How to Refinish a Brick Fireplace With River Stone

Remove any loose bricks from the fireplace.

Cover the brick with metal lath. Cut the metal lath into the correct dimensions using metal snips.

Nail the metal lath into the brick using masonry nails and a hammer. Overlap each sheet of metal lath 2 inches or more and place the nails 6 inches apart. Bend the lath around the sides of the brick fireplace and nail the sides in place as well.

Measure the brick fireplace with measuring tape. Measure the depth of the fireplace on the sides; these measurements will be used to create corner pieces. Use these measurements to create an outline on a wood board or table using painter's tape.

Arrange the river rocks within this outline to ensure proper color arrangement and spacing. Cut any river rock to fit within the outline or around a corner using a saw with diamond-tipped blade or grinder. For corner pieces, mark the measurements on the rock and score it.

Pour mortar mix in a mortar pan. Mix in enough water to form a cake batter consistency.

Smooth the mortar mix to the back of your first river rock with a trowel. Start with the rocks just above the firebox. Install the corner pieces and edge pieces and fill in the center of the fireplace.

Hold the stone on the metal lath until it adheres. Move on to the next rock.