For most people, a headstone is a unique mark on a loved one's grave. As such, it is crucial to give some thought to its maintenance if you want the memorial to last long. However, specific issues call for headstone restoration services regardless of how much work you put into its maintenance. Therefore, when you erect a headstone on a loved one's grave, you need to know what situations call for restoration. Here are the most common reasons for headstone restoration.
Age
Like any other material, headstones age, which is arguably the most common reason for repairs. As the years go by, nature takes its course, and the material used on a headstone begins to deteriorate. For instance, headstones are exposed to external elements every day, causing progressive wear. Thus, when a grave marker ages, you start seeing discolourations, cracks and even sinking. It is the right time to contact headstone restoration service providers to repair a grave marker to its initial condition. Note that restoring an old headstone involves a bit of work depending on the degree of deterioration, which determines the cost.
Vandalism
When you bury a loved one, you do so believing that they will rest in eternal peace. Thus, it is difficult to imagine that someone would walk up to a headstone and vandalise it without considering how a deceased person's loved ones would feel. Unfortunately, some people do not understand the importance of a monument to family and friends of a deceased. Therefore, they vandalise gravestones with whatever tools they can get, not knowing that the act can be seen as an equivalent to a personal attack. Common headstone vandalism is spray painting. Luckily, restoring spray painted headstones does not usually involve much. However, headstone restoration services must use the right cleaning supplies to prevent further damage to a grave marker.
Weathering
Weather elements, such as rain, direct sun, wind and storms, can dramatically affect a headstone's condition. For instance, headstones in graveyards located in a windy or stormy area will deteriorate fast because of projectiles carried away by the wind. Similarly, headstones in locations that receive acid rains can degrade more quickly than markers in regions with normal precipitation. Weathered headstones can be restored in various ways, including sealing cracks and holes or grinding the surface to restore the smooth lustre.
For more information about restoration, contact a company that provides headstone restoration services.
