Fireplaces have been enjoyed for centuries as a wonderful spot at which to spend time with family and friends -- and even to offer a proposal or two. Brick fireplaces are out of style and stone is in, but who has the money these days to rip out the old one and put in a brand-new fireplace? You don't have to. You can put a veneer stone face over the old brick to make your fireplace look like a new stone fireplace. You can use flagstone, granite, marble, slate tiles or whatever you prefer to reface the front of the brick.

Start with a clean, dry surface
1
Start by cleaning your fireplace with a scrub brush and warm soapy water to remove any soot. Rinse it several times and dry it well with rags.

2
Mix a batch of mortar according to package directions in a 5-gallon bucket. The mortar can be worked with for up to eight hours, depending on the environment in which you are working. If the mortar starts to harden, throw it out and mix up a new batch.

3
Apply a thin layer of thin-set mortar to the front of the fireplace with the trowel. Smooth it evenly over the bricks so that none of the brick shows through.

4
Measure and cut a piece of stone for the sides and the header with the wet saw. If you are also covering the hearth, cut a piece of stone for that as well. Apply the stone to the hearth first and cover the fireplace last.

5
Use the trowel to apply a thin layer of thin-set mortar to the stone hearth and place it over the brick hearth. Press it firmly into place and tap it slightly with the rubber mallet to remove any air bubbles and to ensure that it is firmly set into the mortar. Next, apply mortar to the two side pieces and position them as well. Last, apply thin-set mortar to the header and butt it directly up to the top of each side and press it firmly into place, tapping it with the rubber mallet.