Frequently Asked Questions
There is now a downloadable pdf file on stone care at the bottom on the page.
What forms of payment do you accept?
I accept cash, cheque, email money transfer and Paypal. I also have Square which works with debit or credit.
What is your payment policy?
Once you have placed your finalized order I will require 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 is included in the price of each stone?
All prices given for upright and sloped monuments include the engraved stone, a base, delivery and installation unless otherwise stated. Any fees charged by the cemetery are not included. Please check with the cemetery to see if they require a fee for marking the plot, etc.
Pricing for smaller stones such as flat markers, garden stones, pet memorials and address stones are for the stone only. Delivery and installation is available. Prices vary depending on size and delivery area. All prices given do not include HST.
What is your policy regarding defective stones?
All stones are guaranteed against internal flaws. Any stone to develop a crack or detrimental flaw after sale will be replaced. Stones are not guaranteed against damage caused by any outside factors such as vandalism, collision with vehicles, damage caused by landscaping, falling tree branches, weather, natural disasters, etc.
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, weather, etc. are the responsibility of the purchaser and can only be repaired or replaced for a fee.
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, a plastic bristled brush, and lots of elbow grease. Using soaps, detergents, chlorine, etc is not recommended. Some types of cleansers contain salts which in the long term can cause more damage to the stone. 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 require this service.
What is your policy regarding painted letters and artwork on stones?
While I do guarantee all stones that I supply against flaws, I cannot guarantee the duration of any paint that I apply to them. Eventually, any paint will have to be touched up or reapplied. For this reason I do not charge a fee for paint if this option is chosen when you place your order. If you decide that you would like the letters painted after the stone has been completed, or would like letters repainted I can provide this service 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 the history of the stone or what it has been exposed to it is impossible for me to guarantee any stone supplied by the client. 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.
What forms of payment do you accept?
I accept cash, cheque, email money transfer and Paypal. I also have Square which works with debit or credit.
What is your payment policy?
Once you have placed your finalized order I will require 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 is included in the price of each stone?
All prices given for upright and sloped monuments include the engraved stone, a base, delivery and installation unless otherwise stated. Any fees charged by the cemetery are not included. Please check with the cemetery to see if they require a fee for marking the plot, etc.
Pricing for smaller stones such as flat markers, garden stones, pet memorials and address stones are for the stone only. Delivery and installation is available. Prices vary depending on size and delivery area. All prices given do not include HST.
What is your policy regarding defective stones?
All stones are guaranteed against internal flaws. Any stone to develop a crack or detrimental flaw after sale will be replaced. Stones are not guaranteed against damage caused by any outside factors such as vandalism, collision with vehicles, damage caused by landscaping, falling tree branches, weather, natural disasters, etc.
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, weather, etc. are the responsibility of the purchaser and can only be repaired or replaced for a fee.
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, a plastic bristled brush, and lots of elbow grease. Using soaps, detergents, chlorine, etc is not recommended. Some types of cleansers contain salts which in the long term can cause more damage to the stone. 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 require this service.
What is your policy regarding painted letters and artwork on stones?
While I do guarantee all stones that I supply against flaws, I cannot guarantee the duration of any paint that I apply to them. Eventually, any paint will have to be touched up or reapplied. For this reason I do not charge a fee for paint if this option is chosen when you place your order. If you decide that you would like the letters painted after the stone has been completed, or would like letters repainted I can provide this service 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 the history of the stone or what it has been exposed to it is impossible for me to guarantee any stone supplied by the client. 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.
| dos_and_donts.pdf |