Part of honoring your loved one’s memory is ensuring their final resting place is always looking pristine. Even though artisans build headstones to last a long time, they are still vulnerable to exposure and will start to fall into disrepair if you aren’t careful. Whenever you visit your loved one’s grave, immediately contact your monument provider if you see anything out of place. The earlier you fix the problem, the easier it will be to preserve the original design and stop any more damage from happening.
How Long Do Headstones Last?
With some of the oldest tombstones and graves dating back thousands of years, headstones can last forever, even if they haven’t been well cared for. However, you’ll see cracks and deterioration from the elements after some time without maintenance. The material you choose for your loved one’s memorial also affects long-term decay. While granite headstones are more weather-resistant and reliable, a material like marble may not last as long because of its mineral content.
How Can You Tell When Your Headstone Needs Restoration?
There are a few clear signs your headstone needs some repairing. The next time you go to the cemetery, let your monument service provider know as soon as possible if you see these details:
The Headstone Is Starting To Sink
If you see your loved one’s grave sinking, know this is a natural phenomenon. Graves can shift due to escaping air pockets and ground settlement. Despite cemeteries’ efforts to prevent this problem, weather and temperature changes can significantly affect the soil’s structure, which may damage your headstone over time. As a solution, consider adding a base to your monument or talk to the cemetery staff about possible ground repairs to stop it from sinking further.
The Design And Lettering Are Disappearing
In honoring a loved one’s memory, headstone lettering is important to keep their legacy alive for generations. But naturally, time and the elements will start to fade its original engravings. You can maintain the memorial’s design by scheduling regular cleanings to ensure the lettering remains intact. In some cases, however, a gravestone’s design may need more than simple maintenance. If the original text has already been lost to time, ask your provider to fully restore the memorial’s lettering to make it look brand new.
The Memorial Is Filthy
From powerful Nor’easters in the winter to torrential downpours in the spring, every season has something that can make your loved one’s monument look filthier. Add in the falling leaves, lawn clippings, or other natural debris, and your headstone will need regular cleaning sessions to keep it looking its best. Headstone cleaning is a complex process, and using common household chemicals may even damage it further. The best thing to do is to hire a monument cleaner who knows how to care for your family member’s headstone and to maintain its beauty.
Bring New Life To Your Loved One’s Memorial
Preserving your family member’s burial site is one of the best ways to keep your loved one’s memory alive. Here at Eternal Memorials, we offer customized full-service maintenance packages and restoration services to make your loved one’s gravestone always look beautiful and timeless.
We have provided high-quality cemetery monuments and memorial services to families across Long Island (Nassau County & Suffolk County), Brooklyn, Queens, New Jersey, and beyond for the past 100 years. We are available seven days a week if you need assistance creating a memorial for your loved one. Please visit our website or contact us today to learn more about our services or schedule your initial consultation.