Memorial Renovations Explained

Written by: Annissa
Published: 13th October 2025

We think of headstones as permanent, and they often last for very long periods of time. Many of us have probably had the experience of walking through a churchyard or cemetery and noticing a memorial from many years ago. However, there are factors that contribute to the length of a memorial’s life and how well the inscription and other ornamentation upon it might last. Here we talk about some of the common issues that can lead to a stone needing to be repaired or renovated, and how we can assist with them.

Material of the stone

Some types of stone are harder than others, and this can have a substantial impact on factors like weathering. Granite is the hardest of stones, so hard that inscriptions cannot be hand carved onto it. Memorials made of softer lime- or sandstone may weather quicker. Some materials also have lower porosity and take on water, and some are more susceptible to the development of biological growth such as algae.

Location of the stone

Nearby foliage can shed onto, or come into contact with, the memorial, causing staining. Damp locations can have an effect on more porous stones and even pollution can lead to erosion over time.

Lettering/ Ornamentation choices

Paints can fade over time. A strong contrast between a dark stone and pale letters (or vice versa) can mean fading seems to occur more quickly. Some types of stone are better left unpainted because of issues with bleeding of colour, and some stones might be less suitable to have a detailed image carved into them. Granite memorials need to be painted so the inscription or ornamentation is visible.

Accidental damage

Most memorials are sited in places open to the public and most also require upkeep in the form of mowing or strimming as well as access to grave spaces for a new burial to take place. Accidents can happen, and these can range from minor to significant in nature. We recommend memorial insurance so that if the worst happens, your memorial can be repaired at no cost to you. Please let us know if you would like more details.

Construction issues

Methods of installing stones and fixing components together are improving all the time, and J.Gumbrill’s professional team of memorial masons use the latest techniques approved by our trade body, NAMM, to ensure memorials we fix have as much structural integrity as possible. However, many developments in this area are relatively recent, and older methods had not changed in centuries. For example, rods inserted into stones are now made of stainless steel but until recently the were iron, which could rust. Some stone types can now have dowels inserted for stability thanks to developments in technology, without which there would have been risk of damage. This means that older stones are susceptible to leaning or detaching from bases.

What can be done?

This very much depends on what the damage is and how it has been caused. Sometimes a memorial may require a simple clean with appropriate materials to return it to its best. It may need repainting, re-carving or even structural repairs. It is often surprising what can be done, and some of our before and after photos offer striking examples of work we have carried out to return a monument to its former glory.
At J.Gumbrill, we have a very simple process for renovation work: Assess, Discuss, Quote, Renovate.

Assess: We visit the memorial and carry out a complimentary and thorough assessment of the work that needs to be carried out.

Discuss: We advise you of our recommendations and the implications of any work you might instruct us to carry out or talk to you about doing the work in stages if we need to carry out further assessment once one part is completed. For example, an inscription might be so obscured by weathering that we can’t tell what work needs to be done to restore it, so we will instead suggest cleaning the stone first to give us a better picture- after this, you choose whether you want to proceed with what we recommend next, or not. We will also be honest if we think a memorial is beyond repair, although we will never say this if we think a renovation is possible.

Quote: We provide a no-obligation quotation, valid for 60 days, providing costs for the agreed schedule of work.

Renovate: Upon acceptance, we carry out the work as agreed, using the best techniques appropriate to the task at hand. Once complete, we will provide you with photos of the renovated memorial and, if the work was part of a multi-stage process, contact you to discuss the next steps.

Some of the renovations we have carried out are almost unbelievable to see! If you have a memorial that you think needs a bit of TLC, why not contact us and request an appraisal of its condition. We may surprise you.