When to Erect a Headstone in Phillipsburg, NJ

When to Erect a Headstone in Phillipsburg, NJ

September 25, 2018

When you have to bury a loved one, it’s understandable to want to get the entire process over with as quickly as possible so you can begin the process of healing and moving on. However, you should wait a little bit of time after the burial to erect a headstone. If you move too quickly on setting up a headstone, you might end up having to order a replacement, which means you’ll pay twice as much money for a problem you could have avoided simply by setting up the headstone at the correct time.

Here is some information about why you should wait until months after the burial to erect a gravestone in Phillipsburg, NJ made by a professional monument maker.

The ground needs time to stabilize and settle

The biggest reason why you should not erect the headstone immediately after (or before) the burial is that you need to give the ground in the area some time to stabilize. The grave could still be sinking to an extent for some months after the burial occurs.

A good rule of thumb is to wait at least six months before putting the headstone in place—otherwise there’s a chance the headstone could lean forward or even crack as the ground around it freezes and thaws during the settling process.

While your chosen monument maker will do everything possible to provide you with solid advice about headstone erection and take every precaution available to prevent the headstone from moving or shifting around, there’s simply nothing that can be done to stop the ground from moving during this natural process. If you can wait a year, you might consider doing so, just so the ground has been able to go through four seasons of shifting and settling first.

It gives you time to clear your head

Beyond the practical reasons for waiting to erect the headstone, there are emotional ones, as well. You’re going to have to deal with a lot in the immediate aftermath of your loved one’s death. Even after the funeral and burial have taken place, you may have to focus on executing your loved one’s estate, which will consume a lot of your time and energy. Coming back to the headstone can give you a chance to clear your head, look through the options and not feel rushed into a decision, particularly if your loved one didn’t leave any instructions behind.

It allows you to get exactly what you’re looking for

Good quality stone is worth waiting for. This is especially true if you or your loved one had a particular type of headstone in mind—there’s a chance the materials might not be available right away for the burial, so even if you didn’t have to worry about issues with the ground settling, you might still be forced to wait simply until it’s logistically possible to create the headstone.

For more information about erecting a headstone in Phillipsburg, NJ, contact Phillipsburg Memorial Company to speak with an experienced monument maker.

Categorised in: