Choosing the Material for your headstone

Monuments are available in many colors, textures and shapes. The most popular materials for memorials are granite, marble and bronze.

Granite is by far the most popular because of its durability, beauty and availability. Granite’s original state was molten lava. Over millions of years as it was exposed to extreme pressure far below the earths surface, it cooled. As the earths crust shifted, the granite deposits worked their way to the surface. Today, granite is quarried in many different states and foreign countries.

Marble is a sedimentary stone formed from deposits of organic material exposed to extreme pressures below the oceans surface over millions of years. Deposits of marble are quarried in numerous locations both domestically and in foreign countries. Marble is also available in a variety of colors, the most popular being white with gray veining. Although very beautiful and elegant, marble is not as durable as granite and is more suitable for indoor use.

Bronze is the second most popular material used for memorialization. Bronze is actually a metal alloy consisting of copper and zinc. It is often referred to as the eternal metal. Unlike other metals, bronze does not oxidize because it forms a protective coating or patina which is greenish-gray in color. Once this patina has formed, the bronze with last virtually forever. Bronze is actually produced in a foundry where it is poured in a liquid state into a mold or casting. Most bronze markers are usually the flat lawn, level type. Bronze is also used in full, round sculptures and for smaller castings to be attached to granite memorials.