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The 10 Biggest Mistakes Regarding Cemetery Monuments and Headstones
What does the average person know about cemetery monuments or headstones? The answer is very little, if anything at all. Throughout my career in the monument industry I have seen countless people make the same basic mistakes, over and over again. Some of these mistakes are small, but some can be disastrous. I will go over what I consider to be the top ten mistakes and how to avoid them. Hopefully these tips can help you avoid major problems when you, eventually, need to purchase a tombstone for the cemetery. Mistake # 1 - Painted Lettering and carving
One of the most common colors of granite in the cemetery is gray. The main reason for the popularity of gray granite for headstones is the price. Gray monuments are generally the least expensive, hence their popularity. For the most part, gray stones have little or no natural contrast, meaning that when a design is sandblasted into the stone's surface, the sandblasted area is very close in color to the rest of the stone. This means that the carving or lettering can be extremely difficult to read. In order to make the lettering or design show up clearly, most monument companies will resort to spray paint. By painting the background white, and the lettering or carving black. This is a very short term fix. In the following years this paint comes off (see photo 1) leaving an unreadable stone. I'm not saying that gray stones are bad, they just need to be carved in a specific way and most modern monument companies either don't have the knowledge or won't take the time to carve it correctly. This is not limited to gray stones, in fact many modern monument companies will spray paint every stone that goes through their shop, regardless of the color. Do your homework. Make sure your monument company does not use spray paint on your stone.
Mistake # 2 - Flower Vases
The most commonly sold flower vase for cemetery monuments is formed from zinc and dipped in plastic. Zinc is very durable in regards to weathering and was actually used to make tombstones at one time. The cast vases are coated with a plastic to give them color and make them shiny. They look great when they are new but, just like the painted lettering, they cannot stand the test of time. The problem is caused by expansion and contraction. As the metal in the vase gets hot in the noonday sun, it expands. As it cools it contracts. The metal in the vase and the plastic covering have different rates of expansion and contraction, which eventually causes the 2 materials to separate. Photo 2 shows a brand new zinc vase. Photo 3 shows a vase that has been exposed to the elements for 10 years. In addition to the problem with the vase itself, expansion and contraction causes the bond to break between the vase and the stone. Again, 2 different materials and 2 different rates, The granite heats slowly, but retains it's heat for a very long time compared to the vase. This is why this type of vase always comes loos from the headstone. If you want flower vases on your monument, use granite vases and, preferably the same color. Two pieces with the same rates should stay together indefinitely.
Mistake # 3 - Attaching Bronze Military Markers
The Veterans' Administration supplies a bronze military marker for those who served their country. Many people want this marker attached to the back of their monument. For the reasons stated above with the flower vases, these bronze markers may eventually come loose. Also, the bronze will develop a green patina over time and, when it rains, this green patina will run down the back of the stone and stain it. There are other options that the VA gives you, you can have the bronze marker, a gray granite marker or a white marble marker. They will also give you the choice of accepting a small amount of money instead of a marker. Bronze markers are fine, but they should be set on a separate piece of granite at the foot of the grave, not attached to the monument itself.
Mistake # 4 - Positioning of the Names
People make this a lot harder than it needs to be. It sounds confusing when it is explained, and I think that is one of the reasons for the problem. If the monument is for 2 people, and the names are to be side by side, which name is on the left and which is on the right? Simple enough? Here's where it gets confusing. The foot of the grave is to the east. Most monuments are set at the head of the grave (headstone). Unless the funeral director is instructed to do otherwise, the man is usually buried in the south grave and the woman in the north. So if the stone faces the east the man's name is usually on the left. If the stone faces west the positions are reversed and the woman's name is usually on the left. The simplest way to do this is just to go to the cemetery and look at the stones around yours. Which way do they face? how are they lettered? If there are no other stones in the area then determine which way your stone will face, and that should be enough information for the monument company.
Mistake # 5 - Going Alone
When you go to the monument company to see about purchasing a stone, take someone with you. Even if you know exactly what you want, it always helps to have the support and the opinion of someone you trust.
Mistake # 6 - Buying From a "Middle Man"
You should purchase a cemetery monument from the people who are actually going to do the work on the stone. Funeral directors, cemeteries and even many monument companies never actually work on the stone. You need someone who will actually be responsible for your satisfaction. If there is a problem with the stone and you bought it from a funeral director, he will have to call someone to get it fixed and many times, that person will have to call someone else. The buck has to stop somewhere. Work only with reputable company who will actually do the work on your monument.
Mistake # 7 - Worrying About the Other Stones Near Yours Each person has the opportunity to choose what they would like for a monument. Don't worry about what the other people have... Get what you want.
Mistake # 8 - Keeping Quiet if There is a Problem
If something is not right with your stone, speak up. First of all, it's not fair to the monument company if you never voice a problem. Give them a chance to make it right. Secondly, it's not fair to you. You deserve to get what you pay for. Don't be a wallflower. Look at the work before it is taken to the cemetery. Check it again after it's set. Make sure it's right!
Mistake # 9 - Monument Saddles
These are the flower arrangements that sit atop the stone itself. They are usually attached by an aluminum spring clamp. These are a "No-No". They draw birds, spiders and dirt. If you draw birds, you draw bird poop. Also, the clamp itself can cause terrible damage to a dark stone. As the wind blows the saddle moves. Eventually fine particles of aluminum will be ground into the pores of the stone, causing damage that can only be repaired by re-polishing the affected area.
Mistake # 10 - Mylar Balloons
These seemingly innocent little things can ruin a monument. I mean absolute total irreparable damage. The thin Mylar balloon comes in contact with a very hot stone on a summer day. It rests there for a bit and then bursts. the fragments of the burst balloon "melt" onto the face of the stone. Since it is a hot day, the pores of the stone are opened up, and the metallic paint from the balloon enters these pores, and cannot be removed unless the surface of the stone is ground down past the paint and re-polished.
I have seen beautiful stones destroyed this way. Stay away from these things and tell everyone you know. Mylar balloons are great for parties, but they do not belong in the cemetery.
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Contributor's Note
Roy Dixon is a nationally acclaimed monument artist who resides in Burlington, Iowa. Visit his site for more information at: http://www.themonumentartist.com
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Very informative article.
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Thanks!
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This intel was contributed by Roy Dixon
Roy Dixon
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May, 2012
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