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The ultimate home renovation journey: saving the 2nd Chance House!

Behind the scenes of a successful home renovation journey

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Intensive home renovations can be very demanding. This guide gives you an insider’s view of how the 2nd Chance House crew handles this challenging home renovation journey to ensure success.

Chris & Yvonne’s project recap

Our DIYers Complete Their Projects at the #Loctite2ndChanceHouse

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The 2nd Chance House renovations take their toll!

Renovating an old house is not for the weak at heart. Old home renovation projects follow a meticulous process. From choosing the project's direction to demolition and rebuilding, these undertakings take up a lot of time and money, as well as mental and physical strength.

After completing their projects, the DIYers at the 2nd Chance House are completely worn out. They have been racing against time to overcome various challenges and finish their tasks.

Throughout this home renovation journey, Chris & Yvonne Johnson have been updating us on their progress. After their last day on the job, they look back at how the team achieved success under challenging circumstances.  

Chris and Yvonne talk about the work done by the 2nd Chance House DIY crew.

How it all started

The 2nd Chance House team visited Henkel offices in Cleveland. There, the team was informed of the joint effort by Loctite and Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity to renovate a condemned house in the city. Giving the structure a second chance aligned with the brand’s commitment to sustainability in construction projects.

Armed with all the necessary information, the team was ready to start their home renovation journey.

Demo day

Like any home renovation project, the team started by stripping the structure to its bones. Though the team wanted to preserve various elements of the charming 1920s house, some parts had to go!

Each DIYer was tasked with a specific project to transform this old house. After completing the demolition, they were ready to make their mark!

Shopping for supplies

Before starting the home renovations, the DIYers needed to get all the necessary supplies. This necessitated a trip to the Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

After stocking up on all the necessary materials, the team returned to the 2nd Chance House to start working on their projects.

Individual DIY projects

Here’s a breakdown of each project.

Sydney Lorence was responsible for transforming the two children’s bedrooms. To do so efficiently, she quickly formulated a plan of attack. 

Sydney decided to create a unique accent ceiling for the first bedroom. With the project’s sustainability focus in mind, she used leftover lath from the demolition job. She stained them before attaching them to the ceiling with Loctite Power Grab Heavy Duty to create a one-of-a-kind look. The product eliminates the need for nails and screws, thanks to its zero-second grab time. For the second bedroom, the DIYer chose a different direction—installing a board-and-batten wall design.

Jessie Ecker decided to completely redo the fireplace. She started by assembling a new decorative frame and then she attached cement boards on all sides. She covered the cement boards with a layer of decorative stones using Loctite PL Premium MAX, Loctite’s strongest and most durable adhesive.

Jessie attaches decorative stones to the newly installed fireplace frame.

At the same time, Clayton Juarez was busy converting the old attic space into the primary bedroom. He planned to create an inviting and energy-efficient space. To achieve this goal, he needed to frame the floor plan before insulating the ceiling and hanging drywall.

Chris helps Clayton install drywall.

Overcoming challenges and meeting deadlines

Even though she was behind schedule, Jessie was confident she would finish the job on time. Her decorative floor-to-ceiling fireplace would consist of two sections—a grouted upper half and a decorative stone bottom half.

For this project, she chose Loctite PL Premium Max because it is:

  • Highly durable
  • Designed to create an instant bond between different materials, including the cement boards and decorative stone she was using
  • Repositionable for up to 20 minutes—meaning she could adjust each stone to find its perfect position
  • Suitable for indoor use thanks to its eco-friendly water-soluble composition


This choice helped her avoid using mortar and making a mess! As a result, her project went faster.

Clayton is used to hanging drywall on his own. He uses a piece of wood to hold a sheet of drywall in place before installing all the fasteners. As a seasoned pro, it doesn’t take him long to finish the attic ceiling and walls.

Sydney also worked hard to finish her project. To lighten the load and work faster, she enlisted the help of her husband, Max. Having worked together before, she knew his cutting skills would come in handy!

Sydney used Loctite Power Grab Heavy Duty in both of her projects. This sustainable construction solution:

  • Offers zero-second grab for faster project completion
  • Is adjustable for up to 15 minutes—ensuring perfect placement of laths and battens during this project
  • Cures to a white color that is easily paintable    


After the board-and-batten walls were installed, the team proceeded to caulk, wood fill, and paint.

Sydney primes the second bedroom’s board and batten walls.

Chris & Yvonne’s project recap

The DIYers have completed their projects. As the team prepares to leave, Chris and Yvonne give us a quick rundown of everything they achieved throughout this exciting home renovation journey.

In four days:

  • Clayton helped frame, insulate, and dry-wall the attic. 
  • Sydney completed her bedroom projects. She added an accent ceiling in one bedroom and installed board-and-batten walls with a fresh coat of paint in the other!
  • Jessie transformed the old fireplace into an eye-popping centerpiece!


As the DIYers leave the 2nd Chance House, Chris and Yvonne can’t help but be grateful for being part of the project. Yvonne firmly believes that everyone deserves a chance at homeownership. She is glad they could help make it a reality for the family who gets the house. Yvonne is also happy that the team was able to save this century-old house from demolition and preserve a piece of history.

As they exit, the couple is comfortable knowing they will leave the remainder of the project in the capable hands of the Loctite and Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity teams.

Products used

  • loctite pl premium max 9oz cartridge
    Loctite PL Premium Max

    Our strongest, most durable construction adhesive

  • loctite power grab heavy duty 9oz cartridge
    Loctite Power Grab Heavy Duty

    Weather resistant high strength bonding, reducing the need for nails and screws.

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