Headstones and Memorials Buyers Guide 2008

Buying headstones, gravestones or memorials can be a daunting and confusing task.

A memorial is often a first time purchase for many of us and so we are generally unfamiliar with the purchasing process.

To help you, www.help-find-memorials.co.uk have complied this user friendly guide to enable you better understand the process of buying a headstone, gravestone or memorial and ensure you make the right choices.

Our buyers guide contains useful information on all elements of the process and tips sourced directly from the masonry industry.

Retailers

As a customer you will be able to purchase a headstone, gravestone or memorial from the following sources;

Funeral Director
Burial Site
Independent Stone Mason

As with any major purchase it is always prudent to compare suppliers prior to placing your order with reference to price and quality of product and service.

For peace of mind and to ensure company meets current standards we recommend that you only use the services of a company that is a member of the following regulatory bodies - National Association of Memorial Masons and the British Register of Accredited Memorial Masons – click here for more information on governing bodies for the headstone industry. 

You will also need to clarify the retailer’s responsibilities with reference to the installation of the memorial (including coordination with burial site) and whether this has been included in their quotation.

Also always ask for a written quotation including itemised costs prior to placing your order, including details of any warranty cover.

Types of Headstones and Memorials

When selecting a headstone, gravestone or memorial you will find a bewildering range of to choose from. We strongly recommend that you visit the proposed burial site prior to ordering to get a feel for the environment and the current memorials that are placed to ensure your choice blends in successfully. This visit will also give you the opportunity to look at the different types of stone and finishes available and see how they age with time. Many burial sites, churchyards and graveyards in the UK have set memorial regulations that you will be required to comply with (see burial site regulations section below).

Your choice of memorial will normally depend on the following factors;

Budget
Wishes of the deceased
Wishes of Family
Personal Taste
Burial Site Environment
Burial Site Regulations – see below

Materials

Headstone, gravestones and memorials are generally manufactured from the following materials, each with their own merits.

Granite – click for granite headstone images
Marble – click for marble headstone images 
Limestone
Sandstone
Slate

Finishes

After making a choice on the material for the memorial you will need to select a finish. These range from a rustic look through to a highly polished finish with a large number of variants in between. Again it is worth completing extensive research locally on site and online prior to making your final decisions.

For more information on materials and finishes including photographs - please click here for headstone and memorial materials

Design

There are generally 4 main categories of memorial design used in UK.

Please click the link below for more detailed information

Standard Headstones
Standard Headstone - more...
Plaques and Tablets
Memorial Crosses
Memorial Books

Verses and Engraving

Once you have finalised the specification of the memorial you will need to provide the stone mason with the written copy to be engraved on the memorial.

For more information on memorial verses - click here for headstone and memorial verses

Burial Site Regulations
As discussed throughout this guide the burial site regulations will have a great influence on your final choice of memorial. As a customer you must ensure that your chosen memorial meets the local regulations of the burial site.

Every burial site has its own list of individual regulations and restrictions with reference to memorials. These will include topics such as;

Authorised materials
Installation requirements
Maximum dimensions
Authorised designs
Authorised inscriptions
Rules on trademarks
Rules on long term maintenance

We recommend that you gain a copy of the burial sites regulations in writing prior to commencing the buying process. This will ensure you select the correct memorial and will help your retailer coordinate the installation process.

Long term maintenance and insurance

Generally you will find that the burial site regulations will outline the customer’s maintenance responsibilities once the memorial is outside the retailers warranty.

Headstones, memorials and gravestones are now subject to external health and safety checks every five years. It is generally the grant holders responsibility to pay for repairs should the memorial be certified as unsafe. Many aging memorials that are assessed as unstable are often laid in a flat position.

It is now possible to insure your memorial against vandalism or accidental damage from as little as £10 per year. Many policies also offer public liability insurance should your memorial injure a third party.


www.help-my-memorials.co.uk – January 2008