retaining-wall upgrade
with a little color.
Not only can you do this to your cap,
you can do this to any concrete that's bland, all right?
Put a little stain to it, spruce it up.
Fire!
Step back, get it hot, and just brush it over the top.
And that locks that stain right in.
Yeah.
A little bit of stain. A little bit of mortar.
Hodgepodge city is no more.
Easy-peasy.
NARRATOR: The concrete counter gets a color treatment, too.
So does the firewall.
One hour!
If you're not planting, barking,
staining, or building,
you're not working!
Let's go! Let's go!
NARRATOR: The crew gears up for the final push,
and Matt has one last important planting to do.
See that red bark? Isn't that cool?
So it's not gonna grow as big as the locust tree that you had.
What's good about this -- It's gonna stay green all year around, okay?
During the springtime, you're gonna get these little buds
that come off here, the little flowers,
and they look like strawberries.
It's almost time to get this party started
as this yard crash winds down and tees off.
Miss it, Noonan!
REBECCA: No!
Ohh! [ Laughs ]
Whoo!
We are done, and your yard is wrapped, my friends.
Excellent, excellent job!
Thank you.
My pleasure.
The old backyard, it was just colorless.
We had a corner of the yard that was absolutely unusable space.
There was nowhere at all to sit or entertain,
the patio being super small.
REBECCA: We didn't know where to start.
It was a mess.
Our backyard now, it's amazing.
We have a beautiful barbecue area.
We have this huge patio, tons of space,
a new fence, a fire feature, a waterfall.
This is just brilliant,
seeing the wall transformed like that --
just really easy, really simple transformation.
And the countertop for the barbecue area,
it's got the live edge formed out,
and it was poured onsite.
He has a putt-putt, which is fun.
I'm jazzed.
I know all my buddies coming over,
that's gonna be the main attraction.
[ Both laugh ]
Come on.
Ooh!
ALL: Ohh!
[ Whistles ]
ALL: Ohh!
[ Laughter ]
Looking back on the last two days,
I've never been so exhausted and happy at the same time
in my whole life.
Give it up for Todd Larimer and his amazing crew.
Mike Todd and his incredible family, you guys rocked it out.
That is a yard crash, my friend.
Go ahead and finish your putts now, all right?
We're out! Off the green!
-- Captions by VITAC --
Closed Captions provided by Scripps Networks, LLC.