Prism Hardscapes Lookbook

Prism Hardscapes makes the concrete pieces many of our clients build a patio around: long, low Tavola tables, broad Moderno bowls, and Lombard pedestals that stand like sculpture beside a pool. The pieces are concrete, finished in one of six quiet standard colors, and fired by anything from a simple key valve to the PH IGNITE electronic system. This lookbook covers the lines we carry, how they are finished and fueled, and exactly what the warranty paperwork says.

The story

Prism Hardscapes LLC works out of Cerritos, California, and runs its own sales, warranty and technical support desks. The company publishes installation guides by series, from the Tavola tables to the pool bowls.

The fire and water bowls are cast in GFRC, glass fiber reinforced concrete, and the Porto 68 specification lists the same material. Prism's 2025 Product Guide organizes the range into Modern, Classic, Designer, Hospitality and Pool groups, so a homeowner with a small terrace and a resort planning a pool deck are both shopping from the same design language.

Prism is also the line our own design team works with most. We know the finishes by eye and which questions to ask before a pool bowl goes on order.

The look

Prism's signature is restraint. The Tavola tables are long, flat-topped rectangles with the fire set low in the top, so at night the flame reads as a line of light across the seating area. The Moderno bowls are clean, wide vessels that look as good unlit in daylight as they do after dark. Lombard pieces are more architectural: a bowl lifted on a pedestal, which puts the flame closer to eye level when you are seated or standing at the water's edge.

Around that core sit the softer, more organic shapes. Dune, Sunflower and Pietra belong to the Modern group; Ovale is an elongated oval that works as a low centerpiece for a large seating area. The Elements pieces (Hampton, Fairmont and Manchester) pair concrete with IPE wood for a warmer, furniture-like feel.

The lines we carry

Tavola and Porto fire tables

Prism builds Tavola 1 through 8, plus the Tavola 42, Tavola 66 Slim, Tavola 72 Narrow and the hospitality-scale Tavola 110. Most Prism burner systems are rated at 65,000 BTU per hour; the Tavola 6 and Tavola 110 run a 90,000 BTU per hour system, which suits their length. The Tavola 66 Slim is an open table with no internal tank storage, so plan for a plumbed line or a separate enclosure.

The Porto tables are the answer when you want propane hidden inside. Prism rates the Porto 60 for tanks up to 11 lbs and the Porto 58 and Porto 68 for tanks up to 15 lbs, with the tank not included on the 58 and 68. For tables without storage, Prism makes matching enclosures: Orinda, Sausalito, and the Tav and Mod enclosures. Our guide to sizing a fire table to your seating helps you choose between the Tavola lengths.

These are the Tavola and Porto tables our clients order most often.

Moderno, Lombard and the classic bowls

The Moderno family runs from Moderno 1 to Moderno 8, with the larger Moderno 70 in the Hospitality group. The Lombard family includes a fire table, the Lombard Pedestal fire bowl, and the Lombard-P pool bowls. The Classic group adds Embarcadero, Cilindro and Tuscany Cilindro, Pentola 1 to 3 pedestals, Rotondo, Scatola, Triton, Piazza and Pebble.

The Pool Collection

Prism's Pool Collection is offered as Fire Only, Water Only, or Fire and Water. The fire and water bowls use a 12 in. six-spoke burner rated 65,000 BTU (manual) to 85,000 BTU (electronic), and the water side is plumbed with a 3/4 in. NPT connection at 15 GPM. Sizes and weights from Prism's fire and water bowl instructions:

For spacing and heights along a pool edge, see Designing a Pool Edge with Fire Bowls. Here are the bowls, pedestals and the ignition system that sell alongside them.

Designer and Hospitality pieces

For commercial work, the Hospitality group includes Embarcadero 60, Moderno 70, Rotondo 80, Largo and Tavola 110. The range also includes Fuego. The full range is on our Prism Hardscapes collection.

Finishes and colors

Prism's six standard finishes are Pewter, Natural, Cafe, Ebony, Ultra and Coastal. Prism also offers a Copper Finish collection. Not every finish is offered on every model, so each product page lists the colors available for that piece. If you are matching pavers or a pool plaster, our guide to choosing a concrete finish color walks through how these tones shift from noon to firelight.

What comes in the box

You choose the ignition option when you order, and the product page lists what ships with that configuration. Prism's manuals direct you to use the designated cover whenever the feature is not in use, and most Prism listings on our store include a weatherproof cover; the product page states it. Media varies by model: Prism's Moderno manual lists 30 lbs of media included, and the Embarcadero 60 manual lists 150 lbs of tumbled lava rocks. Prism fire glass and gray tumbled lava rock are also sold as separate items, as are the Tavola Lid and custom glass windguards for several Tavola models.

The PH IGNITE kit contains the burner plate, a pilot assembly (pilot burner, hot surface ignitor, flame sensor and hood), the ignition control box, a heat shield and jam nut, an orifice set, and a 120 VAC to 12 VAC transformer. Prism's own note on the retail kit is plain: the burner is not included, because the system connects to the existing fire feature burner. For store-wide details, read What Comes in the Box (and What Does Not).

Fuel and ignition

Prism features run on natural gas or propane. The Tavola and PH IGNITE guides call for 7 in. water column on natural gas and 11 in. on propane. Switching gas types requires Prism's conversion kit and an orifice change by a licensed professional. The manuals ask for 4 ft of clearance at the sides and 6 ft above.

There are three ignition choices. Key Valve is manual, match-lit operation. Battery Spark uses AA batteries and is offered on propane only. PH IGNITE is the electronic option. Switch it on, the hot surface ignitor glows, the pilot lights, and after 6 to 8 seconds the main burner follows. It uses electronic flame sensing that, in Prism's words, "detects flame rather than heat." If wind blows the flame out, it shuts down for 7 seconds and restarts; after three failed tries it locks out.

PH IGNITE needs a switch on the 120 V side (a light switch, emergency switch, relay contact or mechanical timer), which is why we carry the Prism 2 Hour Timer and Emergency Shut-Off. Low voltage runs are limited to 50 ft on 14 gauge wire under the current guide. The enclosure is 304 stainless steel and powder coat with a ground and bonding lug, Prism states it complies with NEC 2014 Article 680 and can be installed within 5 feet of pool water, and it is designed and assembled to comply with ANSI Z21.97.

Warranty

The current Prism Hardscapes Warranty reads: "Prism Hardscapes LLC offers a 2-year limited warranty against manufacturer defects." Prism will repair or replace, FOB its facility. The warranty excludes misuse, user error, installation error, abuse, repair or alteration, and burning wood or unspecified fuels, and it does not cover incidental damages. The PH IGNITE guide also gives a 2-year warranty and adds that the hot surface ignitor is not covered.

One caution: the Ovale installation guide states a 1-year term, which differs from the current warranty document. If you buy an Ovale, check the paperwork that ships with your unit, and keep your invoice with it.

Care

Prism's routine is simple. Wipe the piece down before each use, never light it with wet media, keep the designated cover on when it is not running, and book an annual service with a professional. GFRC should be resealed periodically; Prism's manuals differ on the interval (some say every two years with a water-based concrete sealer, others yearly), so follow the manual for your model. On the Elements pieces, Prism calls for sealing the IPE wood yearly. For pool bowls, our guide to caring for pool bowls covers water and staining.

Lead times and ordering

Lead time is shown on each product page, and our team confirms it with you before your order ships. Large tables travel by freight, so read Lead Times, Freight Delivery and Inspection before delivery day, and see Shipping and Returns for our policies. Questions about a specific finish or configuration go to our team at 888-887-1870, Monday to Saturday, 9 to 5 Eastern.

For designers

Prism publishes installation guides by series, and a specification and install options sheet for the Porto 68. We have not found published CAD or BIM files, so if your drawings need blocks or dimensioned details, ask us and we will request them from Prism. Trade buyers can join our Contractor Program for project quotes and support.

Common questions

Can a Prism bowl sit right at the edge of a pool?

Prism designed its Pool Collection (Verona, Moderno 2-P, Ibiza, Lombard-P, Sorrento, Toscano and Lombard-P Tall) for poolside use as fire, water, or fire and water bowls. The PH IGNITE guide states the system can be installed within 5 feet of pool water and includes a bonding lug. Your electrician handles bonding, and your local building or fire department has the final say on placement.

Does the PH IGNITE kit include a burner?

No. Prism's product sheet says the burner is not included because the system connects to the existing fire feature burner. It needs a switch on the 120 volt side, such as a timer or emergency shut-off, and installation by a licensed gas professional and a licensed electrician.

Which Prism tables hide a propane tank?

The Porto tables. Prism rates the Porto 60 for tanks up to 11 lbs, and the Porto 58 and Porto 68 for tanks up to 15 lbs, with the tank not included on those two. Tables such as the Tavola 66 Slim have no internal storage, so Prism offers separate enclosures, including Orinda, Sausalito, Tav and Mod.

Sources

1. Prism Hardscapes, 2025 Product Guide, series groups, finishes p.31, ignition options p.32 to 33, Porto tank capacity p.10 to 11, enclosures p.20 to 21, Pool Collection p.22 to 23
2. Prism Hardscapes, Warranty
3. Prism Hardscapes, Tavola Series Installation Guide, BTU, gas pressure, clearances, care, conversion
4. Prism Hardscapes, PH-Ignite Installation Guide REV 05312022, components, power, switching, sequence, pool installation, standards, warranty
5. Prism Hardscapes, PH-Ignite Learn More sheet
6. Prism Hardscapes, Fire and Water Bowls Instructions, GFRC, sizes and weights, burner, water supply
7. Prism Hardscapes, Lombard Series Installation Guide v4, care and sealing
8. Prism Hardscapes, Cilindro Installation Guide, sealing interval
9. Prism Hardscapes, Ovale Installation Guide, warranty term
10. Prism Hardscapes, Portos 58 Instructions Manual
11. Prism Hardscapes, Porto 68 specification and install options sheet
12. Prism Hardscapes, Moderno Series Installation, Operation and Maintenance Manual, p. 10, included media
13. Prism Hardscapes, Embarcadero 60 Installation, Operation and Maintenance Manual, p. 5, included media
14. Prism Hardscapes, Elements Collection Installation Guide, IPE care
15. Prism Hardscapes, Pentola Series Installation Guide