'Battle on the Beach' Mentors Go Behind the Scenes of Season 5

HGTV’s renovation competition series Battle on the Beach is heading to Garden City, South Carolina, for a new season packed with bigger beach houses, high-stakes strategy and plenty of mentor banter along the way.

Season 5 follows three teams of renovators as they transform dated waterfront vacation homes into standout short-term rentals with guidance from mentors Sarah Baeumler (Renovation Island), Mika Kleinschmidt (100 Day Dream Home) and Ty Pennington (Rock the Block). Along with tackling the biggest homes in series history, the teams will face new twists, design challenges and tough strategic decisions throughout the competition. Kamohai and Tristyn Kalama (Renovation Aloha) will judge the competition.

Ahead of the premiere, Sarah, Mika and Ty opened up about Season 5 — the energy on set, the realities of renovating beachfront vacation homes and the friendly chaos that unfolded behind the scenes.

Here's what you need to know.

Season 5 Brings Plenty of Pressure and Lots of Chaos

While the coastal setting may look relaxing onscreen, the mentors said the experience was anything but stress-free.

“I had a little more stress this season from just being the ‘judgy’ one to actually having to do a lot of the heavy lifting,” Sarah said.

Mika agreed the mentor role offered a completely different perspective from competing: “It’s refreshing to come in as a mentor versus being the person competing in the competition. It’s a different angle and perspective that I’m looking forward to.”

Ty joked about the emotional ups and downs of the competition. “We become more like therapists [to the competitors],” he said. “Even the mentors have some breakdowns.”

Mika compared the experience to the waves behind them on the beach. “They go up and down, but you just hope you don’t crash too hard,” she joked.

Garden City’s Beachfront Setting Offers Unexpected Challenges

Season 5 takes place in Garden City, South Carolina, just south of Myrtle Beach, and according to the mentors, the breezy beachfront location had its perks and its challenges.

“It’s got a great vibe here,” Sarah said. “There’s a lot of energy on the beach every day, and I think that keeps us inspired.”

Mika was appreciative of a different local staple: mini golf. “I love the fact that there’s pretty much a Putt-Putt course on every single corner,” she said.

But when it came time to renovate the waterfront homes, the mentors admitted the setting wasn’t always easy to work in.

“One of the biggest challenges for me working with these beachfront properties is the amount of stairs,” Mika said. “Up and down those stairs with furniture and decor … It’s been kind of brutal.”

Ty joked that the endless stair climbing left him “twice the man” he used to be, with glutes of steel.

The constant sun and coastal conditions also added an extra layer of hurdles for the renovators.

This Season Focuses on Rental Properties

Because the homes are designed as short-term rentals, creating a memorable guest experience became a major focus throughout the season.

“You need all the amenities where people can stay at the house and not have to leave,” Mika said, suggesting outdoor entertaining areas and gathering spaces as must-haves for vacation properties.

Sarah emphasized the importance of a flexible layout that works for different group sizes. “You could have multiple families, lots of different groups,” she said. “You have to make sure it works whether there’s two people or 12 people.”

Ty, meanwhile, said the key is creating standout moments guests will remember. “I think you have to also have fun toys,” he said. “Not only for the kids, but for the adults.”

And all the mentors agreed that a successful vacation rental also needs at least one standout feature that separates it from the countless others lining the beach. “And if you can get a small hot tub, do it,” Ty said.

Mounting Pressure Pushed Competitors and Mentors to Their Limits

When asked how they kept their teams calm during stressful moments, Ty immediately joked: “Medication.”

Sarah said snacks became her strategy. “My team loves to snack,” she said. “As long as they’re not hungry, they’re happy.”

Mika admitted she sometimes found herself trying to read between the lines when tensions rose. “I want to make sure they don’t hit a breaking point where it builds up and builds up,” she said.

Mika also shared that part of the experience was proving to herself that she could successfully tackle a project outside of her usual partnership with her husband, Brian Kleinschmidt.

“It’s kind of one of those things where you want to prove it for yourself,” she said.

“No Brians allowed,” Sarah joked.

Ty revealed the competition occasionally inspired some playful spying between teams, earning him the nickname “Spy Ty.”

When asked to describe the season using only emojis, Mika chose the flexed bicep to represent “strength,” while Ty landed on overalls after briefly considering the poop emoji. Sarah, meanwhile, said her team would probably choose the chicken emoji, an inside joke she knows they'd understand.

Season 5 Introduces a Major Strategic Twist

Along with the larger homes and demanding renovations, Season 5 also introduces a new gameplay twist that changes the stakes of every weekly win.

Rather than automatically taking home prize money, teams can now choose whether to pocket their winnings immediately or bank a larger amount toward the final grand prize.

According to the mentors, that twist made it especially difficult to predict who might ultimately win the season.

“I really think every house has something unique to bring,” Mika said. “Every team is so different.”

Ty agreed, saying the added strategy changed the way contestants approached the competition throughout the season.

How to Watch Battle on the Beach Season 5

Battle on the Beach Season 5 premieres Monday, June 1 at 9|8c. For season updates, visit HGTV.com and follow @HGTV on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, Threads and YouTube using #BattleOnTheBeach. Follow the mentors and judges on Instagram via @sarahbaeumler, @thetypennington, @mikamakesmoves and @kamohaiandtristyn. Each episode of Battle on the Beach will stream the next day on HBO Max beginning June 2.