All about cemetery lettering and engraving

How is cemetery lettering done / what's the process?

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A customer will contact us letting us know they need new lettering added to their headstone. Once we have the new lettering details, we will visit the stone to take measurements and get a "rubbing" of the existing lettering. A rubbing helps ensure that the new lettering we are adding will match the format, font, size, and spacing of the existing lettering. Each line of text, each word, really, is scrutinized and measured so the new lettering is an exact match of what is already on the stone. Working off the rubbing, we create a drawing of the new lettering using a CAD (computer aided design) program. The drawing is then shared with the customer so they are able to review and approve it. Once approved, the computerized drawing is cut into a rubber stencil which will be used in the final engraving process; each character cut into the new stencil then gets removed, so what is left is a rubber template that shows the new engraving details. We take the rubber stencil back to the headstone, and after taking another series of measurements, the stencil gets applied to the headstone. After a final review, the headstone is ready to be engraved. Using a sandblast process, each character is engraved to a specific depth, which is usually based on the depth of the existing lettering, which again, ensures the new lettering looks as close to the original as possible. When the sandblast work is finished, each character is again inspected for consistency. At this point, any necessary paint matching or hand-tooling (chiseling) is done. If everything looks good, the stencil is removed and the new lettering area is cleaned of any residue left behind from the rubber stencil.

When is the best time of year to have lettering done?

Because engraving work is done outdoors and there are a number of variables to consider, such as the equipment we use and the chemicals with which we work that only function above the freezing mark, it is best to have this work done when the weather is mild (at least 50 degrees) and dry. While there are certain measures we can take to do an engraving in adverse weather conditions, it's always best when it is mild and dry outside. The outdoor engraving season typically starts in early spring, which usually means late March and runs through mid-December (all weather permitting). There are some years (think ) when the Boston area can still be under several feet of snow in March, and some years when we get snowstorms in December that force an early end to the season.

Do you have to remove the stone to do the work?

Nope. All of our work is done onsite where ever the stone is. Our equipment is totally portable, so we can access the stone where ever it is - even if it's 300 feet off the road (we hope it's not).

What font styles can be used?

With the technological improvements in monument design software, we are able to match any font you need so you can rest assured that the new engravings will be an exact match of the older engraving on your family's stone.

One thing to keep in mind with engraving work is that occasionally, hand-chiseling letters is required to match the look of older letters that were done with a hammer and chisel (before sandblasting was invented). Freshly chiseled characters appear a lot brighter and newer than the older lettering on the monument. This is because the new lettering is freshly scratched into the stone, and at one point even the old lettering looked like that. Over time, this brightness will fade and all the lettering on the monument will look the same.

Please reach out and contact us if you&#;d like to get a free lettering quote.

Cemetery monuments like raised headstones and flat grave markers are essential to pay meaningful tributes to our loved ones who have passed away. The memorial design process can be emotional yet extremely rewarding in the long run when you&#;re finally able to create a design that can truly represent the memory of the deceased.

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Be that as it may, with the availability of many design options, it may become an overwhelming experience for you when selecting all the options and specifications you want. Apart from choosing the memorial&#;s material, size, and style, there are different personalization options to consider, such as design, symbols, inscriptions, and images to be set in stone.

One of the significant decisions you&#;ll need to make in choosing a cemetery memorial in engraved or etched form. Both engraving and etching are two of the most popular headstone design methods, quite different from each other. It&#;s vital to know about both of these design techniques in detail in order to differentiate between them accurately.

Here, we&#;ll discuss critical differences between these two processes to make an informed decision about the type of design on your monument.

Engraving

Engraving is one of the most common procedures used to produce lettering, symbols, and images for designing cemetery stones. It&#;s a process that involves creating artworks or cutting different design patterns into a hard surface like a granite headstone.

Some artisans prefer to use the traditional way of engraving, which involves utilizing a hammer or chisel for granite engraving. The most widely used technique used for granite memorial carving is sandblasting, due to its increased precision and efficiency.

The sandblasting method of monument engraving involves the usage of compressed air in order to shoot tiny sand particles at high pressure at a granite stone surface. This results in the eroding of the surface and is known to be one of the most effective methods for engraving granite surfaces.

The sandblasting method is well-suited for carving out lettering, and can effectively be utilized to make stunning designs on both dark and light colors of polished granite surfaces.

Etching

The etching process is most suitable for making designs when you need to incorporate increased details into your granite flat grave marker. While engraving creates deeper cuts, etching can be used to make shallower and increasingly detailed design patterns.

Etching can be performed on various memorial stones either by hand or using a laser technique. Hand etching is a complicated procedure to carry out, requiring many skill-sets &#; though it adds some unique customization and character that cannot be achieved through laser work.

Monument makers using the hand etching technique can create highly attractive images and transform them into exclusive artwork that gives granite stone a unique character. Although this method takes much time to complete, designs made with hand etching can render spectacular results.

Laser etching can create increasingly accurate, comprehensive recreations and representations of real designs and photos. During this procedure, a computerized laser is utilized to burn away the cemetery stone&#;s surface. This method of design creation is much less costly as compared to traditional hand etching.

The technique of laser etching doesn&#;t require that much skill or time to execute final designs and is also not as crafty as the hand etching method. Although laser etching doesn&#;t create enough depth for enhanced contrast for letterings and designs, it&#;s still a useful choice for the right kind of designs.

Summit Memorials is proud to help you honor the memories of your loved ones with high-quality granite monuments and headstones across Alberta and Saskatchewan. Visit our website to explore our selection of granite memorials or contact us for customized care.

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