Waterstone Fire Tables Lookbook

Waterstone fire tables start as glacial boulders in Minnesota. Stone artist Travis Gienger selects gneiss for its natural color bands, cuts it into slabs, and sets each one on a powder coated steel base with the burner built in. No two are alike, which is the whole point: you are choosing a specific stone, not a model number. This lookbook explains the tables, the fire rocks, and what to confirm before you order one.

The story

Waterstone is the work of founder and stone artist Travis Gienger, who describes his path this way: "As a former competitive skier and semi-pro fisherman, my passion for the outdoors has evolved into creating custom stone projects as the focal point of high end landscape designs." The company's tagline is "Stone Art Crafted in Minnesota," and it keeps a showroom in Anoka, Minnesota, open by appointment.

The stones are "hand selected from Minnesota," chosen for "the striking color bands and patterns found naturally in gneiss boulders." Waterstone describes its tables as made from rare metamorphic granite or gneiss glacial boulders, stone billions of years old. The scale of the work shows in the Wooly Mammoth slab, cut from a boulder "well over 14 tons," one of the largest natural boulders ever put on a diamond wire saw. Setup took over a week, and the cutting took another week and a half.

The look

A Waterstone table looks like a slice of geology. The top is a stone slab with bullnose edgework, and the banding runs through it in whatever colors and patterns that boulder holds. The fire sits in a burner set into the stone, with fire glass around it and a stainless steel wind guard cut in artist designs such as Flames, Leaves and Trees, or a custom logo.

Because each stone is unique, our table names (Arctic Sea, Black Galaxy Lightning, Flowing Lava, Midnight Sky and others) describe one particular slab. The fire rocks go further: the boulder itself is the base, sliced and fitted with a burner, so the piece reads as landscape rather than furniture. They feel at home in lake and woodland settings; see our guide to lake and coastal fire features.

The lines we carry

Stone fire tables

Each table is a stone top on a steel base. Waterstone makes bases in several sizes: a Mini at 15 by 15 by 15 in., and coffee table height bases at 20 by 20 in. (Small and Medium stones) and 20 by 27 in. (Medium and Large stones), which finish at 22 in. high with the stone. There are also a 20 by 27 by 30 in. table height base, a 32 by 39 by 40 in. bar height base, and gabion style bases at 24 by 24 and 26 by 30 in. filled with Mexican beach pebble in Sunburst or Gray. The Wooly Mammoth ships with a glass wind guard, a glass burner cover and two gabion bases.

Here are a few of the one-of-a-kind tables in our collection.

Fire rocks and the fire bar

Fire rocks are whole boulders with a burner cut in, meant to be plumbed to the house. Waterstone says large fire rocks generally weigh between 1,000 and 3,000 pounds and are sliced at about 16 in. The Banded Taconite rock is a different stone altogether: its bands "are actually metallic," it is magnetic, and it weighs about 3,500 pounds. The Round Stone Fire Bar sits on a round gabion base with a built-in footrest, with bar stools sold separately.

Browse every stone on our Waterstone collection.

Finishes and colors

The stone sets the color, and it is what you see in the product photos of that slab. The steel bases are laser cut, zinc primed and powder coated in two finishes, Black Hammer and Copper Vein (Brown). Gabion bases are filled with Mexican beach pebble in Sunburst or Gray. Wind guards are stainless steel. Fire glass choices are listed on each product page.

What comes in the box

A Waterstone table includes the stone top, a burner with glass crystals and a cover, adjustable controls, battery operated spark ignition, a stainless wind guard, and your choice of base. The burner control valve and igniter are built into the side of the base, behind a door with a magnetic latch. Tables come set up for propane, and Waterstone includes the natural gas orifice too, so a plumbed connection is possible. Waterstone ships tables on a pallet, wrapped in carpet and padding with the base on top.

Fuel and ignition

Tables arrive rigged for propane with both fittings included; for natural gas, Waterstone says you unscrew the propane orifice from the hose and fit the natural gas orifice in its place. Waterstone publishes one heat rating, for the Wooly Mammoth, whose 4 ft line burner produces up to 150,000 BTU. It also says its tables are designed so the stone stays cool to the touch because the heat goes up, and recommends a wind guard in wind or at a high flame. Waterstone does not state that a propane tank fits inside its bases, so plan tank placement with us before you order.

Warranty

Waterstone's FAQ states: "We offer a one year warranty against defects on our tables, bases, and burners." For fire rocks: "We offer a one year warranty against defects on our rocks and burners." Waterstone adds that it has sold hundreds nationwide and has yet to have one come back. It does not publish exclusions or a claim procedure, so keep your invoice and call us first if anything arrives wrong.

Care

Waterstone does not publish care, sealing or winterizing instructions. Ask us before applying any sealer or cleaner, and keep the burner area free of debris. Moving a table takes planning: Waterstone lists tables from 150 pounds up to 550 for a large table, and suggests that sliding one out of a truck onto a wheelbarrow works well, with enough people on hand.

Lead times and ordering

Lead time is shown on each product page, and our team confirms it before your order ships. Because every slab is unique, we also confirm that the exact stone you chose is available. See Shipping and Returns, or call 888-887-1870, Monday to Saturday, 9 to 5 Eastern.

For designers

Waterstone does not publish spec sheets, manuals or CAD files. For site plans, ask us for the slab and base dimensions and weight of the specific stone, and we will confirm them with Waterstone. Custom creations are part of Waterstone's work, and its Anoka showroom is open by appointment. Trade buyers can use our Contractor Program, and our guide to sizing a fire table to your seating helps with layout.

Common questions

Is the stone in the photos the one I will receive?

Each Waterstone table is cut from a single natural boulder, so every slab is unique and our table names describe a particular stone. Before your order ships, our team confirms that the exact stone you chose is available, so call us if you have questions about a particular slab.

Can a Waterstone table run on natural gas?

Yes. Tables arrive set up for propane, and Waterstone includes the natural gas orifice so the table can be connected to a house line. A licensed gas professional should make the orifice change and the connection, and the right plan depends on where your gas line runs. Tell us how you intend to fuel the table when you order so we can confirm the setup with Waterstone.

Does the stone get hot?

Waterstone says its tables are designed so the stone stays cool to the touch, because the heat rises. It recommends using the wind guard in windy conditions or with a high flame, and as with any fire feature, keep children and pets supervised around the flame.

Sources

1. Waterstone, home page, founder, stone selection, table features
2. Waterstone, FAQ, fuel and orifice, heat, shipping, weights, warranty, fire rock installation
3. Waterstone, Contact, Anoka showroom, tagline
4. Waterstone, Fire Table Bases, sizes and construction
5. Waterstone, Small and Medium Table Top Base, finishes, valve and door
6. Waterstone, Wooly Mammoth, boulder and cutting, burner
7. Waterstone, Banded Taconite Magnetic Fire Rock
8. Waterstone, Round Stone Fire Bar with Gabion Base
9. Waterstone, Fire Table Tops, gneiss and metamorphic granite
10. Waterstone, Fire Table Wind Guards