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How To Keep Gravestones Looking At Their Best
Author : Mark Thomas
Submitted : 2010-01-26 19:00:21 Word Count : 560 Popularity: 95
Tags: gravestones, headstones, burials, funerals, death, dying, family, society
The material of choice for gravestones today is generally granite, since it is durable and comes in a variety of crystalline textures and colors. Bronze gravestones are also worth mentioning here though, as they are also a popular choice.
Whatever the choice of material, gravestone memorials need regular tending in order to maximize their durability and to keep inscriptions as legible as possible. It is also a nice way to show that you are still thinking about the person who has passed away.
As for granite, because of its durability, the gravestone will not be damaged by forceful scrubbing. Some people might be wary of using too much force and causing damage, but this is almost impossible with granite.
Should hardened water have left calcium deposits on a polished granite memorial, which can often give a hazy coating, the polished surface can be scrubbed using water and a detergent or non ionic soap. A heavy duty, non metallic scouring pad is recommended, although care must always be taken to check that it is safe to use it on granite.
You can even use a pressure washer if you have access to one, so long as the gravestone has no fractures or cracks, and is generally in a stable condition. If using one though, be careful not to direct it straight at any engraved or colored areas, as regularly doing so can diminish their effect.
Moving on to bronze gravestones, these are slightly more complicated to clean. The reason being that they are typically made from not just bronze, but also one or two other materials, which are normally used as a base.
The bronze part of the gravestone will have had a lacquer coating applied to it which will seal its original appearance in the short term. However, over time, the weather will cause this coating to deteriorate, and the bronze will then also be susceptible to deterioration.
Using specialized wax is therefore necessary for keeping a bronze gravestone well maintained. This is easy enough to use, and just requires you to liberally rub it on at regular intervals maybe every 3 6 months.
The granite or concrete base of a bronze gravestone can be cleaned using the same methods as set out in the first half of this article i.e. through aggressive scrubbing or careful use of a pressure washer.
Finally, you need to deal with the growth of fungus, mould, algae and lichen, which affect both bronze and granite gravestones. Left unattended, these types of growths become very unsightly and make a gravestone look as though no one cares for it.
Fortunately, there is an easy solution to clear all the various types of growths from a gravestone snails. They will clear all of these problem growths away for you, and all you will then need to do is wipe clean the gravestone a week later.
As a final point, try to get into a regular habit of cleaning and maintaining the gravestones of your loved ones. Make a note on your calendar of the dates that you will do it for the coming year, otherwise, you may find yourself forgetting to do it, or never seeming to have the free time to do it.
Author's Resource Box
At http://www.gravestones.org.uk, we understand the devastation caused by bereavement, which is why we aim to make choosing lasting gravestones an easy process.
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