MEMORIALS
OPTIONS TO CONSIDER
Based upon your needs, the choices listed above may vary in priority. Below are a few examples:
Example #1: If cost is a priority, the size, color, finish, and design will need to be considered to meet your budget.
Example #2: If delivery is a priority, it may limit your choice to what we or our suppliers have available.
Example #3: If the design is complex and detailed, it may require an etching instead of a traditional carving, which requires the use of black granite.
These are just a few of the choices that may have to be made during the process of choosing a monument.
Knowing this, we encourage you to take your time and understand all the options when making your final choice.
The overall size of your monument will factor into the cost of your monument. The larger the piece of granite, the greater the cost.
The color of the granite will determine the cost based upon several factors such as, how much of that particular granite is left in the earth, how difficult it is to quarry, and where it comes from.
The finish and shape will also factor into the cost of the granite. The more the polish, cuts, and contours, the greater the cost.
Cement foundation cost varies from cemetery to cemetery, and it will be added to the overall purchase price of the monument.
Local taxes will need to be added to the cost of the granite but not the cement foundation.
There are many colors of granite to choose from. Many colors of granite that are available to be used in building applications can not be used in the monument industry due to the fact that there is not enough contrast between the polish and unpolished areas.
Years ago, monuments were made of marble, sandstone, and limestone. During that time period, very few monuments were made of granite because of its hardness and the expensive cost of tooling to work with it. Today, the majority of monuments are made of granite because the tooling prices are now so common and inexpensive.
The colors we provide are listed below:
Majority of the time, the size of the monument may be determined by the cemetery regulations and by the number of grave spaces the monument will mark.
The standard measurements for granite the monument industry is "Length x Width x Height" (irregardless if the measurement is for the tablet or base).
Some families will take into consideration the size of the monuments in close proximity to where theirs will be placed when determining the size. This may or may not be something you want to consider.
Typical Sizes
Grass Level Monument: Single= 24" x 12" x 4" Double= 36" x 12" x 4"
Bevel Monument: Single= 24" x 12" x 6" Double= 36" x 12" x 6"
Slant Monument: Single= 24" x 10" x 16" (Base= 34" x 14" x 6") Double= 36" x 10" x 16" (Base= 48" x 14" x 6")
Upright Monument: Single= Tablet= 24" x 6" x 18" Base= 34 " x 12" x 6" Double= Tablet= 36" x 6" x 20" Base= 48" x 12" x 6"
Bench Monument: Single=36" Double= 48"
Cremation Monument= Various Sizes
Granite Bronze Monument: Single= 24" x 14" x 4" Double= 36" x 14" x 4"
Two of the most common finishes are polished and rock pitch. Most monuments come with both finishes. Below are descriptions of the other types of finishes:
Polished = Polished granite makes the monument appear translucent and shows the true color of the granite.
Rock Pitch= Rock pitch is just that, the rock in it's natural form, uncut and unpolished.
Steeled or Frosted= A steeled or frosted area is where a polished area has had the polished removed by abrasive.
Sawed= A sawed area is where the granite has been cut with a diamond embedded tool. This finish is similar to the Steeled or Frosted finish.
Blued or Honed= A blued finish is an area that has had some of the polish removed giving it a third color between the polished and a frosted area.
Axed= An area that has been tooled smooth making the surface lighter and more textured than a frosted area.
Shellrock= Same as a rock pitch finish but on the surface as to the sides or top.
Stippled= An area that has been tooled leaving dimpled indentations in the granite.
Sometimes choosing the design can be the most difficult choice in the process of choosing a monument.
Each monument is a blank canvas with the primary purpose of marking the grave of someone you love with their names and dates.
Everything outside of the names and dates is meant for decoration or to speak about someone's life or legacy.
Occasionally, the design may cause you to change the size of the monument to show more detail. You may also have to choose black granite or add a black granite insert to accommodate an etching.
To help simplify the process, it can be broken down into 3 steps as follows: Lettering - Artwork - Layout.
Lettering
When choosing the lettering to engrave, there are 3 things to consider: what to write, style of lettering, and the font type.
What to Write
The purpose of a monument is to mark the grave of someone with their name and birth and death dates. Optional lettering may include: maiden name, children's names, wedding date, Scripture verse or epitaph or favorite saying.
Style of Lettering
There are several methods to engrave the lettering as listed below:
V-Sunk Lettering: This is the most common style of lettering. The lettering is sunk into the granite with a frosted panel surrounding the lettering to create contrast for the lettering to show.
Polished Outline: This is where the letter stays polished inside of a frosted panel with a deep cut line around it. This style lettering requires additional space and may require a larger monument to allow for the lettering.
Frosted Outline: This is a skin cut lettering with a v sunk line around each letter to provide for contrast. This lettering does not require a frosted panel around it and may require additional space and may require a larger monument to allow for the lettering.
Skin Cut Lettering: This lettering is where the polish is removed approximately 1/16" deep and no panel is required. This lettering can only be used with granite that have high enough contrast to allow the lettering to be legible.
Frosted Edge: This is a skin cut letter with a v sunk line inside the letter. This does not require a panel but requires additional space and may require a larger monument to allow for the lettering.
Shadow Outline: This is identical to frosted outline but the deep line to the right is cut wider to give the appearance of a shadow.
Etched Lettering: This is similar to skin cut lettering but is etch with a laser machine as to an abrasive material.
Font Type
There are over 300,000 different types of fonts. Many fonts are similar in style, and some fonts are not feasible to to use in the monument industry for various reasons. The most common font is Modified Roman. We can consider a font you choose and do drawings with various fonts for you to see and approve.
Artwork
This can be the area of greatest challenge in the decision making process. What design do I put on the monument that speaks about who it is for?
Sometimes the shape of the monument is the design and additional design can take away from the shape of the monument.
The 2 methods for engraving artwork is sand blast carving and laser etching. The difference is as follows:
Sand blast carvings use air pressure and an abrasive media to remove granite to a specific depth creating deep lines that give an image its definition. The image detail is determined by the size of the image. This may factor into the size of the monument.
Laser etching can only be properly done on black granite because it has the best contrast of all the granite available. Laser etching provides photo quality or the finest detail for images engraved. Portraits, landscape scenes and good quality pictures can be etched in black granite to preserve special occasions.
Layout
The layout determines the placement for all the lettering and design. There are some non-written industry standards that we use to layout the approval drawings, but it is always what the customer desires that determines the final approval. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
There are several scenarios when it comes to the amount of time it takes to receive, engrave, and deliver a monument as listed below:
Please keep in mind that most cemeteries typically pour cement foundations two times per year. Once in the spring before Memorial Day and then again in late fall, prior to the cold weather. This can change based upon the weather and can determine the final delivery date.
Cemeteries also determine the waiting period for a grave to settle prior to pouring the cement foundation, this will vary from cemetery to cemetery.
Once the cement foundation is in, deliveries can only be made as the weather permits. It is best to set when it is dry and the temperatures are warm.
Typical Delivery Time Frames
Scenario #: Delivery can be made in 4-8 weeks if the cement foundation is in, if we have the granite in stock, or are scheduled to get a delivery from one of our suppliers and they have the granite in stock.
Scenario #2: Delivery can be made in 8 to 16 weeks if the cement foundation is in and the granite comes from a domestic source.
Scenario #3: Delivery can be made within 4 to 6 months if the cement foundation is in and the granite has to be ordered from overseas.
There are several more things to consider to finalize your monument that are listed below.
Front Side Of Monument Options
Many women choose to list their maiden name based upon how important it is to them and for genealogy purposes.
Marriage dates are typically listed on a companion monument marking a special day.
The way a monument faces and the positions are crucial and need to be understood prior to engraving.
Ceramic pictures can be added to a monument in place of an etched photo and come in color or black and white.
Back Side Of Monument Options
Some families will put the family name on the back to help locate a monument set in the cemetery.
Many times a family will list children or sibling names on the back.
The back of the monument is a great place for an epitaph, favorite Scripture verse, favorite poem, or saying.
Veteran plaques, in many cases, are mounted on the backside of the monument instead of having them placed at the foot of a grave. There are several options for veterans as determined by the government.
Additional Options
Some cemeteries have a height restriction. This has to be taken into consideration.
On occasion the family will have the cement foundation poured wider than the normal extensions to allow for placement of decorations.
Every cemetery has different requirements for how many cremains can be placed per grave space.
It is important to understand that the lot owner reserves the right as to what gets placed on the grave in regards to a monument.
Flower Vases
There are 2 types of flower vases, granite and metal. They come in various shapes and sizes as shown below.
Granite
US Metalcraft
