After 12 weeks, the front yards and facades were the last spaces facing the judges on The Block. There were mature trees, private wellness spaces and a shed with a surprise inside. There was also one access dispute that apparently intended to stay right through to tools down.

A Final Deadline And A Familiar Gate Fight

Adam and Jolene were still watching Houses 2 and 3 use House 1 to reach their own front yards. Being helpful had become a problem: Jolene believed the traffic was pushing their work behind, and Adam had taken too long to put a stop to it.

He finally closed off access late on Friday afternoon. Jolene was left in tears, convinced they had sacrificed a week of their own progress and potentially handed the win to somebody else. With the final judging almost upon them, getting the yard back to themselves offered little comfort.

Courtney and Sev were also bracing for disappointment, with no money left after the final budget scramble. Rick and Tayla felt more confident than ever, Lisa and Rosco were pleased with their work, and Wyatt remained remarkably unenthusiastic for someone facing his last chance at a Room Reveal win.

Scott Cam arrived the next morning to call final tools down. After the tears and thanks to the wider Block family, there was nothing more to fix before the judges made their rounds.

Adam And Jolene's Garden Has Room To Grow

House 1's established trees gave Adam and Jolene something substantial to work with, and they had built their design around them. The judges loved that decision, along with the water feature purchased from Lisa and Rosco and the distinctive fire pit.

The sculptures also worked for Shaynna, who felt they belonged in the Mount Eliza setting. Add a large stone table and well-chosen planting, and there was plenty here to reward the couple's final push.

The entrance needed more thought. Granitic sand near the front door looked likely to travel indoors, while the three circular arbours raised two different objections. Dave liked their appearance but questioned how practical they would become once the climbing plants filled out.

Shaynna worried they would compete with the ocean view visible through the front gate. When you have that outlook, putting something in its way is quite a gamble.

Those reservations did not undo the overall response. The judges were excited about how the planting would develop by Auction Day, with Darren expecting the garden to look worth $1 million and more.

Chantel And Wyatt Finally Make An Impression

Chantel and Wyatt needed a win to avoid becoming the first Block pair to finish without a Room Reveal victory. Their sheltered sitting area made a promising start, although the white tiles separating it from the garden were less convincing.

Around the corner, the wellness area gave the judges much more to celebrate. Darren loved the layout and privacy, and thought the sauna had the best position of any on this Block. The outdoor retreat finally felt considered as somewhere people would actually spend time.

Even the fireplace delivery problem had come good. The Trendz model was not the one they had ordered, but the Cursio tiling helped it fit into the space so successfully that it became another feature receiving praise.

Dave still questioned some planting choices. The broader response, however, was unusually warm for House 2: Darren considered this their most interesting space of the season, and the yard drew praise for feeling like home.

That made the eventual result sting. Their 26 points were respectable, but the final opportunity passed without the win they needed. A strong finish could not change their place in Block history.

Lisa And Rosco's Shed Explains Itself

Rosco went into judging saying he was happy enough with the yard that criticism would not bother him. The large olive tree outside the window immediately caught the judges' attention, before they had even stepped into the garden.

Once outside, the stone wall failed to impress. Shaynna was also puzzled by the shed until the doors opened to reveal a television and beer tap. Suddenly, the apparently ordinary outbuilding had a much clearer purpose.

Lisa's last-minute birdbath was harder to sell. Dave found it old-fashioned, and although he liked the native planting, he wanted screening trees that could grow into a more private boundary.

The biggest turnaround came from Darren. After questioning the loss of their child-friendly approach last week, he could now see generous lawn and a miniature table and chairs bringing that appeal back.

He acknowledged that Lisa and Rosco had understood their plan better than the judges and apologised. Between a place for the kids and that well-equipped shed, House 3 had given different members of the family a reason to head outside.

Courtney And Sev Cannot Hide The Budget Trouble

After six wins, Courtney and Sev rated their own final effort a C+. That did not suggest much confidence in collecting a seventh, although the more traditional front-yard approach initially appealed to the judges.

The hard surface accommodated their Bar Crusher, but Dave thought the area looked bare and needed planting for stronger kerb appeal. The practical space was there; the garden around it had not quite caught up.

Shaynna's concerns increased on the descent to the front door. The stairs were steep, there were plenty of them, and there was no handrail to make the approach more inviting.

Below, an underwhelming water feature and unfinished seating area made the shortage of funds painfully visible. Shaynna questioned why more money had not been allocated to this space, given how much the couple had previously had available. House 4 finished last on 22 points.

Rick And Tayla Leave The Best For Last

The judges already loved House 5's cladding. This time, Rick and Tayla had a front yard that gave the facade the setting it deserved, with Dave declaring, 'This is my wow moment'.

Darren was delighted by the entrance steps, with the missing fence his main objection. Shaynna also wanted a handrail, so the entry did not escape criticism entirely.

Then she spotted the water feature at the bottom of the stairs. Her response shifted immediately to excitement, and she was equally pleased that Rick and Tayla had delivered a finished space. 'They saved the best till last, go them,' she said.

The scores confirmed it: Rick and Tayla won on 27.5, ahead of Adam and Jolene on 26.5. Chantel and Wyatt tied with Lisa and Rosco on 26, while Courtney and Sev trailed on 22.

For House 5, the reward goes well beyond ending the judging on a high. Their reserve will be $50,000 lower on Auction Day, giving them an advantage when the houses go under the hammer. The Grand Finale is next Sunday, 1 November, when the season's biggest result will finally be settled.

The Block continues Sunday at 7.00pm on Nine and 9Now.