Where did my monument come from?
You might want to get a cup of coffee if you want to read all this!
A monument starts out as part of a block of stone pulled out of a quarry somewhere. A block saw cuts the block into slabs, like slicing a loaf of bread. Polishing mills transform the slabs from a dull finish to the high gloss you see on most monuments. The slabs are then sawed or split to size. Surfaces that will end up rock-pitched are formed with a hammer and chisel, the same way it's been done for centuries. Other surfaces will be sawed or milled to their finished shape, and usually polished either with a machine or by hand. Once these steps are done the only thing lacking is the addition of engraving before the monument is finished.
We purchase granite and other stone at many different stages in this process. We purchase blocks directly from quarries and work them from rough stone to a finished memorial. For materials we use less frequently, we purchase "broke-out" pieces, meaning a portion of a slab that is big enough to yield what we need. We also purchase finished monuments, the most common instance being low-cost monuments manufactured overseas.
A monument starts out as part of a block of stone pulled out of a quarry somewhere. A block saw cuts the block into slabs, like slicing a loaf of bread. Polishing mills transform the slabs from a dull finish to the high gloss you see on most monuments. The slabs are then sawed or split to size. Surfaces that will end up rock-pitched are formed with a hammer and chisel, the same way it's been done for centuries. Other surfaces will be sawed or milled to their finished shape, and usually polished either with a machine or by hand. Once these steps are done the only thing lacking is the addition of engraving before the monument is finished.
We purchase granite and other stone at many different stages in this process. We purchase blocks directly from quarries and work them from rough stone to a finished memorial. For materials we use less frequently, we purchase "broke-out" pieces, meaning a portion of a slab that is big enough to yield what we need. We also purchase finished monuments, the most common instance being low-cost monuments manufactured overseas.
Does it matter who made my monument?
Absolutely!!
We want it to look great the day it's installed, and keep on looking great in perpetuity, so we are extremely picky about the work we do. It would be arrogant of us to think that we are the only place in the world that can make a quality memorial, but there are so many companies that produce monuments who don't subscribe to the same commitment to quality that we do. We buy materials only from sources we trust to provide us with material that is the best in its class, whether we're buying block, slabs, or finished monuments. Lower costs are always enticing, but they typically mean a modest price reduction in exchange for a steep drop in quality. “The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price has faded from memory.” is a favorite quote of mine--and with monuments, the bitter remembrance lasts far longer than with any other item a purchaser has ever considered buying.
We want it to look great the day it's installed, and keep on looking great in perpetuity, so we are extremely picky about the work we do. It would be arrogant of us to think that we are the only place in the world that can make a quality memorial, but there are so many companies that produce monuments who don't subscribe to the same commitment to quality that we do. We buy materials only from sources we trust to provide us with material that is the best in its class, whether we're buying block, slabs, or finished monuments. Lower costs are always enticing, but they typically mean a modest price reduction in exchange for a steep drop in quality. “The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price has faded from memory.” is a favorite quote of mine--and with monuments, the bitter remembrance lasts far longer than with any other item a purchaser has ever considered buying.