Ontra Stone Concepts was THE highlight of a recent home renovation project we did. We built our new kitchen around a Vetrazzo counter top that I fell in love with years before the actual project even begin. We were advised that "any fabricator" would be able to order and install this product, but when it came down to the actual install time, we found out no one would do it. The product had some very specific characteristics that no one seemed to be familiar with. We received Ontra Stone Concepts name from a company in NJ who assured us that Ontra Stone Design was the only fabricator in our area that had participated in the “training” Vetrazzo offered. I called Buddy Ontra on a Friday night after normal work hours, almost in tears, panicked that the one product that I absolutely needed in my new kitchen wasn’t going to be available. To no one’s surprise, I got the answering machine (it was Friday night after all). I left my weepy story on the answering machine, and to my surprise, I received a call back – from Buddy himself – at 8 am the following morning. (yes Saturday!!) After working with Ontra Stone Concepts, I realize that the prompt call back was just the way they do business, simply their customer service, and not the whiney, pleading message I left. Buddy assured me that he was familiar with the product, and while he hadn’t had an opportunity to work with it yet, he was confident they would be able to handle it. He advised that his assistant, Andrew would call me with more information on Monday. True to form, a company is only as good as its owner in my eyes and Andrew was as professional, friendly, prompt and knowledgeable as his boss. He outlined the next steps, he held my hand and was available for questions during the selection process, of both the “must-have” Vetrazzo product as well as the surrounding counters needs. We meet at Ontra Stone Concepts’ facility, looked around and actually found a complimentary piece that only needed to be cut down slightly. (Huge bargain. So happy.) With all of our products picked out, mind you this wasn’t a typically kitchen redo (a 300k type of a project) – there are five different surfaces and Ontra dressed four of them (the fifth is stainless steel that my husband did, only after talking with Buddy and Carlos about the install process), we were ready to go. Ontra Stone under promised and over delivered. They sent a gentleman, Carlos, out to measure the spaces, he arrived on time and prepared. He was crazy knowledgeable, super nice and thorough. I felt so comfortable and secure with how this part of my new kitchen was going to turn out. Install day was absolutely no different from the rest of the process. Carlos, Bruce and their crew of four or five, installed our counter tops in a professional manner, working with the builder, the plumber, the electrician and the home owner!! Buddy stopped in to make sure the crew didn’t need anything and that everything was going as scheduled. I know this is long winded, however I hope it is helpful. During this process for me I had no information to go by, it really was a wing and a prayer, but things couldn’t have worked out better. Ontra Stone Concepts, Buddy Ontra, Andrew, Carlos, Bruce – every single one of the others were professional, courteous, knowledgeable – I cannot say enough. As a business owner myself, I have a bad habit of holding companies in service industries to a higher standard, and these guys exceeded every one! I recommend them to everyone I speak to, they are amazing people to work with. They all love what they do, and they do it so well.
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