Chances are, if you’re a fan of Rock The Block, you’ve questioned what it’s like behind the scenes. Do the teams really work around the clock to get their homes finished? Do the dueling duos ever become friends? Is the competition as fierce — and the work as exhausting — as it seems?

“The physical, emotional, creative, spiritual and mental exercises we go through are quite unbelievable!” reveals Season 4 competitor Page Turner. “I am so proud of the work we all accomplished. We finished with the same smiles we started with.” Page goes on to note that even though the teams were tough competitors, “There was a camaraderie amongst us that was so sweet and will forever live in our hearts.”

Ahead, Bryan and Sarah Baeumler (Renovation Island), Michel Smith Boyd and Anthony Elle (Luxe For Less), Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin (Farmhouse Fixer) and Page Turner and Mitch Glew (Fix My Flip) share what it was like to build four 5,000-square-foot houses within six weeks — all while keeping their sanity and making friends along the way.

Kristina Crestin and Jonathan Knight

They Had a Similar Reaction to Finding Out They Were Chosen for the Show

“I was excited and extremely nervous. I loved watching past seasons and thought, now I get to be a part of this,” shares Jonathan. Kristina was excited and fearful at the same time. “Fearful of the timeline and being able to truly do killer design work,” she says.

They Both Loved Connecting With the Other Teams

Jonathan enjoyed seeing the other contestants come and go from the cul-de-sac. “It truly felt like we were real neighbors,” he said. Kristina agrees. “I met some amazing human beings on this show. There were so many people working hard. Collectively being part of something this big and all working towards the same goal was rewarding.”

They Both Felt There Weren't Enough Hours in the Day During Filming

“Not having enough time for my team and clients back home while filming was all-consuming. Each zone’s renovation happened so fast and that put a lot of pressure on us,” says Jonathan. “There were days you’re on set filming for hours and hours all the while trying to get your house finished.”

They Had Fun Moments While Filming the Show

One memory Kristina won’t soon forget: “We were cold and tired, and Jonathan and I decided to have a gathering of the teams in our garage, when frankly we weren’t even sure we were supposed to have anyone over to our house,” Kristina says. “Everyone came, including the crew and builders. That small garage was packed with new friends and everyone was at a point of ‘what will be will be’. The keg was running, wine was had — it was a really lovely sense of camaraderie.”

Michel Smith Boyd and Anthony Elle

They Were Honored to Compete

“I was excited and then nervous,” shares Anthony. Adds Michel, “I felt like we’d already won — the opportunity to join this family is an honor.”

They Bonded With the Other Team Members

“We were all navigating the same weather and construction issues and were away from our families. Even with all that, it was a very positive, encouraging group of talent,” says Anthony. Michel notes his favorite part of filming was spending time with the HGTV vets and castmates. “I’ve never laughed so much at work,” he says.

They Felt Stress in Different Ways While Filming

“I wish I drank a lot more water before arriving in Denver,” says Anthony. “The elevation almost took me out.” Michel notes it was hard staying committed to the best design when you had a small amount of time to deliver. But he found some stress relief when the cast members took a ride in a hot air balloon, calling it, “By far the most fun moment on the show.”

Page Turner and Mitch Glew

They Agree Colorado Was the Perfect Place to Shoot Rock the Block

“You’ve got the mountains, the sky and then you look in a different direction and you have lakes and trees and plateaus. The beauty is just endless,” shares Page. “The place was peaceful,” agrees Mitch.

They Had a “Wow” Moment When Picked for the Show

“Being a judge on Seasons 2 and 3, I knew in the depths of my heart the invite may be coming,” says Page. “However, when I received the ‘official’ call I had to sit down. I thought, wow, this is really happening. I was in a bit of disbelief that I would now be judged and not be the judge.” Mitch’s reaction: “Me? Really!”

They Found Filming Exhausting

“Working on this show is absolutely not for the faint of heart!” laughs Page. “I didn’t completely grasp the amount of intense work that goes into reimagining and designing a 5,000-square-foot house in just a matter of weeks. We had many 14-hour, back-to-back days, and for me the hardest part was keeping up with my workouts and food regimens that lend to my physical and mental strength.”

Mitch agrees. “The days were very long. Working, being filmed while working and then being interviewed about working is exhausting. You have to be ‘on’ all the time. It took a couple of weeks for me to recover once I got home!”

They Had a Motto

“Learning what fierce competitors Mitch and I are together and really watching our growth as design partners and friends was my favorite part of the show,” says Page. “We literally had to rely on each other to get through many days. Our daily motto was, ‘pivoting through the pain’ and my proudest moments are when we did just that.

Adds Mitch, “It’s a very intense six weeks, and when you have that shared experience with people it can be special.”

They Will Always Remember the Crazy and Calm Moments on the Show

“There are so many moments of extreme stomach-holding laughter that Mitch and I had with our film crew and with the other teams. Whenever we were on the block or when we could get away for meals, we would always cry from laughing even though we were all deliriously tired,” says Page.

For Mitch, a hot air balloon ride offered some serenity. “It was surprisingly peaceful,” he says. “I have a fear of flying and had previously said I would never get in a hot air balloon. So, overcoming that fear felt good.”

Bryan and Sarah Baeumler

They Considered Themselves the “Newbies on the Block”

“For years, it has just been Bryan and me together with our production team. Rarely do we have the opportunity to work with other HGTV hosts,” shares Sarah. “It truly was an honor to be a part of this cast, to be able to share the experience (and stress) and to make new friendships. It felt like we were at summer camp but with a hell of a lot of work.”

Agrees Bryan, “We were so excited and maybe a little scared when we found out we were chosen for the show, but we looked forward to demonstrating to everyone what we were made of and to meet and spend time with other great talent.”

They Had Family Logistics to Deal With

“As with any production, there are always things to figure out. Filming in Colorado meant bringing the kids, who took their classes virtually, while Bryan and I commuted back and forth to Canada, Florida and the Bahamas on non-shoot days so we could support our other businesses,” Sarah says. “But the opportunity to be part of a larger cast of HGTV designers was something we wanted to be part of.”

They Felt a Lot of Pressure While Filming

“There’s no time to second guess yourself or take a moment to breathe and regroup on a decision you made when the days are long and every day is a work day,” notes Sarah. Bryan also found the schedule grueling. “Not knowing what the other teams were up to was a bit of a mental stress. It’s amazing how quickly the competition ramped up — there was so much talent there,” he adds.

They Found Time to Have Fun

“We all bonded in the car ride over to the ranch when we went horseback riding,” Sarah shares. “That day we were able to take our mind off the build for a moment and just enjoy the countryside.” She also hints at a favorite lunch hour game called, “Guess the Sauce” but says fans will have to tune in to learn more about that.

Bryan loved playing tricks on the other teams, “Sneaking around and trying to gather info resulted in a lot of laughs,” he says.

HGTV's hit competition series Rock the Block Season 4 premieres February 28 at 9|8c. Stay tuned for more new season updates on HGTV’s digital platforms at HGTV.com and via @HGTV and #RocktheBlock on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram.