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Curious about how a tombstone is installed? Discover the step-by-step tombstone installation process by Forever Stone Tombstones. We ensure safety, durability, and dignity for your loved one’s memorial across South Africa.
Introduction
Buying a tombstone is an emotional journey, but it is also a practical investment in your family’s legacy. While many families focus heavily on the design and the inscription—choosing the perfect granite or the right words—the installation process is equally critical.
At Forever Stone Tombstones, we believe that a beautiful memorial is only as good as its foundation. A professionally installed tombstone ensures that your tribute stands tall against the elements, preventing sinking, leaning, or damage over the decades.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the professional tombstone installation process so you know exactly what to expect when you trust us with your loved one’s memory.
Why Professional Installation Matters
Before we dive into the steps, it is important to understand why you should never cut corners on installation. South African cemeteries have varying soil conditions, from the rocky grounds of Pretoria to the sandy soil in coastal areas.
Attempting a DIY installation or hiring unqualified labour can lead to:
- Subsidence: The stone sinking into the ground after heavy rains.
- Toppling: A safety hazard where the headstone falls over.
- Cracking: Stress on the granite caused by an uneven base.
Our team at Forever Stone adheres to strict safety and quality standards to ensure your granite headstone remains a permanent sanctuary.
Step 1: Site Inspection and Preparation
The process begins long before the stone arrives at the cemetery. Our team coordinates with cemetery management to locate the exact plot and assess the ground conditions.
- Permits & Regulations: We ensure all cemetery bylaws regarding height, width, and installation methods are met.
- Ground Levelling: The area is cleared of debris, weeds, and uneven soil.
- Compaction: If the grave is recent, the soil may need time to settle, or we may need to use mechanical compactors to create a stable surface.
Step 2: Casting the Foundation (The Lintel)
The most important part of the installation is what you don’t see. The foundation acts as the anchor for the heavy granite.
For most full-body tombstones and large headstones, we utilize a concrete lintel or a reinforced concrete slab.
- We dig trenches to the appropriate depth.
- Steel reinforcement (rebar) is often used to add tensile strength.
- High-strength concrete is poured and leveled. This must cure (dry) properly to ensure it can bear the weight of the granite, which can weigh several hundred kilograms.
Step 3: Delivering and Positioning the Stone
Once the foundation is secure, our logistics team transports the memorial from our factory to the site. Whether you are in Johannesburg, Pretoria, or elsewhere in South Africa, we treat the stone with the utmost care to prevent chipping during transit.
Using specialized equipment (and often careful manual lifting for precision), the base of the tombstone is lowered onto the foundation. It is critical that this base is perfectly level; even a millimeter of variance can cause the headstone to look crooked or place stress on the joints.
Step 4: Assembly and Sealing
A tombstone is rarely a single piece of stone; it is usually comprised of the base, the headstone (die), and kerbing (for full grave covers).
- Doweling: For upright headstones, we often drill holes and insert stainless steel or fiberglass pins (dowels) between the base and the tablet. This prevents the stone from sliding or falling if bumped.
- Epoxy and Sealing: We use industrial-grade memorial epoxy and granite sealants to bond the pieces together. This seals the joints against water intrusion, which can freeze and expand (though less common in SA, water damage is still a threat to the cement bonds).
Step 5: The Finishing Touches
Once the structure is secure, we focus on aesthetics.
- Cleaning: We remove any installation dust, fingerprints, or excess sealant from the polished granite surface.
- Accessories: This is when we install the final touches you selected, such as flower vases, solar lights, or ceramic photos.
- Dressing the Grave: For full memorials, we may fill the centre with white marble chips, crushed stone, or prepare the soil for you to plant flowers.
Conclusion: A Tribute Built to Last
The installation day is the final step in honoring your loved one’s life. When done correctly, it brings closure and peace of mind, knowing that the memorial will be there for generations of grandchildren to visit.
At Forever Stone Tombstones, we don’t just sell granite; we provide a full-service memorial solution. From our affordable designs to our expert installation teams, we are dedicated to excellence.
Ready to choose a memorial that lasts forever?
Visit our showrooms in Pretoria or Johannesburg, or browse our catalogue online at www.foreverstone.co.za.
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