Why Stone Restoration Should Be Left to a Professional
If you're tasked with caring for any type of stone monument, you want to be careful about assuming you can restore or even clean this piece yourself. While you might be able to cut away some overgrown vines and weeds around the marker, actual stone restoration of any sort is best left to a professional. Note why this is so you know that you're hiring the right persons to care for any type of monument for which you're responsible and that the stone will be properly restored and looking its best once the work is done.
Fixing breaks and chips
Not all stone surfaces are alike, which makes fixing breaks and chips very difficult for someone who is inexperienced with this work. Some epoxies meant for stone repair might seep into a very soft and porous stone, causing it to weaken. Other epoxies might not adhere to a thick and dense stone, so the surface of the stone will become stained or discoloured.
Even if you were to choose the right epoxy for the stone that needs repair work, you need to apply it properly, and this takes some skill and experience. The dried epoxy needs to be buffed or sanded down so that it's not noticeable, and excessive pieces that may become visible after the fix is made need to be cleared away. A professional will know the best materials to use and how to use them properly when fixing breaks and chips in stone, so leave this work to them rather than thinking you can easily patch up your monument.
Cleaning
As with repairing breaks and chips, cleaning a headstone or any type of monument is often more difficult than you may assume. Simply hosing off the piece won't clean away all the debris that may have seeped into the pores of the stone or that may have built up in the engraved areas. Cleansers like shaving cream or car wash detergent, often used by amateurs, can actually cause damage to stones. These materials have oils that cling to the stone and then trap other dirt and debris, and they may also contain chemicals that can etch the stone or cause discoloration. They may also be downright ineffective in getting the stone thoroughly clean! Rather than wasting time and money on something that might actually cause more damage to a stone marker, have a monument cleaned and restored by a professional who can get the job done right.
Contact a company that offers cemetery restoration services to learn more.