Our Guidance on Memorial Renovations
Written by: Abi Pattenden
Published: 12th November 2025
Making the decision to renovate a loved one’s memorial can be a difficult and emotive process. It may be that you just feel the headstone could do with a spruce up, and you are worried about how this will impact the appearance and what unexpected effects it could have. Or, it could be that the headstone needs significant work, but you’re worried about getting a reliable opinion of what really needs doing.
Luckily, J.Gumbrill has over 120 years of expertise in memorial masonry and are a local trusted name you can turn to for all your restoration needs. Here, our Administrator Annissa explains the different types of restoration and stone might need, and how the process works.
What restoration can be carried out on a memorial?
There are three main types carried out by J.Gumbrill. The first is to place an addition inscription on the stone, this is usually when someone else in the family has died and the original memorial was planned to have further name(s) placed on it in future. Sometimes this can be straightforward as we have the original memorial in front of us and can see how the lettering looks, which gives us a good idea how it was initially created. Our talented letter cutters can replicate this as much as possible. We can also match the original inscription in terms of the choices made- for example, if the original features only the years of birth and death then it creates a more sympathetic overall visual if the new one does this, too.
What else should we think about if we are having an additional inscription on a memorial?
We feel this is a good time to consider other restoration work, such as cleaning, enhancement of existing lettering or ornaments, or repairs, as the memorial will need to be removed anyway, and repairs to the previous work then give the memorial a uniform appearance overall. However, it may be that there is a need to restore a memorial for a different reason. The two most common needs are to clean the stone and/or repair the lettering, or to repair the monument altogether, perhaps if it has suffered some accidental damage.
Why might a memorial need to be cleaned or repaired?
Over time, weathering, pollution, environmental conditions and biological growth can leave memorials in need of renovation. Stones can become discoloured or worn, inscriptions can fade and material can perish. All of this can lead to the memorial looking worn, or detailing and inscriptions becoming unclear. Our professional cleaning and restoration services are designed to safely and respectfully bring these monuments back to their original beauty without causing harm. We use safe, professional cleaning methods bespoke to the memorial and avoid high-pressure jets which look impressive but can sometimes inadvertently cause new damage. Lettering can be re-cut or repainted where this is appropriate.
What if the headstone has been damaged?
Sadly, memorials can suffer damage over time. This can be as a result of accidents in their situation, but also follow from a lack of structural integrity that is a consequence of older fixing methods. Sometimes, the ground can shift which may mean a previously-stable memorial loses its footing; also, parts of a memorial can come loose due to the way it was created. Technology has moved on so much in terms of both how memorials are built but also how they are placed in the ground and so wear and tear which would be unthinkable to something installed today can happen to an older headstone.
What work can be done to renovate a memorial?
Our Monumental Mason, Richard, has years of experience in restoring even the most damaged of memorials- from re-jointing and reseating to sympathetic renewal of damaged sections, it’s amazing what is possible. Because J.Gumbrill is a member of NAMM, the National Association of Memorial Masons, and Richard has taken their professional qualifications, we are up to date with all the latest developments and newest techniques.
At J.Gumbrill, we understand that it can be upsetting to think that a memorial isn’t looking at its best, but it can be a hard decision to decide to restore it, too. This is why we offer a free, no-obligation appraisal service, where we will visit the memorial and assess its condition, looking at not only what work needs to be done but also any inherent risks. We will discuss these fully and transparently with you. It may also be that we are unsure what work might need to be done in a subsequent stage until we have completed some initial renovation- for example, we might not be able to tell if letters need re-cutting or just repainting until the memorial has been cleaned. In this case, we will discuss all the options with you and, if this is your preference, deal with parts of the work as different jobs, enabling you to make fully informed decisions about how we proceed.
What if the headstone has been damaged?
Sadly, memorials can suffer damage over time. This can be as a result of accidents in their situation, but also follow from a lack of structural integrity that is a consequence of older fixing methods. Sometimes, the ground can shift which may mean a previously-stable memorial loses its footing; also, parts of a memorial can come loose due to the way it was created. Technology has moved on so much in terms of both how memorials are built but also how they are placed in the ground and so wear and tear which would be unthinkable to something installed today can happen to an older headstone.
What if the memorial isn't repairable?
There are some rare occasions when we may feel that a stone is beyond repair. If that’s the case, we will explain why and tell you what- if anything- we can do as a compromise; perhaps we can’t reseat a stone on the original base but could fix it to a new one, for example. If you wish, we can provide a quote for a replacement on an equivalent basis, but you can rest assured that we will never quote for a new stone where we think repairs are possible.
What we can do to restore a memorial sometimes has to be seen to be believed. Why not visit our renovations page to see before and after photos of just some of the work we do. If you would like any advice on memorial renovation, or to take advantage of our no-obligation appraisal service, then why not contact us to find out more.
Thanks for your time, Abi.
