MONUMENTS
Monuments
Choosing a monument to be a permanent memorial of your life or the life of your loved one involves a lot of decisions. With twelve years of monument experience, we are here to walk you through this essential step in the healing process. We will help you create a headstone that reflects who the deceased was and honor their memory for years to come. The story of a life can be told through the words and engravings selected and making it personal by capturing the essential things about them.
There are many things to consider when selecting a monument including price, size, shape and style, design and completion time.
It is helpful to first consider the size and shape. Is the monument for an individual or is it for two people such as a married couple or siblings? Are you matching other monuments nearby? Some common shapes of monuments are:
Types of Monuments
If you're not sure what type of grave marker to select, walk through cemeteries and gravesites to get a better idea of the various styles. Take photos of ones that appeal to you so you can show us what you like.
Flat Markers
A square of rectangular marker laid flat on the ground.
Upright Headstones
A traditional design with a tablet supported by a base.
Slant Markers
Have a slopped face and stand upright, often install on a base.
Bevel Markers
Also known as a pillow marker, this is flat but slanted so the back edge is taller than the front.
Double Monument
This covers two burial plots, usually for spouses and siblings.
Columbarium
Permanently houses cremains in a sealed, dry, above ground unit. Can be manufactured for single, double or multiple cremation interments.
Cremation Bevel
Permanently houses cremains in a sealed, dry, above ground unit. This affordable option can be used for one or two cremations.
Monument Color
The next thing to consider is the color of the granite. Gray granite is the most traditional, readily available and inexpensive granite. Other popular colors include Pink, Mahogany Brown and Black. These colors often take longer to get and are generally a bit more expensive. Ask to see our selection of granite color samples. Once the size, shape and color have been selected, we will provide a quote on the monument. Our quotes are always a complete price that includes the engraving, designs, foundation and installation. There is no tax on a monument in Pennsylvania.
Inscribing or Engraving
We are here to help you choose the right wording that reflects the personality of the deceased, is the farewell message from you and your family, is a message that your loved one wishes to convey or is a reminder about your loved one for those who visit the grave for years to come. Standard engraving includes the Family Name, the name of the deceased, their date of birth and date of death. Also included are things like maiden name, military service and even a nickname to give them a familiarity that most people would know them by. You may also wish to include a sweet farewell message, Bible scripture, or even something the deceased often said that would be familiar to anyone who may have know them, or even a favorite poem or verse.
How long does it take to get a monument?
There are many factors involved in how long it takes but on average around 4-6 months from the time the order is placed. In our area monuments are installed usually between the end of April to the beginning of December. That sometimes means if you order a monument in August or September and it takes 4-6 months to be completed and arrive locally for installation, it often doesn't get installed until the following year towards the end of April.
Why does it take so long?
Monuments are not assembly line, machine produced items. Granite is quarried, cut and shaped into monuments and sent by railcar or trucked to monument manufacturers. Each monument is then created individually from stencil cutting to sandblasting to cleaning to shipping for installation. Monuments are bulky, heavy and slow productions that move via railcar and freight trucks not UPS or FedEx.
What Sets Us Apart?
As you are making these decisions and choices, we are designing the monument in front of you in real time. Our hope is that by the time you leave you have a design in your hands that is at the very least a starting point and something to perhaps share with the other members of the family for input. We are happy to create multiple design choices and make changes to it until it is exactly what you envisioned for your loved one.
During our time together we will discuss price and all of our payment options. Be sure to let us know if you have a coupon to use for up to $200.00 off.
With our competitive prices, quick turn around times and on-site designing, we would be honored to use our twelve years of experience to create the perfect monument for you or your loved one.
