Selecting a headstone can feel like a difficult choice, but learning a bit about the options on the market may help you get closer to making a selection. There are a number of types of granite headstones available, including ones that can be highly customized. It's normal to have questions about what you're really buying, but going into the process with an idea of what you'll be purchasing can make things simpler.

Durable Materials

Granite has a longstanding reputation for strength and durability, and that's why it's popular for use in a wide range of applications that are demanding. Granite headstones do not chip or crack easily, and they're also known for resisting heat-induced stresses over many decades. If a blemish does occur, fixing one is generally considered to be fairly easy. Granite also has a very low rate of deterioration, making it an excellent choice to memorialize a loved one.

Sealing

A number of epoxies, sealers and even paints are available for use on granite headstones. This allows customers to choose styles that express what they want to say about the departed clearly. Properly applied by a professional, these products can give a headstone an attractive sheen. It also makes a stone simpler to clean, and it provides added layers that'll resist stripping due to cleaning over time.

Customization

There are a variety of ways to create custom granite headstones, but the three most popular techniques are laser etching, chiseling, and grinding. Most practitioners have the resources and skills needed to use all three methods, but your choice will depend heavily on what type of look you intend to get.

Laser etching is a technique that calls for a stone to be placed in a chamber. A laser is then used to slowly burn the desired features into the stone. Traditional text options are available, but you also can add images with near-photographic quality. This has made the laser etching popular with many younger customers who want to make more overt and unique statements with memorials.

Chiseling and grinding techniques call for more hands-on work, and consequently, they may be somewhat more expensive. If you're looking for a more traditional or natural appearance, however, the approach will produce a stone that will seem at home with older ones in a cemetery. Regardless of any technical choices, it's normal for handwork to be done to tighten up a stone's look.

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