Helpful Advice
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Designing your memorial
Share the planning and design with other family members or friends if you can. It can be helpful to have another opinion and it is also important to make sure you are all happy with the final result. If you require more clarity on your design choice, we can provide you with a scale drawing of the proposed memorial and inscription for your approval.
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Composing a personal inscription
There are many ways in which an inscription can be worded and examples can be seen on the memorials within the website and our brochure. The following notes are designed to provide you with ideas, should you require them.
You may wish to select a preferred font style for the lettering but unless otherwise requested, memorial inscriptions will be cut in the popular SCHOOLBOOK and BLOCK style fonts shown on the scale drawing.
Once the inscription for your loved one has been composed, our design team can on request, provide you with a scale drawing. The purpose of the drawing is to give an indication of how your chosen memorial and inscription will look whilst taking into account the shape of the memorial and the position and detail of any ornamental designs.
A scale drawing also provides you with the opportunity to ensure the inscription accurately reflects your wishes whilst providing peace of mind that the memorial will look exactly as you imagined. It also provides a means to check the spelling and dates are correct, thus reducing the risk of error.
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Burial Ground Regulations
We usually know the rules and regulations which apply in your area, so we are well placed to advise you on what is permitted, to make a formal application on your behalf and to obtain the necessary permit.
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Making a decision
Too often in the past, we have been asked to re-letter a memorial, simply because decisions were made too quickly. Please allow yourself time after the funeral before planning a memorial as it can be difficult to make decisions when grieving, and mistakes can be expensive.
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Materials
If in any doubt about the colour or material you would like your memorial to be made from, please ask us for advice. Natural stone and granites can vary greatly in colour, porosity and weather resistance.
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Ornaments
Think carefully about how your memorial might reflect the life and story of your loved one. Today’s technology means we can reproduce images, photographs and even signatures for a very personal tribute.
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National Association of Memorial Masons
Always use a genuine memorial mason who is a member of NAMM. We as members, can help you avoid the pitfalls involved in dealing with a business who is not. We may be able to provide better value for money since we buy direct from quarries and natural stone suppliers and we can offer you greater control over the process of choosing the right material and the right memorial. As members, we must also abide by a strict Code of Working Practice which ensures all the memorials we erect comply with the British Standard BS8415 and will remain stable even if the earth subsides beneath them.
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Responsibility for your memorial
It is important to note that it is you and not the burial ground who is responsible for the maintenance of your memorial. If it should become dilapidated or unsafe, the burial authority may well contact you. It is therefore wise to arrange for it to be regularly maintained and insured.
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Insurance
Memorials are generally erected in public areas and are therefore susceptible to damage by vehicles (if the memorial is positioned near a path or roadway), lawn mowers, falling trees or branches, storm damage, vandalism, theft and ground subsidence.
We can offer insurance specifically for memorials in public burial grounds for a very modest premium.
Stoneguard Insurance, supplied by Bridge Insurance Brokers Limited and underwritten by Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Plc (RSA), provide a full cover for a period of 5 years at a time, for a very modest premium. The cost of the premium is based on the value of the memorial (less any local authority fee for granting permission for the placing of the memorial) and is renewable at the end of that period. An insurance certificate will be issued to you and the cover is immediate on the day the memorial is erected. Please be aware that insurance cover does not include normal “wear and tear”, weathering or the deterioration of an applied finish to any inscription or ornamentation.
Please contact us to receive an information leaflet or to discuss the cover provided. -
Memorial Aftercare
Careful attention is given to every aspect in the preparation of a memorial. We therefore recommend that attention is paid to the following points on care and maintenance so that your memorial is kept in good condition.
Marble & Stone
The memorial can be badly stained by rust from the wire of wreaths, oil and dye from artificial flowers. Some flowers may leave a stain on marble or stone if blossoms come into contact with it. Although the marks cannot be removed by rubbing, the sun may eventually bleach them out in the course of time.
Cleaning Your Memorial
If not using a specialist company, clean water applied with a soft brush is an alternative means of cleaning a memorial. Soap and other cleaners which may contain alkalines or acids, may cause damage.
All polished granite memorials should be washed gently with a very soft brush or cloth, taking great care not to scratch the surface of the memorial.
Enamel or gold leaf finished lettering should not be washed vigorously but dabbed with a clean sponge and clear water.
General
Flush lead letters in marble and stone are grey when new but in time they darken slightly. This is the nature of lead.
Should the flower holder facility in the memorial base show signs of water retention, please check that the drainage holes are not blocked, stopping excess water draining away.
Please remember that we are well equipped to carry out professional cleaning and renovation work should you wish us to.
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Laser etched ornaments
We offer laser etching as a way to personalise and ornament your memorial. Any design or photograph can be etched directly onto the memorial, and will last for generations, in fact as long as the polished memorial surface itself. Our memorial design experts will work with you to select the best image to use and create a highly detailed, beautiful tribute to your loved one. Laser etching allows for a much greater level of detail and personalisation than traditional sand blasting, and is most effective when applied to a darker granite. Talk to our memorial experts to find out how your design or photograph could be laser etched onto a wide range of memorials. Click here to view a few examples.
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Shape carved ornaments
Our stone masons are experts in shape carving granite and stone, and have been advancing this traditional technique for generations. Shape carving and sand blasting create three-dimensional, deep cut designs to be applied to your chosen memorial. Our stone craftsmen hand sculpt designs using a range of chisels and other granite carving tools. The quality of a shape carved ornament depends upon the craftsman, and we are proud to work with some of the best in the country. Talk to our memorial experts to find out how your design could be shape carved onto a wide range of memorials. Click here to view a few examples.
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Sandblasted ornaments
Sand Blasting is a traditional technique of applying a flat cut design to the surface of a memorial. A design is masked onto the surface of the stone and permanently etched using fine abrasive grit fired under extremely high pressure. The design can be left as a contrast finish to the colour of the material itself, or it can be beautifully hand painted into the design by our highly skilled craftspeople. Talk to our memorial experts to find out how your design could be sandblasted and coloured onto a memorial of your choosing. Click here to view a few examples.
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Photo Plaques and Frames
Your memorial can be personalised even more by allowing us to copy one of your favourite photographs onto a ceramic photographic plaque in a shape of your choice. The most popular shapes are oval and round but we also supply rectangular, square, heart, teardrop heart and church window shapes. With oval plaques, we generally fit them with a bronze or silver frame as standard but plain bronze frames are also available for rectangular and circular plaques. Click here to view some examples.
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Figurines
We supply figurines made from reconstituted marble (a precious mix of true crystalline white Carrara marble with a special binder) in a variety of sizes and designs. Click here to view some examples.
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Bronze Ornaments
We are proud to offer bronze figurines and ornaments which are cast in Europe to the highest standard. Whether it is for a statue, lantern, vase, flower, bird, angel, cross or lettering for a memorial, there is no doubt we can supply something to suit your requirements. Click here to view some examples.
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Stained Glass
If you would like something unique, bespoke and colourful to personalise your memorial, why not consider a hand crafted stained glass window. The art and craftsmanship applied in the construction of stained glass has remained relatively unchanged for hundreds of years and the colours and shades of stained glass change according to the time of day, season and weather. Traditional stained glass is manufactured using small pieces of glass fixed together with an ‘H’ lead strip. The lead is then soldered to ensure the glass stays together, thus allowing you to be assured of getting a quality piece of craftmanship which also won’t fade. Click here to view some examples.
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Other Accessories
We are accustomed to being asked to supply accessories and attachments too numerous to show you on our website. Click here for a few examples.
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Composing an additional inscription
Deciding on an appropriate inscription to follow on from an existing inscription can often be a challenge, but we can help you. Our experienced staff will provide guidance and advice on the wording which best suits the existing inscription, the memorial, the space available and of course your wishes. If possible, our time served craftspeople will carry out the work on site, or if necessary, in one of our workshops. The inscription will be added in a style which will match the original as closely as possible, but individual lettering techniques mean exact replication is not always achievable.
Click here to contact us or here to request a quote.
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Cleaning
Getting your memorial professionally cleaned can make old, tired and dirty memorials look new again (see before and after photographs). Some moulds, algae and lichens are extremely difficult to remove but our fully trained personnel can carefully apply a special solution to help rejuvenate the memorial.
Click here to contact us or here to request a quote.
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Inscription Renovation
When a memorial is getting professionally cleaned, we recommend that the opportunity is taken to renovate the existing inscription at the same time. Although an inscription may appear to be in reasonable condition prior to having the memorial cleaned, it is likely the inscription will be affected during the cleaning process.
Click here to contact us or here to request a quote.
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Refixing
Subsidence, poor foundations or vandalism can all affect the stability of a memorial. These can result in a memorial leaning at an angle or worse, lying flat on the ground. Often burial authorities lay down memorials deemed to be unsafe. We can rebuild or resecure your memorial to give you peace of mind that it will remain long standing.
Click here to contact us or here to request a quote.
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Alterations
If you are unhappy with the wording or layout of the inscription on your family memorial, then our skilled stone masons can grind down the surface to remove all the original information. This allows you to compose a new inscription or design to suit your wishes. We can supply drawings or an inscription layout for your approval prior to commencing any work.
Click here to contact us or here to request a quote.
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Inspections
We offer a free inspection service. At your request, we will carry out a detailed examination of the memorial and provide our recommendations for adding a new inscription, cleaning, repairs or improvements, along with the costs to carry out any work. If no work is required, we will advise accordingly.
Click here to contact us or here to request a quote.
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Burial Ground Regulations
We usually know the rules and regulations which apply in your area, so we are well placed to advise you on what is permitted, to make a formal application on your behalf and to obtain the necessary permit.
Click here to contact us.
-
National Association of Memorial Masons
Always use a genuine memorial mason who is a member of NAMM. We as members, can help you avoid the pitfalls involved in dealing with a business who is not. As members, we are bound by strict Codes of Business and Working Practice.
Click here to contact us or here to request a quote.
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Responsibility for your memorial
It is important to note that it is you and not the burial ground who is responsible for the maintenance of your memorial. If it should become dilapidated or unsafe, the burial authority may well contact you to ask that it is repaired or secured, otherwise steps may be taken by them to lay it down or remove it. It is therefore wise to arrange for it to be regularly maintained and insured. We can of course help you with any rectification work required.
Click here to contact us or here to request a quote.
-
Memorial Aftercare
Careful attention is given to every aspect in the preparation of a memorial. We therefore recommend that attention is paid to the following points on care and maintenance so that your memorial is kept in good condition.
Marble & Stone
The memorial can be badly stained by rust from the wire of wreaths, oil and dye from artificial flowers. Some flowers may leave a stain on marble or stone if blossoms come into contact with it. Although the marks cannot be removed by rubbing, the sun may eventually bleach them out in the course of time.
Cleaning Your Memorial
If not using a specialist company, clean water applied with a soft brush is an alternative means of cleaning a memorial. Soap and other cleaners which may contain alkalines or acids, may cause damage.
All polished granite memorials should be washed gently with a very soft brush or cloth, taking great care not to scratch the surface of the memorial.
Enamel or gold leaf finished lettering should not be washed vigorously but dabbed with a clean sponge and clear water.
General
Flush lead letters in marble and stone are grey when new but in time they darken slightly. This is the nature of lead.
Please remember that we are well equipped to carry out professional cleaning and renovation work should you wish us to.
Click here to contact us.
-
Insurance
Memorials are generally erected in public areas and are therefore susceptible to damage by vehicles (if the memorial is positioned near a path or roadway), lawn mowers, falling trees or branches, storm damage, vandalism, theft and ground subsidence.
We can offer insurance for existing memorials in public burial grounds for a very modest premium.
Stoneguard Insurance, supplied by Bridge Insurance Brokers Limited and underwritten by Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Plc (RSA), provide a full cover for a period of 5 years at a time, for a very modest premium. The cost of the premium is based on the replacement value of the memorial (plus any local authority fee for granting permission for replacing the memorial – if applicable) and is renewable at the end of the 5 year period. We will of course inspect your memorial to evaluate its condition first as any existing damage will not be covered and depending on the severity of the existing damage, it may not be possible to provide insurance cover at all. An insurance certificate will be issued to you once the premium has been paid. Please be aware that insurance cover does not include normal “wear and tear”, weathering or the deterioration of an applied finish to any inscription or ornamentation.
Please click here to contact us to receive an information leaflet or to discuss the cover provided.
Permission must be granted from the appropriate burial authority before a memorial can be erected.
We will make all the necessary applications and arrangements on your behalf. Any permit fees required will be recharged to you and show separately on your order, these charges are exempt from VAT.
We can also guarantee your memorial will be erected in an appropriate and safe manner within the parameters laid down by The National Association of Memorial Masons (NAMM).
Request a brochure
We have two beautifully printed, full colour memorial brochures. One to suit Scottish cemeteries and the other to suit English and Welsh cemeteries. We can post directly to your door – or you can download the Scottish pdf version with price list here and the English and Welsh pdf version with price list here.