Consumer Tips On Purchasing A Cemetery Headstone or Grave Marker
Many consumers have never purchased a cemetery headstone or marker, therefore it would be in your best interest to first shop around to compare quality, craftsmanship and prices before making a final decision. Selecting a cemetery headstone will be the most permanent thing you will ever purchase in your lifetime, so there’s certainly no need to make a quick and hasty decision.
It is important during the process of cemetery memorial shopping that you ask many questions. You should ask for the name and original origin of the granite(s) that you are interested in. For example, there are many grey granites on the market today, with many different names such as Barre Grey granite, Classic Grey and even Heritage gray however, Barre Grey is from Barre, Vermont and Classic Grey is from China. Both may appear very similar in appearance, but Barre Grey is known to be far more superior and will not hold moisture like the less expensive Grey granites will. Also, some companies have been known to change the names of granites to impede comparison shopping. Example; Dakota Mahogany is now being called Burgundy by some monument companies. This is why we always recommend asking exactly from what part of the country or world the granite gravestone you are considering comes from.
Because there so many varying degrees in the way a granite memorial is crafted by monument companies, you should always ask to see actual examples of a headstone company’s finished product. This way you can carefully examine the craftsmanship of the design, shaped roses, lettering, etc. This will give you a good idea on the kind of quality you can expect to receive from that particular company.
If you are having a cemetery headstone price quoted, you should always ask for the exact size dimensions,including the width of the memorial. The size of the bottom piece or “base” should be furnished with the length, width and height (ex: 3-0 x 1-0 x 0-10). The top piece, known as a “tablet or die” should be furnished with the length, width, and height in this order (ex: 3-6 x 0-08 x 2-2).
A granite memorial should stand the test of time. Therefore, you should receive a written perpetual full replacement warranty on the granite AND craftsmanship in the event your granite headstone or granite marker proves defective over time. And keep in mind, a written warranty is only as good as the company that is writing it. Many of these start-up internet-only monument companies have been around 10 years or less and are like other dot com companies that come and go over time. Woodlawn Memorials is not a “web based only” operation. We are a “brick and mortar” monument business that has been around since 1907 carefully and thoughtfully serving thousands upon thousands of satisfied families with our guaranteed memorials, craftsmanship, and monument lettering services. We will be here to stand behind our work and honor our written guarantees.
“An Educated Consumer Spends Less and Receives More”