2 Considerations When Choosing A Cemetery Monument
Choosing a cemetery monument can be a difficult process. Grief combined with the weight of having to make a decision about the type of memorial that will be permanently placed at the graveside can leave you feeling anxious and worried about making the wrong choice. There are a variety of cemetery monuments to choose from including traditional headstones, pillars, statues and tomb chests, and understanding what options are available can help you feel more confident in your choices. Here are two considerations to bear in mind when choosing a cemetery monument:
Selecting A Material
Once you've settled on the type of monument you want, you'll need to decide on the material. Cemetery monuments come in a range of materials that are designed to be long-lasting and able to withstand the elements.
Bronze is highly durable and only needs to be cleaned around once a year to keep it in good condition. A soft cloth and non-ionic soap are all that's required to maintain a bronze monument, but bronze is the most expensive of the main materials used for cemetery monuments.
Granite is a tough, weather-resistant material that's perfect for coastal areas with a high concentration of salt in the air. Salt is a corrosive agent, but granite is unaffected by saltwater and doesn't tend to experience wind erosion. Warm soapy water and a soft cleaning brush are all that's required to keep granite clean and in tiptop condition.
Marble looks elegant, but it can wear down over time when exposed to the elements, so it's best suited to inland areas. Marble can be prone to mildew, but it's easily wiped away with a soft cloth and a dilute solution of ammonium hydroxide.
The Finish
Once you've settled on the type of material you'd like, you'll have to decide on a finish. The type of monument and the chosen material should be taken into consideration when choosing a finish. For example, a polished finish that creates a reflective surface will work well on granite headstones and pillars or bronze statues. However, a honed finish, which creates a matte surface, will work well on marble pillars or tomb chests. A pitched finish, which produces rough edges, would not be suitable for a bronze monument, but it could add character to a granite monument, and it can help a new monument fit into a cemetery with a lot of older headstones and memorials.
Before committing to a cemetery monument, view some examples of the type of stone and the finish you're considering to ensure you end up with a monument that you feel honours the person you're remembering.
Contact a granite cemetery monuments supplier to learn more.
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