Headstones Specifications including materials and finishes.

When purchasing new headstones or memorials, consideration must be given to the location and cemetery and churchyard regulations click here to see example memorials and headstones regulations. A durable, naturally quarried material should be selected which will accommodate the required design and lettering. Various types and shapes are available - click here for memorials and headstones types

Headstones Material Options

All materials used in the production of memorials have variations within the slab. Colour names can be misleading and are only given as a general guide.

Granites Headstones

These are the hardest materials and cover all igneous stones. Colours range from black to light grey, pink to red, blue and green. Some have a pearl effect when polished showing the mica within the rock.

Finishes: All types

Granite headstone images - click here.

Marble Headstones

Carrara, sometimes called Sicilian is the usual marble used for memorials. Marble is generally white and has a blue grey vein. As it weathers it turns grey and becomes sugary, due to surface erosion.

Finishes: All types except polishing

Marble headstone images - click here.

Limestone Headstones

The material is formed under water and contains shells, as in Portland stone. The colour ranges from cream to beige. Nabresina from Trieste in Italy is denser and finer grained than many British Stones.

Finishes: All types except polishing

Sandstone Headstones

Silica stones, such as York, can be harder and more durable than Limestone. The colours vary from sandy to grey.

Finishes: Fine rubbed, tooled or pitched.

Slate Headstones

Chemically similar to clay, this material is compressed into laminated form and is very strong. It can be split or sawn into thin slabs. It is usually blue/black or green.

Finishes: Fine honed or Riven - split through the lamination

Finishes

Rustic

Natural rock-like appearance achieved with a minimum of work to split away unwanted stone.

Pitched

Natural rock finish left by splitting the material by hand or machine.

Punched

As rustic but highest spots reduced by tooling.

Fine Punched

As punched but material is worked to give a reasonably uniform surface.

Fine Axed

A rustic finish finely tooled to give an even surface, used on rough granite for inscription panels.

Flame Textured

Surface is spalled or exfoliated by the application of heat, giving a uniform appearance similar to riven.

Riven

Naturally split giving a smooth undulating surface, only applies to slate.

Tooled

Various textures achieved by masoning, normally a dressed finish showing tool marks.

Sparrow Peck

A tooled even texture achieved with a finely pointed chisel.

Sanded

Fine rubbed or sandblasted to remove the irregular markings, giving a uniform surface.

Eggshell

Non-reflective smooth matt finish.

Honed

Finish between eggshell and polished.

Polished

A gloss polished finish giving a glass-like smooth reflective surface.

Complete the form opposite to download useful headstone information guide. The more information we have the more we can help.

Memorials and headstones home page

Other useful links:

Headstones  types and shapes - click here

Granite and Marble Headstones - click here

Images of Granite Headstones - click here

Images of Marble Headstones - click here