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Choose Most Exquisite and Sturdy Headstone Material in Richmond VA
Are you planning for a departed loved one’s gravestone? Do you already have an idea of what monument types you wish to have? Did you already choose which headstone material in Richmond VA will be utilized? Well, if you’re not yet ready, let this article help you.
What is a Headstone or Gravestone?
Did you already visit a graveyard? If yes, are you familiar with the stone placed over the ground where the name of the dead person is inscribed? Well, that’s what you call the headstone. Let this article help you understand more about gravestones before we get into the right headstone material in Richmond VA.
A headstone is a form of art made from a certain stone. For a long time, headstones are utilized in remembering the person who died. Across the world, different cultures use various memorials as a tribute to a departed loved one. Usually, these gravestones include different inscriptions about the deceased loved one, such as religious texts and significant symbols.
What factors do you need to consider in choosing a headstone?
To come up with the right headstone, you need to pay attention to these factors in choosing a headstone.
The Quality
A headstone is also an investment, and it deserves nothing but the best. From the materials to the craftsmanship, you have to plan it strictly. It doesn’t only focus on what headstone material in Richmond VA lasts for centuries. You also need to consider the quality not only of the materials but also the designs and other details. To know where to achieve the best quality headstone for your departed loved one, it is best to check samples, portfolios, and recommendations on where to find the best headstones in town.
The Design
A typical headstone design comes with the basic information of the dead person like their name, birthday, and date of death. There are also monuments where you can see different messages, bible verses, quotes, emblems, and even photos.
In choosing the right headstone types, make sure that the creator can do what you wish to have on the headstone. Like what color you want to use, etching, engraving, material, or whatever the surviving families prefer to put on the gravestone. You can also ask which headstone material in Richmond VA fits the design you wish to have.
The Budget
This is one of the important factors you need to consider. In choosing the headstone, you have to set a specific budget. It is best to check your affordability and practicality capacity. As you set your budget, ask yourself or set an appointment with a monument maker and see what headstone material in Richmond VA fits your preferred budget.
The Materials
It is one of the important factors you need to first settle in the creation of your loved ones’ headstone. As you will observe, most headstones are made up of marble, fieldstone, and granite. Some headstone makers use wood, bronze, sandstone, iron, and other similar things. To help you decide which headstone material in Richmond VA you should use, let this article help you.
Choose Your Own Color
Bahama Blue
Emerald Pearl
Blue Pearl
Desert Pink
Imperial Black
Grey
Himalayan
Imperial Grey
Imperial Red
Mahogany
What is the best headstone material in Richmond VA?
Here are the usual materials utilized for headstones;
Granite
This headstone material in Richmond VA has become the standard stone for most monument makers since 1860. Granite is renowned for its beauty and durability as natural stone. It is widely famous not only to be a durable stone that comes to different colors. By choosing this material, the artist can exceptionally carve the most detailed designs you wish to have on your loved one’s headstones.
It is one of the best choices of the headstone makers as this material can highly resist heat, acid rain, and low temperatures. However, this material is quite difficult to clean due to its white film, which can possibly build up as the years go by.
Iron
When it comes to durability, you can also count on this headstone material in Richmond VA. This material has been used since 1830. The downside of this material is that it can easily decay and rust that can affect the inscriptions placed in the gravestone.
Concrete
This material is made up of cement mixed with limestone gravel, granite, sand, water, and various materials. Apart from headstones, this material is also used for buildings. If you prefer to have a grave marker, you can count on this material.
Marble
This material is commonly used on more intricate designs. It can be utilized for more detailed yet intricate designs. It was started to use during the 1850s up to the 1920s. It is also renowned for its cost-effective price and easy to polish capacity.
However, its disadvantage is that once it is exposed to acid rain for many years, the inscriptions made will start to face and become unreadable. Due to moisture, the details of the headstone will be most likely to erode. Overall, this stone can’t manage to stay overtime.
Sandstone
Like other headstone material in Richmond VA, this material is one of the famous choices that can be easily carved and cut. Hence, you might lose the durability aspect of this material. Also, it is difficult to polish and often breaks on bedding planes.
This material comes with different light colors. Keep in mind that moisture will be your number one enemy once you choose this material as you can lose its beauty instantly.
Wood
During the Georgian and Victorian era, this material is significantly used by the makers. At that time, the artist prefers to use this material as it can execute difficult designs. However, as the durable materials came, and its natural decomposition capacity, this material did not last to this field because it can’t survive for at least 50 years.
Bronze
It is a type of copper alloy utilized for weapons and tools. As it adds elegance, it can execute more the design of the headstone. Like granite, it also posses durability against different weather conditions. To restore this material, it requires various chemical treatments and grease elbow as well.
It is a headstone material in Richmond VA regularly used by gravestone makers over the centuries. The advantage of this material as it doesn’t need too much maintenance compared to other materials. This material can be utilized in different designs and options. Also, this material is perfect who those families that are on a budget.
Slate
This headstone material in Richmond VA is known for its smooth yet pleasing texture. As time goes by, it became one of the choices nowadays as it easy to carve and commonly highlighted with gilding or white paint. The downside of this material is that it is quite porous and can crumble as the years go by.
Zinc
If you prefer some panel designs, you can use this material. Also, panels are easy to replace and known for their durability as well. The disadvantage of this material is that it can become brittle and very susceptible to the fallen tree limbs.
You will need to consider the finish to the headstone in addition to the stuff, and whether there are any stipulations on these from the churchyard or cemetery.
The polished headstones have a smooth, shiny, and polished appearance, which makes the surface reflective. Many churchyards won’t require reflective surfaces, so this finish won’t be used when a churchyard is a burial place. The finish requires more maintenance to retain the polish, too.
Partially polished is where the inscription region is polished, while the rest of the headstone is blasted, rubbed, or provided with a different finish. The inscriptions are used to emphasize it.
What is the estimated cost for a headstone?
The cost of each of these forms will vary considerably, depending on what you want. On average, it will cost about $1,000 for a basic flat headstone, and $2,000 upright one.
Granite then marble, and lastly, quartzite is the cheapest of the three stones. A laser-etched is easier for engraving than conventional sandblasted, and the easier words/pictures would be the less. For styles, flat rather than upright and curbed.
Which headstone material in Richmond VA should I choose?
In planning the headstone, you have to consider which material you should choose. It will be most likely to choose a material that can last for five years, but it can take up to many generations. If you are looking for something that is durable, your best options can be between marble or granite.
You can choose between these two materials according to your target budget. Marble seems to be expensive than granite.
Aside from the headstone material in Richmond VA, you also need to take consideration of your desired designs and curves you wish to have. Above all, you need first to check out first the rules and regulations of the cemetery where your loved one’s body is buried. Some cemeteries have certain specifications on headstones.
In our company, we will help you find the best yet durable headstone that fits your needs.
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