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'Celebrity IOU': What's a pergola? Justin Hartley's tip to make outdoor kitchen 'greaseproof' will change your life

Justin, with the 'Property Brothers', transformed a 'toe-breaking' backyard to an 'inviting retreat'

'Celebrity IOU' returned with yet another reno-rich episode where actor Justin Hartley wanted to gift his friend, Mat Hardege, a backyard he never had. Mat and his family were living out of a tiny apartment when they saved up enough for a house but not quite to get a backyard done, which Justin noticed and wanted to change that reality for him. 

He got in touch with the 'Property Brothers' Drew and Jonathan Scott who shared their initial plans of transforming the 'toe-breaking backyard' to an 'inviting retreat' that would feature a long area, a pool surrounded by greenery (think citrus, agave, mesquite), an electric pergola, and an outdoor kitchen, pizza oven, and bar, that Justin promised to stock up.

What's a pergola?

A pergola is an outdoor garden feature that serves as a shaded passage. At Matt's house, the pergola is electric, which meant at the push of a button, the shades would be off and the family can enjoy some sun. Also, the drainage system on it is such that it allows the panel to tilt at an angle, making way for a perfect view, while the rainwater is channeled to fall outside of the passage. 

Gifting Mat and his family a perfect hangout spot right outside his house was important to Justin. He made it evident by taking breaks from his shoots every now and then so that the Scotts are able to meet the three-week deadline. 

Of all the new features that were installed, Mat was most impressed by the outdoor kitchen, which was Justin's idea. He was there through the whole process, right from selecting and cementing the tiles, to lifting a 900-pound kitchen slab - the TV star knew what Mat would love.

What's more, he wanted all of it to be functional and less work for the family, which was why he chose a variant of porcelain tile, which is known for being slippery and therefore, easy to clean. It meant that by the end of any party his countertop can be messy but he'll take very little time to wipe it clean. Quite the tip for everyone who has been struggling to give their kitchen tiles a clean finish. 

Catch all the new episodes of 'Celeb IOU' on HGTV every Monday at 9/8c. For more information, check your local listings.