Restorations

Over the last 100 years we have learned more of what materials last better. Because New Zealand is far away from the world’s stone supplies, in the past most monuments were mounted on a concrete foundation. Much of this old concrete is very weak and is now failing. It is always better lasting in a monuments construction to have more stone and the least amount of concrete as possible but today’s concrete is much stronger and will last better than this material did in the past. However, many families are now taking the opportunity to replace concrete bases with granite as our prices are so affordable.

Some of our work

The marble headstone is in very good condition having received regular maintenance over the years but the concrete curb is cracked. This was removed and the chemically cleaned headstone mounted on a new foundation. The balance of the plot sown in lawn on fresh topsoil.

Here you can see the concrete bases deteriorating and lichen growing on the unpolished granite surface. We have removed the headstones and polished the tops, backs and sides in our own factory and mounted them on new granite bases. This will ensure future maintenance is kept to a minimum.

The concrete base has cracked and been replaced with a matching two-step granite base. This will ensure the monument will look good in perpetuity. The family decided not to incorporate flower vases for a clean simple look.

The family wished to inter another family member in this existing plot. There was no room to engrave more lettering on the monument, so the concrete base was replaced with a two-step granite one. The new inscription has been engraved in the ‘embossed’ style to match. Using an existing plot is a good idea as it saves land and is one place to visit in the cemetery instead of several.

On most of these renovation case studies, you will see how polished granite remains relativity clean compared to concrete. This is because granite is so much harder. Here we have replaced the concrete base with a matching granite one and engraved a new inscription by hand to match.

Here we have another case of very weak concrete disintegrating due to frost. All this concrete has been removed and the granite plaque set in a new concrete desk, this has been finished in grey cement plaster to fit it with the older part of the cemetery. The balance of the plot is sown in lawn that will be mown in perpetuity.

The family wished to inter another family member in this existing plot. There was no room to engrave more lettering on the monument so we have refaced the headstone by grinding off the old inscription and re-polishing the headstone. All the lettering had been re-engraved adding the additional name.

An older marble monument with lead lettering where other family members have been interred. New black granite headstones have been mounted each side and the cracked concrete surrounds removed. All the headstones were mounted on a new concrete base finished in white plaster. The balance of the plot sown in lawn which the Council will mow in perpetuity.

This monument we have cleaned, regilded and mounted on a new granite base. The inscription on the right does not match the original inscription on the left. This was not our work.

The family wished to inter another family member in this existing plot. There was no room to engrave more lettering on the monument, so the concrete base was replaced with a sloping granite one. We chemically cleaned the existing plot and re whitened the inscriptions. Using an existing plot is a good idea as it saves land and is one place to visit in the cemetery instead of several.