Some information to take into consideration before buying a headstone:
Grave Position
Before ordering a monument for 2 or more people, it is important to know the location of each grave plot. A common mistake that occurs is which side the customers information is to be engraved on (left vs. right). Traditionally, it is the man on the left with the woman on the right. To tell this accurately, this is by standing at the foot of the grave. If it is to be untraditional with the customers information, it is your responsibly to know that it is reversed so we will have the information sandblasted on the correct side.
Cemetery Requirements
Some cemeteries have certain criteria that has to be met. The most common is a catwalk (cement border). A catwalk's purpose is to prevent the mower from getting too close to the headstone. It also helps with weed eating between headstones. Another example of a requirement is the size of the headstone. Some may have restrictions of the length to ensure that one is not impeding on another grave plot.
Granite vs. Marble
We recommend going with a granite memorial versus a marble. Granite is a far more durable material than marble. Marble is a porous material which makes it easy to deteriorate over time. It is very beautiful material, but as it ages, it is the stone you see in the cemetery that you are unable to read or even see broken into pieces.
Bronze Memorials
Bronze memorials are typically found at perpetual cemeteries as they have everything harmonizing. Even though they are quite attractive when first installed, over time, they will develop the "patina" look. Which makes them loose their shine and turn in color. In comparison, we highly recommend granite over bronze as granite does not have a changing factor in appearance. Regarding The Veterans Administration, they provide a marker for those that are honorably discharged. You have the option between a bronze, a granite marker, a granite or marble upright or a niche marker. The most common are the bronze and granite marker. If you prefer the granite instead of the bronze, whomever is ordering the marker needs to mark granite marker on the paperwork. By doing so, you avoid the cost of the granite to properly install the bronze in the cemetery.
What's Included in our Georgia Gray Granite Price
What's included in our price are the name(s), birth date, death date (if passed), a standard design, last name on the backside, footing and installation in cemetery if local to us. If there is extra lettering/scene on the headstone (ex: second name on single, wedding date, in loving memory) that is an additional cost. How we set our headstones is how we are set apart from other monument companies. We dig down in each corner (where base would sit) roughly 8"-12" with posthole diggers and is filled with quickset concrete. There is also the foundation to help level the headstone itself. After completion, we give it a wash to ensure it is clean for the customer.
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