Let’s Get Stone’d

Raising the bar for stellar customer service.
By Brenda Lange

When they refinished the basement of their Warrington home, Julie and Jeff Woosnam didn’t think they’d really spend that much time in the new space. But thanks in part to the beautiful bar, they have become the hosts with the most in their circle of friends.

The curved bar can seat six to eight comfortably and is complete with a wine fridge and another for soft drinks and snacks, a sink and ample light cherry cabinets custom built for them. In fact, it was the cabinets that inspired the couple to choose Appaloosa Gold granite for their bar top from Let’s Get Stone’d on Route 611 in Warrington.

“We had looked at granite in a warehouse earlier that day,” says Julie Woosnam, “but we both found it overwhelming.” Too many choices and too little customer service caused the pair to leave empty-handed.

But on the way home, they spotted LGS and turned in.

“It was 5 p.m. on a Friday, and they were closing,” she remembers. “But we went in and Adam talked to us. We saw this (the Appaloose Gold sample) right away, and I had the cabinet door with me and he agreed it would be a good match.”

Not only did the LGS salesperson spend time with the Woosnams when he could have asked them to return the next day, he went to their house immediately, took measurements and priced out the job on the spot.

“Finding them was a ‘drive-by,’” Julie remembers with a chuckle. “And he was great. LGS was a lot smaller (than the warehouse store) but a lot better—and less expensive, had better quality material and treated us better!”

In a previous house, Julie and Jeff had had a black granite counter, and this time wanted something brighter.

“I wanted something snazzier and didn’t want to settle,” says Julie. “I loved the way the creamy browns in this granite matched the cabinet and the way it feels like we have a chunk of history here—something that was formed millions of years ago.”

She points out a section in a prominent corner of the bar where whorls and swirls of browns, tans and cream form circles, similar to rings found inside an ancient tree when it’s cut.

The couple bought three slabs of granite from LGS, because in addition to the multilevel bar in the basement, they had the LGS crew cover an expansive L-shaped kitchen counter, large center island and a desk/media center also in the kitchen.

They let the fabricators choose where to cut and seam the slabs, and are pleased with the nearly invisible seaming. Especially on the bar, where the installer, whom Julie calls “a precise perfectionist” spent extra time to cut the granite backsplash ‘just-so’ in order to conform to the curve and angle of the bar.

The Woosnams chose LGS at random, but couldn’t be happier with the results, and have told others about their very positive experience. They are among a growing group of homeowners who have chosen granite for their kitchens, bars, bathrooms and increasingly—laundry rooms, fireplace surrounds and even tables.

This sturdy natural stone is not only beautiful, it is tough, durable and cost-effective.

Kirk Raysky, owner of Let’s Get Stone’d with his father Eric, understands the appeal and praises the material: “No two slabs are alike, making the choice very personal for people. And it is almost impossible to damage.”

Set a pan on it or carve a loaf of bread directly on the granite surface, and no harm will be done. The only material that can damage it, according to Raysky, is another slab of granite or a diamond, which is why diamond pads are used for polishing the material to a fine sheen.

Improved mining methods and new fabrication technologies have helped drive down the cost of granite, which at one time was much higher than man-made materials such as Formica, Ceramic and Corian.

Let’s Get Stone’d sells granite, marble, travertine and limestone and is a member of the Marble Institute of America, the trade organization that sets the industry standard for quality craftsmanship.

They also pride themselves on providing the highest possible customer service, the highest quality merchandise possible, and more customer service. Just ask Julie Woosnam!

Let’s Get Stone’d is located at 414 Easton Road in Warrington. For more information, visit www.lgsgranite.com or call (215) 491-7814.

Brenda Lange is a Doylestown-based freelance writer (www.brendalange.com).