Winter is almost over and if you are considering a new memorial for a grave or replacing/renovating an existing one, now is a good time to do it. At Sarsfield Memorials, the oldest independent memorial mason in Liverpool headstones are the core part of our business and Spring is always a busy time for us.
In Spring the ground is much firmer and settled providing the perfect conditions for memorial installation. As we leave the dark winter months behind us, a newly erected headstone at your loved one’s grave for the Spring and Summer provides a fitting tribute. It is somewhere where their lives can be commemorated in a perfect way, surrounded by the newly sprouted flowers. We have a wide selection of headstones available to order and examples are here. However if you do not see what you require please contact us as we can usually tailor memorials to suit your wishes.
Erecting new headstones in the winter can be problematic due to the soil being frozen or extremely soggy, making it impossible to pour the cement for the foundation. Inclement weather and the darker nights can also mean that even if you were to install a headstone in November or December, if it is a lighter coloured material it may already be in need of a clean by the time you are visiting in the warmer months.
Spring is naturally a good time to have a headstone cleaned after the battering they can take in the winter months. Even the most durable granite memorials need a clean from time to time, while the softer and lighter materials such as marble and Portland stone can become discoloured especially if they are near falling leaves.
Relatively newer headstones can sometimes be cleaned with just warm water if the right material is used to apply it. We do not recommend cleaning your your memorial yourself though as using the wrong methods can cause lasting damage, damaging the gold leaf or causing staining or chemical corrosion to softer stones. At Sarsfield Memorials we have a range of options available for repair and renovation, from a simple clean to re-gilding of inscriptions, we are always happy to share our knowledge and expertise with you at no cost, if it is something that you can do yourself.
The images on this blog page show how memorials can be made to look as good as new after a clean. If you do not live locally we will update you with progress, providing before and after photographs. If you would like to discuss the installation of a new memorial or cleaning/restoration of an existing one, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss your requirements and provide a free no obligation quote.