How To Set A Gravestone

Gravestone installation is a very important part of my piece of work; I prefer to install all of my gravestones myself using the Monolith fixing method wherever possible. Here I explain how we set our headstones, and I describe the pros and cons of monolith and dowel (pin) fixings.

Health and safety has go a phrase which is normally accompanied by a long sigh. Information technology presents stumbling blocks and ofttimes inhibits creativity. In a cemetery however information technology is a necessary precaution which protects against bad installation (fixing) methods and ultimately helps to prevent stones from falling over and causing injury.

A gravestone will inevitably move over the years as the basis shifts. Information technology will lean and twist and sometimes fall over completely in fourth dimension. Sometimes if a gravestone is installed too early and the grave is nonetheless sinking, it will lean forwards at a worrying bending. For this reason regulations have been drawn upward by NAMM (National Association of Memorial Masons) which fixers of gravestones must adhere to.

There are two main methods of gravestone fixing - monolith and dowel fixing.

My preferred technique for fixing a gravestone is the monolith method, where approx ane/4 - 1/3 of the full length of the headstone is buried secret, and and then set in a precast concrete shoe.

A dowel fixing is where the gravestone is fixed with stainless steel dowels to a base of the same cloth equally the headstone. The base volition be stock-still to a concrete base of operations. In that location will exist a 'footing anchor' ( a long metal rod usually nigh an inch in diameter) connecting the gravestone to the ground between 12" and 24" deep.

This method was partly introduced to replace the monolith method equally fixers were putting less and less of the gravestone below ground (stone is expensive), and there was no fashion of policing this. At to the lowest degree a 3rd of the gravestone should be placed beneath the ground.

Here are some good and bad points about each method.

Dowel fixings

Good points

They comply with practically every cemetery in the UK.
If the correct procedures are followed, it is extremely unlikely the headstone volition ever fall over, although they will normally lean in time.

Bad points

The gravestone will be limited to a acme of 3ft.
They are unsightly.
If the gravestone leans in that location is little one tin do to upright it.
It is an expensive method because of the fourth dimension they take to fix.

Monolith fixings

Expert points

Gravestones expect then much ameliorate coming direct out of the ground; nearly all my clients prefer this organization.
It is a traditional method and is sympathetic to British churchyards.
The gravestone volition be easy to maintain. If the stone leans in fourth dimension, information technology is easy to upright it.
They are cheaper to install.
The gravestones are far more stable peculiarly on a gradient, provided they take been correctly fixed.
One is not restricted to a certain height.

Bad points

In that location is a danger of the 'cowboy fixer' declining to put enough of the stone underground.
Some cemeteries in the Britain will not allow this method because of the in a higher place reason.
Sometimes the cemetery will have already set a concrete beam for the dowel headstones to sit on.

This is how we prepare a gravestone monolith fashion.

i.Measure the distance betwixt existing gravestones and gauge the middle of the plot.

2.Place a short scaffold plank on the ground to mark the side of the pigsty and to prevent the footing from collapsing.

3.Start earthworks a rectangular hole large plenty to accept the concrete shoe. Information technology is worth making the hole at least 2" wider all round, then one has infinite to move the shoe into position. The spoil will be put on a plastic sheet.

four.If the gravestone is to be say 3ft above ground level, I would bury a further xv" underground. The base of operations of the concrete shoe is iv" then the hole must be xix" deep.

v.The physical shoe will be lowered into position and levelled perfectly. If the ground is stony or dirt, levelling will be tricky and information technology'll be difficult to stop the shoe rocking. At this signal kiln dry sand can exist poured in around the shoe. It volition run across the spaces and create a firm platform.

6.Once the shoe is in place, a thick post is placed on the side of the shoe and a piece of carpet is placed over the plank.

7.The gravestone is lowed into the slot in the shoe (with a flake of do, this does not need to be strenuous. One uses gravity to bear the weight at all times).

8.The levels are then checked and the gravestone is twisted if necessary, to line upward with the other memorials in the line.

9.Slate wedges are and then hammered into the slot in the shoe and the gravestone is fix. Even without putting any earth back the rock should be house.

ten.The earth is put back into the hole and compacted. Information technology is of import that i periodically checks the levels of the headstone during this stage.

eleven.Turf is replaced where necessary.

12.The gravestone is cleaned.

All reputable stonemasons volition guarantee their gravestones for x years. It is not unusual for at that place to be slight movements in the rock during the first year, especially if the grave is quite new. The headstone can be easily righted if the monolith fixing method was used.

Are we accredited with a regulatory torso?

Yep, we are acquaintance members of NAMM (The National Clan of Memorial Masons), members of the Master Carver'south Association and most chiefly, nosotros are on the NAMM Annals of Qualified Memorial Fixers (RRQMF). Our regulation number is 1688. This allows us to work in cemeteries all over the Uk and all of our fixings conform to electric current safety standards BS8415. Read more about this here.

Source: https://stoneletters.com/blog/gravestone-installation-monolith-or-dowel

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