Wednesday, February 28, 2018

What You Need To Know About The Headstone Maintenance Service Kansas Professionals Offer

By Timothy Foster


Sometimes a Kansas gravestone is the only physical reminder families have of loved ones who have passed. When this is the case, it is more important than ever to ensure the longevity of the tribute. It often falls on a family member to maintain the gravestone. Other times families live out of the area and call on a headstone maintenance service Kansas natives recommend to do the job for them.

There are different types of rocks and metals gravestones are routinely made from. The most common, and usually the most affordable, is granite. This rock is weather resistant and will last for many generations if it is properly cared for. Regular cleaning with non-ionic cleaner in water is about all that is needed. The stone should be examined for scratches and stains periodically.

Bronze is usually more expensive than granite, but it matches granite in durability and maintenance requirements. Bronze is an alloy comprised of various elements. These can include tin, copper, nickel, and aluminum, among other things. Bronze has been around for thousands of years and is still popular today. It has to be kept up in order to maintain a pristine condition

Plaques are put on gravestones as informational and decorative elements or used as stand alone markers. However they are used, most are made of porcelain ceramic and covered with a glaze that protects them from the elements. To remove any dirt, dust, or stains, detergent mixed with water gently rubbed on them is usually sufficient to clean them. They should not be scrubbed with steel wool or cleaned with bleach or ammonia that can compromise the protective glaze.

If the gravestone you are having maintained is located in an area of the country that experiences freezing weather, you have an added challenge. When the ground freezes below the stone's foundation, it can cause sinking or tilting. Old monuments are often sealed with lead which can become brittle and make a stone move. You need services that includes straightening and leveling gravestones.

Not only can stones move, tilt, and sink, left unattended they can also fall completely over. Sometimes the soil around the gravestone erodes. When this happens the rock may crack leaving it unbalanced. Eventually it's going to fall. A good service will watch out for this, fill in where soil has eroded, and inspect the stone regularly for signs of cracking.

Most services offer much more than just cleaning and maintenance of gravestones. They will trim and edge as necessary. Many of them have the capability of raising and aligning headstones. Some are able to totally replace a headstone that becomes damaged and can't be restored to its original condition. Flower placement and removal may also be available for an additional fee.

Gravestones record the life of a person in the briefest form. You can spend a lot of money on an elaborate monument with detailed engraving and artistic embellishments. You can also choose to install a simple marker with a plaque denoting a name, and birth and death dates. Both are meaningful ways to memorialize a loved one.




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