The Most Popular Materials for Headstones

“Headstone” is an overarching term used for any memorial designated for a cemetery plot. As you go through your funeral planning, you’ll find there are many more options than you might ever have expected with regard to the materials that can be used to create headstones.

Here are just a few of the most popular materials used for memorial headstones in Phillipsburg, NJ:

Granite: Granite is popular because of its combination of natural beauty and outstanding durability. A headstone is obviously something you’re going to want to stand the test of time. The popularity of granite has led to a boom in the number of artisans working with it, meaning you can find some very beautiful, ornately carved designs for headstones from expert granite workers.

Bronze:
Bronze is a metal alloy that has been used for headstones for centuries. Bronze requires very little in the way of maintenance, and when choosing a bronze headstone you’ll have plenty of options with regard to designs and appearances. This is also a material that is less expensive than other types of metals and other common headstone materials.

Marble:
Marble is nearly as popular as granite in the world of stone headstones. It is a perfect material for carving elaborate, intricate designs. However, marble can be susceptible to mild acid in rainwater, meaning inscriptions carved into it could become illegible after a certain amount of time. This means you can’t expect it to be quite as durable as some other options. There are people who will put bronze plaques on top of a marble stone, so you can still consider it as a base option.

Sandstone:
Sandstone can be cut in many different shapes and sizes, giving you plenty of customization ability with this material. It also comes in a range of colors, from a sandy brown to grays. Its appearance can decay a bit if moisture gets in between the layers of the stone, but it’s still a very durable option that you can expect to find at a reasonable price.

Iron:
Iron can last for generations in certain forms, but wrought ironwork simply cannot stand up to the passage of generations when used as a headstone. Therefore, before purchasing an iron headstone, you should consider where the grave is located and whether there is any cover overhead to shield it from the elements.

Wood:
Wood headstones cannot survive for more than 50 to 100 years when exposed to the elements. But if a wood headstone is placed inside a mausoleum or other indoor burial space, it could be a very beautiful option capable of producing intricate designs by woodworkers with highly specialized, honed skills.

Slate:
Slate was once much more popular than it currently is, thanks to its easy-to-carve nature. However, it is porous and not nearly as durable as other types of stone, so it is not frequently used in the headstone world any more.

For more information about popular headstone materials, contact Phillipsburg Memorial Company about our memorial headstones in Phillipsburg, NJ.

Categorised in: Headstone