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The wait is over- you finally have that beautiful headstone installed. But now what do you do with it?
At Emerson Monument and Vault our goal is to help you create a lasting tribute that will be cherished by your family- today, tomorrow and forever.
In this article we will share with you 5 ways to always keep your headstone looking it’s best.
1. Prevent Moss Growth
We have all seen headstones covered in moss or other biological growths. This occurs because moisture and dirt get into the pores of the stone. When they comingle in those tiny granite pores it causes unsightly moss or lichen to grow.
You can prevent this growth by spraying the monument down with D2 one time per year. That’s it! It is seriously THAT easy! Just spray and walk away.
D2 is a biological growth cleaner that gets deep in the pores of the stone, cleansing it from the inside out. This results in nice, clean results that typically last up to a year.
This is the same solution used to clean the Veteran’s gravestones at our National Cemeteries. And- fun fact- it is used on the White House as well!
For even more information on this product, checkout this blog post!
2. Check Your Vases for Clogged Drain Holes
The number one most common complaint I receive is that “the mowers broke my vase“. And, as much as we would all love to blame damage on someone else, 99% of the time the problem is not the mowers!
Now, sometimes the mowers can get a little out of hand and damage a monument. I am not denying that. But, believe it or not, clogged drainage holes are the #1 cause of damage to vases! Not mowers!
Every granite vase we sell comes standard with a drain hole for the rain water to seep out. But sometimes grass clippings, leaves, acorns, etc get in the vases and clog the drain holes. This causes the rain water to collect rather than drain.
Then, in the winter months, the water collects in the clogged vase, freezes, expands and busts the flower pots.
Broken vases are a lost investment, as we have never found a sustainable way to fix them. With that said, it is best to prevent this kind of damage before it ever occurs.
When you get your flower pots consider filling them with florist foam. Florist foam will allow the rain water to drain through the foam (and, thus the drain hole). As an added bonus, the foam will help your flowers stay in place!
3. Be Selective About Materials Touching the Stone!
One of the most beautiful memorials I have made is for a young man who left this Earth too soon. He is loved by many and always has flowers and other adornments on his grave. His monument is absolutely beautiful…with exception of the rust stain.
Many times people will place inexpensive jewelry, metal items (such a matchbox cars, signs, etc) on monuments. While the meaning is so sweet and innocent, they do eventually rust and stain the monument. And when adornments do rust, the rust tends to seep all down the monument.
Avoid placing metals on the monument unless they have a protective barrier between the metal and the stone. An example would be a 
4. Don’t Forget- Floral Dyes Stain Too!
. Cheaper florals, such as the papery thin red poinsettias, tend to bleed when they get wet. When they bleed the dye can run onto the stone and cause staining.
I have seen this most commonly occur with faux poinsettias and with faux ferns. If you are worried about staining, buy a stem of the florals you would like to use, place them under the faucet and wipe with a white paper towel. If dye comes off then you should likely avoid it!
5. Check for Any Settling or Leaning
When you think about it, the cemetery is an area of land that is full of holes (graves). Some graves have settled over time and are completely filled in. Others are fresh and may not fully settle for years.
Add to that rain, snow, tree roots, moles and other wildlife, as well as cemetery equipment, and you have a recipe for potential settling and leaning to occur.
When we install your memorial we dig a foundation and pack it with a dry pour. We level it to provide long term stability and ensure the stone passes our inspection prior to leaving the site. However, over time, settling may still occur.
If you experience settling or leaning please give us a call and we will be glad to talk to you about the next steps in addressing it.
For Additional Advice on Grief and Healing
This blog is an amazing resource for additional resources on all-things grief and healing related.
As you know, losing a loved one is a journey that is often full of unexpected tasks.
For information on how to best sort through and clean out a loved one’s belongings, we recommend picking up a copy of The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning. This book is full of great advice on how to go about this overwhelming task with thought and intent.
For information on Veteran’s benefits you may not have been aware existed, we recommend following this link to a previous blog post.
For information on financial COVID-19 assistance for families who have lost a loved one to COVID-19, we recommend following this link to one of our previous blog posts.
You never know what we are going to blog about next and how it might apply to your situation. We recommend checking in with our blog, The Compassionate Memorialist, often for industry-leading tips, tricks and advice.
