Cleaning Marble Granite Headstones

We look for potentially damaged areas including stress cracks loose sections biological growth and other factors that might be invisible to an untrained person.

Cleaning marble granite headstones. How to clean a marble headstone. Clean a marble gravestone. This is the opposite of an all to common assumption that extreme measures given the contaminants should be used on exterior marble cleaning. Monuments will wear down over the centuries and we are able to restore these monuments to almost new condition.

It is important that you know what type of stone you are dealing with. Ivory or orvus natural bristled brushes. We have worked on restoration projects such as civil war headstones as well as full cemetery restorations. Pre 1970s bronze was not sealed and will.

Supplies needed for cleaning headstones. You want to keep the marble wet throughout the cleaning process by continually wiping the marble headstone with a cloth and clean water. Supplies vary based on the gravestone material. Cleaning a white marble gravestone requires care and some special tools but it is a relatively easy task that can be accomplished in one afternoon.

Only marble that is in good condition should be cleaned. Here we ll go over what you ll need for marble granite and bronze headstones. First you ll need some cleaning supplies to get started. Learn how to clean a headstone without damaging it.

The goal of cleaning is to remove air pollution soiling lichen bird droppings dirt salts and sap it is not to make the headstone marker look like new improper or unnecessary cleaning can accelerate the deterioration of marble and granite. Gravestones are made of many materials such as marble granite limestone sandstone bronze slate iron concrete and more. Different types will require different cleaning methods. For granite see our guide how to clean a granite headstone tombstone.

For marble use the cleaning steps below. Rinse and wipe the marble headstone once all of the debris has been removed by the soapy water mixture rinse the entire surface of the marble headstone thoroughly with clean water and a clean cloth. Pre wet the stone with clean water. Each of these handle cleanings and subsequent cleaning products differently.

Before cleaning any headstone or monument marker everlasting granite and marble will inspect the gravesite first. Marble needs to be treated even more gently than granite. If you re making the effort to clean a headstone you obviously want to do it right. If there is growth remove using a wooden scraper.

Gravestones can become covered in moss and lichen and the carved words can become obscured with dirt and grime.