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Houseboat Thin Stone Veneer Stone veneer — It's not just for landlubbers, as Derek and Dean prove in this Rock Solid project that takes place on board a houseboat. From "Rock Solid" episode DROC-310

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DIY's stone masons take to the high seas on this special edition of Rock Solid.

And if you're looking for a creative way to give a facelift to a room with close quarters, then batten down the hatches and get ready to set sail — because you don't have to be on solid ground to make a rock solid difference with stone.

For this Rock Solid project, expert stone masons Dean Marsico and Derek Stearns use a thin stone veneer on the walls of a houseboat — proving that you can take any small space and make a big improvement with stone.

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Tools:

grinder with diamond blade
circular saw
framing square
chalk line
electric screwdriver
tape measure
pencil
stapler
trowel
chipping hammer
drop cloth
five-gallon bucket
safety glasses
mask
jointer
brush
screws
30-grade tar paper
metal lath

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Materials:

Rustic Sedona Chilton stone
plywood
premixed cement
liquid bonding agent

Design and Materials

Dean and Derek install thin veneer stone on the walls of a houseboat. They add stone to three vertical surfaces made of bead board in the living area and galley. For this specialized project they use a thin veneer stone called Rustic Sedona Chilton from the Beuchel Stone Corporation in Wisconsin.

Preparing The Wall Surface

The first thing you need to do is prepare the surface where the stone will be set. The bead board on the boat is not sturdy enough to support the stone, so Dean and Derek add some three-quarter inch plywood to the largest wall.

If you're attaching plywood, first measure the area of the wall and transfer the measurements onto the plywood (figure A). Make a mark at both ends of the plywood and snap a chalk line between them to give yourself a straight line to cut along. Use a circular saw to cut the plywood (figure B). Dean and Derek also cut an opening for the electric wall socket.

Figure A

Figure B

Next, screw the plywood directly onto the bead board. It's a good idea to screw the wood into the studs of the wall. Make a mark on the ceiling indicating where the studs are so you'll know where to place your screws. Use an electric screwdriver and 1.25 inch screws to attach the plywood to the studs (figure C). Dean and Derek add three to four lines of screws along the length of the plywood to keep it secure (figure D).

Figure C

Figure D

Figure E

The other two walls that Dean and Derek are working on do not require plywood, but one of them does need a little more stability. The wall next to the sink flexes when you push on it, so Dean and Derek use screws to attach it tightly to the wall behind it (figure E).

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