Headstones are one of the last things we do for our loved ones and since they are going to be there forever, it can take time to make sure they are perfect. At Kenworthy Monuments and Cedar Memorials, we want to work with you through this process.
For most people, this is their first experience creating a headstone. We want to make sure that you know what to expect. As well as be prepared knowing the key areas discussed when deciding on the perfect monument for your loved ones.
Here are some tips on ordering a headstone that may answer your questions.
The first step is knowing what you need
Before we get into the granite color or any custom shapes, there are a few things to think about when deciding which stone to purchase. Is it going on a single plot or over multiple plots? Does your plot allow for an upright, or does it require a flat or flush marker? What size are the plots? Is a cement border required? If so, how large?
Most of these questions should be answered by the cemetery when purchasing the plot. If it is a local cemetery and you are ordering the stone from a local monument company, odds are the monument company will have records of the specific cemetery regulations. It is still a good idea to get the information from the cemetery to keep for your records.
Why does it matter?
Headstones are traditionally placed at the head of a single burial or cremation plot or centered over two plots. If the cemetery allows it, the stone can even mark three plots. However, before you jump into the process of ordering an 8 ft piece of granite it is important to keep in mind there are limitations to the durability of granite.
We will get more into the dangers of monumental monuments a bit later. For now, we will stick to more traditional sizes.
Some plots allow for caskets to be buried on top of each other or multiple cremains to be placed in a single plot. In either case you will need a single sized monument with multiple names (which can limit the design depending on the size of the stone), or multiple small markers on the plot. Again, this depends on what the cemetery allows.
Once we know how many plots the stone is for, we can decide on the style of the stone. There are hundreds of shapes the stone can be in, but as far as style, you have two options: flat or upright.
Which style to choose
A flat marker (also known as flush or grasser) is buried flush in the ground or poured in cement which is then buried flush in the ground. The main reason for this style is for lawnmowers to drive over them without hitting the stone. It also allows vehicles such as vault trucks, tractors, and other installation trucks to drive across the cemetery to reach other plots. This is where having a large stone can be problematic. The vehicles do not drive directly on the headstone, however, nobody’s perfect and accidents happen. If an accident ever does happen, get in contact with the cemetery as well as us and we will help figure out what can be done to restore/ replace your monument.
Grass markers are only 4” thick. And though that seems like a strong piece of granite, it is no match for a 1-ton truck. The larger the surface area, the more fragile it becomes. If the ground has settled under the stone in just the right spot and a truck drives over it, it can crack or even break in half.
The recommended size is no larger than 16×28 for a single or 18×42 for a double.
The second option is an upright. Upright monuments are anything that is raised out of the ground. It can be as small as a single pillow headstone or the size of a miniature billboard. Again, it goes back to the cemetery and what they will allow. Sometimes the sky is the limit. Other times the limit is 3 feet.
Some of the benefits of uprights are they are easier to find in the cemeteries, especially when there is snow. Also, the water runs off the stone and is never saturating the letters on the monument. It is possible for the granite to get clipped or bumped by lawnmowers or trucks; However, as stated previously, if this does happen, we can work with the cemetery in restoring or replacing them.
The final decision is picking the color
Natural stone is one of nature’s wonders. The colors and patterns in granite can be mesmerizing. We offer colors ranging from many different grays and blacks as wells as pinks, blues, reds, greens, purples, browns, and white. There is even a granite with beautiful gold flecks throughout it. But is there more to choosing granite color than just what looks pretty?
There is.
Picking a color can be a bit tricky depending on what area you live in. For instance, if you want a bench made from solid black granite and you are needing it in a cemetery in Arizona, you are literally going to be in the hot seat. If hard water is a problem in your area, dark color granite is going to show the hard water stains more than light color granite.
The longevity of the stone can also depend on the color of granite. Generally, the darker the stone, the denser the stone. Denser stones take longer to quarry as well as even engrave and last better in the elements. Which is why they can be more expensive than a basic gray as well.
Paint color can also factor into the decision of what granite to choose for your monument. For lighter colors, black paint in the lettering shows up the best, but is unreadable on darker granite. On the other-hand white paint gives a great contrast on the darker stones. These are just some of the things to think about when choosing granite color.
And, of course, what you and your family prefer to make a timeless and beautiful monument for your loved one.
So those are the basics in ordering a headstone. We understand that this can be a very overwhelming decision for many people, at Kenworthy Monuments and Cedar Memorials you will have a designer that will help you all throughout every step of the process of ordering your monument. If you have any questions that were not covered here today, please give us a call. We are happy to help in any way that we can.