Choosing a Granite Cemetery Monument; Plan Ahead, Make It Your Choice!
By Jeremy Miller, Owner/Stone Carver, Batesville Monument, North & South Indianapolis LIVING WELL Magazine
Choosing your memorial is a meaningful experience. Your choice to commemorate your life in stone will serve as a lasting tribute for all time. By planning ahead, you can make these decisions, and you can build your monument now. By making it your choice, you will give your family comfort and security in the future, and you will spare them the burden of making difficult decisions in their time of grief.
Granite monuments are custom built to your specifications of shape, size, color and finish, then further personalized by artwork, design and craftsmanship. Your options are endless. Your monument will be truly unique. With all of these choices on the table, who is better to make these decisions than you? As you begin the process of choosing your memorial, there are a few points you may want to consider:
10 Things to Consider While Choosing Your Memorial
1. The Color of Your Granite will be its most distinguishable feature. Granite color is natural, unique and enduring. There are many colors commonly used for monument production; each having a distinct beauty and appeal. Be sure to ask how your favorite colors compare on price, as they will often be different.
2. The Size of Your Monument may depend on how many names will be carved on it, which design you prefer, the size of your plot, personal preference, finances or many other influences. You should know that granite can be cut to any size to meet your specifications.
3. The Shape of Your Monument may be a modest marker such as a flat, bevel or slant, or it may be a large traditional upright, heart, wing or other special shape. Statuary, sculpture, contour sawing and water jetting all create endless possibilities for you to choose a monument shape that is unique.
4. The Finish of Your Stone is typically a combination of being sawn, polished and rock pitched. Although the surface to be carved is often polished, fabricating unique finishes for the top and sides help to create a distinct look. There are also a number of options for finishing your granite base such as adding a margin, wash, chamfer or a beveled front.
5. Your Targeted Project Price should be established from the start. For the total project, over 90% of stone sales cost between $500 and $5,000. The color, size, shape, finish and other options you choose can have a large impact on price. Establish some parameters for your monument builder to work with; then you can both focus on ideas relevant to you.
6. Your Design Layout often follows your stone choice. Once you have chosen a stone and settled on a target price range for your project, you will have the opportunity to personalize your stone with artwork, symbols or messages to create a unique design endearing to you. This is a good time to consider extra options such as vases, back surface carving, ceramic portraits or laser etching.
7. Stone Carving Styles can be as unique as the stone being carved. Stone craft is often about achieving contrast from a variety of perspectives to give your stone the most appeal. Will your carving be deep, shallow, dark, light or colored? How will it appear on the stone you have chosen? These are important questions for your monument builder.
8. Your Monument Production Time will vary greatly depending on the stone you choose. If you choose a stone that is in-stock, a builder can likely complete the project in three to six weeks. If you choose a domestic special order stone, eight to 12 weeks, or an imported special order stone, 12 – 20 weeks.
9. The Concrete Foundation for your stone should be a minimum of 24-36 inches deep and 3-4 inches larger than your granite base on all four sides. If a monument is to stand the test of time, it must begin with a strong foundation.
10. Review Your Cemetery Regulations before committing to any monument purchase. Cemeteries have the right to deny a stone if it does not meet their requirements. Ask your builder to contact the cemetery as well.
As you consider these important issues, there are three steps you may want to take. First, visit your local cemetery. The real life examples of size, shape, color and finish found in the cemetery are unrivaled. It is a great place to generate ideas, likes, dislikes and overall direction. Second, speak to a monument builder. Ask the questions that you have compiled from your trip to the cemetery – your builder should have answers. Remember, monuments are not commodities sold over the counter, but rather unique projects that are individually crafted. There is a certain degree of confidence you must have in your craftsman. Finally, take time to consider all of your options before signing any agreements.
Unlike preplanning for a funeral, when you choose a granite memorial now, you will get to see the fruits of your labor now. You will have the opportunity to see what your family will see, and you can be proud of it. Please visit our website at batesvillemonument.com for more information, or contact Jeremy Miller at 812-569-9597, jmiller@batesvillemonument.com for a free consultation. You are welcome to visit us in Batesville, or I will be happy to meet you at your home or local cemetery.
