Frequently Asked Questions
There is now a downloadable pdf file on stone care at the bottom on the page.
How durable is sandstone?
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock meaning that is made of compressed sediments. In this case mostly sand which is comprised of quartz and feldspar. If you look at various historic buildings around the region you will find several examples that are over 150 years old. Many examples of sandstone headstones dating to the mid 1800's can be found in the area.
I want to clean my stone. What is the best way to do this?
Your stone should only be cleaned using water mixed with a mild soap. Liquid dish soap works best for removing any dirt, bird droppings, etc. Under no circumstances should a high pressure washer be used on the stone. There is a possibility of leaving etching if used too closely or for too long in one spot. The safest thing to do is use a garden hose instead.
Some headstones that have been around for a while may have black or yellow lichen growing on them. This should only be removed by a professional. Please contact me if you are in need of this service.
What is your payment policy?
Once you have placed your finalized order I will require a 50% of the final amount in advance. This will not be refundable. Once your order is started there is no going back. That old saying "Nothing is etched in stone" doesn't apply here.
What forms of payment do you accept?
I accept payment in the form of cash, cheque, email money transfer and Paypal.
What is your policy regarding flaws, cracks and damage to a stone?
Each stone is carefully selected for your order. Any stone with visible cracks or flaws that would lead to it deteriorating quickly is rejected. Sometimes, flaws don't show up until later. If you find that your stone has developed a crack or detrimental flaw please contact me and I will work with you to fix the problem. If the stone cannot be repaired it will be replaced.
Anyone purchasing a monument should check with their insurance company to see if there is any sort of coverage for your stone. Some homeowners policies cover this. Any costs incurred from external damage caused by vandalism, collisions with motor vehicles, accidental contact with lawn mower blades, falling trees, natural disasters etc. are the responsibility of the purchaser and can only be repaired or replaced for a fee.
I have a stone that I would like to have engraved. Is this possible?
I do engrave customer supplied stones. Not all are suitable for engraving due to type of stone, durability, presence of cracks, etc. Each stone has to be examined before determining if it is suitable. Without knowing for certain the history of the stone I cannot guarantee customer supplied stones. For example, some stones that have come from a building that burnt have been exposed to high heat and likely have microscopic cracks that will lead to accelerated deterioration. The stone may also have been dropped, mishandled or improperly cleaned in the past.
How durable is sandstone?
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock meaning that is made of compressed sediments. In this case mostly sand which is comprised of quartz and feldspar. If you look at various historic buildings around the region you will find several examples that are over 150 years old. Many examples of sandstone headstones dating to the mid 1800's can be found in the area.
I want to clean my stone. What is the best way to do this?
Your stone should only be cleaned using water mixed with a mild soap. Liquid dish soap works best for removing any dirt, bird droppings, etc. Under no circumstances should a high pressure washer be used on the stone. There is a possibility of leaving etching if used too closely or for too long in one spot. The safest thing to do is use a garden hose instead.
Some headstones that have been around for a while may have black or yellow lichen growing on them. This should only be removed by a professional. Please contact me if you are in need of this service.
What is your payment policy?
Once you have placed your finalized order I will require a 50% of the final amount in advance. This will not be refundable. Once your order is started there is no going back. That old saying "Nothing is etched in stone" doesn't apply here.
What forms of payment do you accept?
I accept payment in the form of cash, cheque, email money transfer and Paypal.
What is your policy regarding flaws, cracks and damage to a stone?
Each stone is carefully selected for your order. Any stone with visible cracks or flaws that would lead to it deteriorating quickly is rejected. Sometimes, flaws don't show up until later. If you find that your stone has developed a crack or detrimental flaw please contact me and I will work with you to fix the problem. If the stone cannot be repaired it will be replaced.
Anyone purchasing a monument should check with their insurance company to see if there is any sort of coverage for your stone. Some homeowners policies cover this. Any costs incurred from external damage caused by vandalism, collisions with motor vehicles, accidental contact with lawn mower blades, falling trees, natural disasters etc. are the responsibility of the purchaser and can only be repaired or replaced for a fee.
I have a stone that I would like to have engraved. Is this possible?
I do engrave customer supplied stones. Not all are suitable for engraving due to type of stone, durability, presence of cracks, etc. Each stone has to be examined before determining if it is suitable. Without knowing for certain the history of the stone I cannot guarantee customer supplied stones. For example, some stones that have come from a building that burnt have been exposed to high heat and likely have microscopic cracks that will lead to accelerated deterioration. The stone may also have been dropped, mishandled or improperly cleaned in the past.
| stone_care.pdf |
