May 27, 2021
Dealing with the death of a loved one can be a traumatic experience. During this time, precious memories of the deceased person can help family and friends commemorate them. But over time, these memories can fade. Nevertheless, one thing that always remains and helps families remember the life of their deceased loved one is their memorial headstone.
A lot of thought should go into selecting the right headstone for your loved one. Most people take plenty of time to choose the best inscriptions, designs, colors, and materials for their gravestone. Few, however, follow regular maintenance and upkeep after the memorial is installed in the cemetery.
To ensure the headstone of your loved one keeps looking beautiful for years to come, you should consider maintenance options that memorial companies offer. These restoration options can keep your loved one’s headstone looking its best. Some of the restoration options that Summit Memorials provides to its clients in Alberta and Saskatchewan include:
This is a basic repair or restoration option that you can choose to revive the headstone of your loved one. Basic monument cleaning includes removing lichen, moss, grass clippings, dirt, or grime from the headstone. Summit Memorials uses only professional, environmentally friendly cleaners that will remove dirt without damaging the polish on the memorial.
There are some do’s and don’ts regarding monument cleaning that only experts are aware of. For example, one should never clean a monument with wire brushes and harsh chemicals such as ammonia, vinegar, or lemon-based liquid, as doing so can damage the polished surface of the stone.
At Summit Memorials, we are equipped with the proper cleaning agents and tools to bring your monument back to its original beauty without harming its finish. Read this blog for more information on cleaning and maintaining your loved one’s headstone.
Sometimes, only cleaning the headstone of your loved one does not bring back its original beauty. In these cases, it becomes necessary to restore your monument using specialized restoration techniques, state-of-the-art equipment, and expert craftsmanship. Below are the two monument restoration options to consider:
To restore or fix a headstone that has been broken into two pieces, use an epoxy formulated specifically for monument use. Before applying the epoxy, make sure the headstone is dry, then place the epoxy down the center of the breaking point while staying away from the edges. Finally, use a clamp to clamp the two pieces together and let it set.
Repair of a headstone involving more than two broken pieces is much more complicated and requires a stable work table to properly align all the pieces and then apply epoxy to them altogether. This restoration option is better left to monument professionals. Moreover, depending on where the break is or how many pieces there are, you may have to replace your monument rather than restore it.
Some don’ts of monument repair and restoration include:
For more information on our various monument restoration services, visit our website, or contact us here today.
