Memorializing a person can
be an intensely personal and emotional experience. Yet
nothing in the human experience is so vital to our sense
of personal history. And virtually no other purchase is
transacted with so little knowledge as when the bereaved
selects a memorial for a loved one.
American Memorials does its best to ease the sorrowful
experience of selecting a memorial, and to provide
important information on the variety, quality and
durability of memorials.
What services should a memorial company offer?
Since purchasing a memorial is so often an emotional
event, companies that offer a well-rounded selection of
services and products are especially respected. For
instance, American Memorials offers free in-home
consultations with no obligation of any kind.
Because the memorial is a statement about the life of
the individual, the design of the memorial is vital to
the satisfaction of the customer. American Memorials
offers custom memorial designs as well as pre-designed
monuments in more than thirty colors of granite. Designs
may include such highly individual elements as etchings
from photos or other images as well as personalized
messages and designs.
In addition to providing the memorial itself, Art In
Granite Memorials also offers cemetery negotiations and
permits, foundation and monument installation, monument
cleaning and restoration, and its lifetime unconditional
workmanship and monument guarantee and five year
unconditional foundation guarantee. What’s more, most
Art In Granite Memorials monuments are delivered and
installed within five weeks of the approval of the
design rendering.
Why is a memorial important?
A memorial is the primary tangible link between the
past, the present and the future. Not only does it serve
as an indicator of a final resting place for a loved
one, it is a beacon for all succeeding generations who
wish to know and honor their heritage.
Why do monuments crack?
Monuments crack because even though granite is an
incredibly strong and enduring material it can be porous
if improperly prepared, or if a low grade of granite is
used in a monument. Particularly in the winter if water
seeps into the pores of granite it can contract and
expand throughout the season and eventually destroy the
monument.
Why do some monuments “lean” and others don’t?
While the age of a monument is a factor in “leaning,”
just as often this is due to a poorly constructed
foundation. While no foundation can be expected to last
forever, you should rest in assurance that yours will
hold the memorial upright for many years.
To do its job correctly, the foundation must be poured
with care. That is, the ground must be cleared to a
sufficient depth to discourage frost heaves; the slab
must be of sufficient thickness to hold the monument
itself and the foundation must be poured level and
smooth.
Art In Granite Memorials offers an unconditional
five-year guarantee on its foundations – among the
strongest in the industry.
Why is the lettering on some monuments easy to read
while on others it is nearly indecipherable?
To retain its readability, a monument’s surface must be
deeply incised. Regardless of whether the stonecutter
uses a hammer and chisel or modern laser tools, the art
of stone carving is not easy. It is learned over the
course of many years and requires a steady hand as well
as muscle. When the cutter makes the cuts too shallow or
without enough definition, the inscription will soon
fade into oblivion.
Art In Granite Memorials contracts with only the finest,
most experienced sculptors who understand our standards
– and whose own standards match ours.
What makes some monuments look “weathered” while
others stay newer looking?
Endurance is a big word in memorial industry. Today,
most monuments are made of granite – but what grade of
granite is the big question.
While winter is a major culprit in destroying granite,
all seasons and all weather can do damage. By far the
biggest problem is the freezing and refreezing of water
that has seeped into the granite’s pores. This constant
contraction and expansion causes cracks and fissures in
lesser quality granites. And even if no cracks are
apparent, this action can cause the surface of the
monument to develop a “faded” appearance.
By using only the finest grades of granite Art In
Granite Memorials is able to offer an unconditional
granite quality guarantee. While this grade may be a bit
more costly, the granite’s ability to stand up over very
long periods means the monument fulfills its duty as a
long-lasting remembrance of the loved one.
What companies offer the best guarantees of their
memorials?
There are few memorial companies who match the
guarantees of Art In Granite Memorials.
American Memorials guarantees the replacement of any
granite memorial due to a defect in material or
workmanship. Period. American Memorials also guarantees
the quality of the foundation for five full years.
What materials are available for memorials?
At Art In Granite Memorials, depending on what type of
memorial you select, you may choose from bronze or
granite upright monuments or flat markers in a variety
of colors.
In addition, you can choose from an array of cremation
products, flower vases, mausoleums, benches and
specialty cemetery fixtures.
Why do prices differ so much between monument
dealers?
It is important to remember that granite is a natural
building material, it must be quarried from the ground.
Granite comes in both high and low quality. Some
unscrupulous monument dealers sell low grade granite
without even alerting their customers to its nature. Art
In Granite Memorials uses only the highest grade granite
in its monuments. That is why we can confidently offer
something our competitors cannot match, a 100%
guarantee.
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