Care and repairs for memorial masonry

Whether you want to keep your loved one’s memorial masonry looking its very best or restore an older headstone to its former glory, our specialist maintenance, repair, and restoration services can help.

Specialist and meticulous care

Headstones and memorial masonry need specialist care to preserve lettering, carvings and any special finishes.

Our expert stonemasons can help, whether you need a one-off repair, a simple clean and polish, a complete restoration, or regular care. You don’t have to be a previous Reynolds customer.

Example of an aftercare project we completed on a marble headstone.

Assessing what’s needed

The first thing we’ll do is an assessment of the memorial so that we can recommend the best approach to achieve what you want and tell you how much it would cost. That might involve a visit to the memorial so that we can fully assess its condition.

We’ll consider

Materials

This will affect the type of care or cleaning needed.
Location

To make sure any work doesn’t make the memorial look out of place.
Safety

Whether worn foundations or subsidence could affect its stability.

If a memorial has been deemed unsafe

Local councils have a responsibility to make sure cemeteries are safe places for the public. If they’ve told you a memorial you are responsible for is unsafe, let us know and we can guide you through what’s needed to make it safe again.

Our masonry aftercare services

Depending on what you need, masonry restoration and maintenance might include:

Cleaning

Careful cleaning to remove built-up moss, algae, tree-sap and other biological substances and minimise any further damage to inscriptions and designs.
Polishing

For masonry that was originally polished but has lost its shine.
Restoration

Expert care to bring a memorial back to its original condition. This may include repainting or regilding of faded lettering, recutting weathered inscriptions and repairing or replacing leadwork.
Repair or refixing

From a chipped corner, a cracked vase or worn foundations, through to a complete break or replacing missing parts.

Protecting the memorial in the future

You can take out a package of services from day one when a memorial is installed, or you can request them as and when you feel they are required.

Regular maintenance

Often done twice a year, we lightly clean the memorial to prevent the build-up of moss and algae, tidy up the surrounding area and check for any issues that may have developed. This service gives you peace of mind that your loved one’s memorial is being taken care of.

Headstone insurance

Memorial masonry can unfortunately become damaged over time, whether from a fallen branch, thoughtless vandalism or even an overzealous lawnmower. Headstone insurance means you can arrange quick restoration or a replacement without being burdened with unnecessary extra costs.

Our services

You can take out a package of services from day one when a memorial is installed, or you can request them as and when you feel they are required. Our expert stonemasons can provide everything from a simple memorial clean and polish right through to a complete restoration, which could involve regilding or recutting the inscription. The most common services we provide are summarised below.

Cleaning

Memorial cleaning involves the removal of built-up moss, algae, tree sap and other biological substances from the surface of the stone.

Polishing

Careful rejuvenation of the memorials surface shine. Only available for suitable masonry that was originally polished.

Restoration

Restoring a memorial often includes repainting and regilding of lettering, the recutting of weathered inscriptions, and leadwork.

Repair

Our team can deal with anything from a chipped corner or a cracked vase through to a complete break or replacing missing parts.

Maintenance

Often undertaken as a twice-yearly contract, this includes light cleaning of the memorial to prevent the build-up of moss and algae, tidying up of the surrounding area and checks for any issues that may have developed.

Assessing what is needed

One of the most common questions we are asked is ‘How do I clean this stone?’. Although the cleaning of a memorial may seem quite simple, this is not always the case. Every time a memorial is cleaned, a thin layer of the surface is removed in the process. Clean it too often and inscriptions and details will fade as well.

Planning

Before any aftercare takes place, we will first discuss what you are hoping to achieve. We may also visit the memorial to fully assess its condition so that we can provide you with the best plan of action.

Materials

Whether the memorial is made of granite, marble, limestone or another natural material, it will be susceptible to the elements over time. Some materials change more noticeably over time than others. The differences between materials are reflected in how we approach each individual project.

Location

The first thought is often to restore the stone to make it look new. However, a new looking stone in an old graveyard will often look very out of place. We make sure to factor in the surroundings in our recommendations.

Safety

Local councils have a responsibility to make sure cemeteries are a safe place for the public to visit. If they have deemed a memorial you are responsible for to be unsafe, they will contact you about it. Whatever their reasons, let us know, and we’ll guide you through what is required to make it safe again.

Insurance

Depending on the age, condition and location of the memorial it may be worth considering an insurance policy to protect you against future issues. Whether from a fallen branch, an overzealous lawnmower or intentional vandalism, headstone insurance ensures you have the funds to arrange a speedy restoration or replacement.

Ask us for a memorial assessment

The best place to start is with a free, no obligation assessment so we can recommend the best course of action.

Care and repairs for memorial masonry

Specialist and meticulous care

Assessing what’s needed

We’ll consider

Materials

Location

Safety

If a memorial has been deemed unsafe

Our masonry aftercare services

Cleaning

Polishing

Restoration

Repair or refixing

Protecting the memorial in the future

Regular maintenance

Headstone insurance

Our services

Cleaning

Polishing

Restoration

Repair

Maintenance

Before and after

Assessing what is needed

Planning

Materials

Location

Safety

Insurance

Ask us for a memorial assessment

Request a home visit

Taking care of your data

Email

Bognor Regis

Chichester

Littlehampton