How to Protect a Headstone or Gravestone
There are plenty of threats to gravestones, but plenty of ways to avoid or counter these threats as well.
Whether they're slow and gradual or quick and sudden, whether they are natural or because of people, there are plenty of things that can go wrong with a gravestone during its life.
In this article, we will look at some of the ways that headstones can become damaged and the different ways to deal with these issues.
The biggest and most common threat to memorials is that of erosion and discolouration.
Both of these things are inevitable to a degree.
Wind and rain can't be stopped from altering the area around a gravestone, as well as the stone itself.
However, there are plenty of ways to lessen the impact of these effects.
Discolouration is the easiest to reduce, as it simply involves removing any material from the grave that could stain the stone.
Try to avoid placing the headstone underneath anything which could drop things or drip onto it, so steer clear of trees and the edges of buildings.
Over time, a leaf that isn't removed or a constant drip from some old guttering will mark stone.
It's also important to regularly check and clear the stone, as even those that aren't underneath anything may well gather leaves in autumn or bird droppings at any time of year.
Sun bleaching the colour out of the stone is unavoidable, unfortunately.
Erosion can also be reduced by finding a more sheltered spot, though doing this whilst simultaneously avoiding being underneath a tree or building might prove tricky.
Luckily, erosion damage can be fixed.
By removing a very small layer of the stone's surface and recutting the designs and lettering, a gravestone can be returned to its former glory.
The other major threat that is, thankfully, rather uncommon is that of vandalism or the removal by local authorities or owners of the cemetery if they believe the grave is unsafe.
Vandalism can be avoided by ensuring you choose a cemetery which has a good record for looking after its current headstones, and by being sure to keep abreast of any news about nearby vandalism.
The same method is also that used to avoid graves being removed by authorities, as keeping in contact with the cemetery owners will allow you to have advanced warning of any changes and attempt to negotiate a more preferential situation.
Whether they're slow and gradual or quick and sudden, whether they are natural or because of people, there are plenty of things that can go wrong with a gravestone during its life.
In this article, we will look at some of the ways that headstones can become damaged and the different ways to deal with these issues.
The biggest and most common threat to memorials is that of erosion and discolouration.
Both of these things are inevitable to a degree.
Wind and rain can't be stopped from altering the area around a gravestone, as well as the stone itself.
However, there are plenty of ways to lessen the impact of these effects.
Discolouration is the easiest to reduce, as it simply involves removing any material from the grave that could stain the stone.
Try to avoid placing the headstone underneath anything which could drop things or drip onto it, so steer clear of trees and the edges of buildings.
Over time, a leaf that isn't removed or a constant drip from some old guttering will mark stone.
It's also important to regularly check and clear the stone, as even those that aren't underneath anything may well gather leaves in autumn or bird droppings at any time of year.
Sun bleaching the colour out of the stone is unavoidable, unfortunately.
Erosion can also be reduced by finding a more sheltered spot, though doing this whilst simultaneously avoiding being underneath a tree or building might prove tricky.
Luckily, erosion damage can be fixed.
By removing a very small layer of the stone's surface and recutting the designs and lettering, a gravestone can be returned to its former glory.
The other major threat that is, thankfully, rather uncommon is that of vandalism or the removal by local authorities or owners of the cemetery if they believe the grave is unsafe.
Vandalism can be avoided by ensuring you choose a cemetery which has a good record for looking after its current headstones, and by being sure to keep abreast of any news about nearby vandalism.
The same method is also that used to avoid graves being removed by authorities, as keeping in contact with the cemetery owners will allow you to have advanced warning of any changes and attempt to negotiate a more preferential situation.
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