Frequently Asked Questions
| How long does it take to complete a memorial?
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- The length of time necessary to complete your memorial is dependent on the type of memorial you choose, the color of granite that has been selected, the level of design work required, and the time of year that the order is placed. Our very specialized monuments and memorials can take up to six months to be completed, while our flat markers are generally ready to be delivered to the cemetery within 90 days from the order date.
| Should I use years only or month, day and year?
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- Sometimes this decision must be made based on the amount of space that is available on your memorial with your chosen design. If there is sufficient space, then you may be more specific with information, such as month, day, and year, to offer more detailed information on the memorial. In most cases, there is no additional charge for the more detailed inscription if it is chosen at the time of purchase of the memorial.
| What type of material should the memorial be made of?
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- Lancaster Monument Company specializes in memorials made from the finest quality of granite or bronze. We have a wide variety of colors and types of granite to choose from. Some cemeteries only allow bronze memorials, and others that allow granite memorials may have restrictions on the color of granite, size and style of memorial, and bronze options.
| Do you stand behind your work?
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- Lancaster Monument Company unconditionally guarantees the work we do for you. If you are not completely satisfied with the design, lettering, or materials you selected, we will work to satisfy you. Please see our Unconditional Guaranteethat we offer for all of our products and services.
| Who installs the memorials?
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- The employees at Lancaster Monument Company will see that your memorial is professionally installed in the cemetery.
| How long will the stone last?
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- Our memorials are made of granite and granite is a very hard, quarried stone that will last forever. At our manufacturing plant, we use a sandblast process for the design and inscription. It becomes a part of the granite and will also last indefinitely.
| What is the difference between granite and marble?
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- The composition of granite and marble is very different. Granite is an igneous rock that was once a molten mass called magma. Marble is created by a concentration of bones and shells of sea creatures that build up a deposit of lime. Therefore, marble is not nearly as hard as granite and will erode over the years. Granite is the preferred material to use for memorials because of its durability.
| How is the carving and design put on the stone?
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- Lancaster Monument Company prides itself in its manufacturing. We employ skilled craftsman that hand-carve special designs. We create the matte, which includes the design and the lettering. Through various sandblast processes, your design is permanently engraved in your chosen color and style of granite stone. Our craftsmen can create or duplicate almost any personalized design that our customer may desire.
| If I want a special design, can you do it?
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- We pride ourselves in our ability to personalize each and every memorial. When you sit down with one of our design specialists, they can help you design a very meaningful and personal memorial. We have thousands of design options to chose from, or we can accommodate your special requests to personalize your memorial.
| Why does the granite have different shades of color on the same stone?
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- When the pieces of granite come to our manufacturing plant, they are polished to bring out the dark, natural beauty of the stone. During the sandblast process to create the design and lettering, some of the polish is removed from the stone, thus creating a lighter, rougher texture. A second sandblast process carves the deeper, darker lines for designs and lettering.
| Do all cemeteries allow the same type of memorial?
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- Cemeteries each have their own requirements for the size and type of memorials that they will allow. Some restrict the color of granite that can be used, and others only allow bronze. We will work with you to determine what is allowable for your cemetery and what will look best on your gravesite.
| Why should I buy a memorial from Lancaster Monument Company instead of from the cemetery?
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- Lancaster Monument Company specializes in making memorials. We are experts in the field of memorials, having been in business since 1874. While a cemetery may be convenient, it does not specialize in memorials. We can provide the expertise to design an appropriate memorial for you, and we offer a complete selection of designs and colors.
| How much should I expect to pay for a memorial?
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- The cost of a memorial can vary significantly based on several factors. Our lawn level markers start at $500 and increase in price based on the design and color of granite that you choose. Monuments for one and two graves start at $1,300 and increase in price based on the style, design, special features such as bronze accents, extra lettering, and vases, and the color choice of granite. Our mausoleums are very specialized, and we encourage you to contact one of our designers to help create a memorial suitable to your budget.
| What is the difference between a hand etching and a laser etching?
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- Hand etchings are done by an artist who uses specialized diamont-tipped rods to impress a series of tiny holes directly in the black granite. These impressions will last forever and provide the maximum amount of clarity of an image. Laser etchings are done on a computer and the impressions are made with a machine tool.
| Do I need to purchase a memorial even if the body was cremated?
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- Cremation should not limit the need for a family to memorialize a person's life. We offer a variety of ways to do this. In many cemeteries, cremains are buried in the grave site and a regular monument or marker is used. We can also place a niche in the base of a monument or bench for the cremains. Family Columbariums are available as well. We also offer decorative urns for cremains.
| Do we need to wait for any length of time after a death before ordering a memorial?
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- The right time to order a memorial is a very personal decision. Some families chose to select the memorial at the same time they are making funeral arrangements. Other families need more time to make this lasting and important decision, so they might wait until they can decide what the most appropriate memorial might be. Still others want to have their own arrangements made prior to their death so they won't have to burden their loved ones with these decisions. We call this pre-need purchasing, and it is very common in our industry. There is no "right" answer to this question--it is a very personal decision based on specific family situations. It is not necessary to wait for a grave to settle. A memorial can be ordered immediately after a death.