Irreversible damage can be done by well-meaning people working without training. Before doing any work or hiring anyone to do work, please learn the correct techniques! You must also obtain permission from the owner of the property.
Maintenance of grounds:
- YES: Trimming weeds near stones with nylon whips
- NO: Applying chemicals or weed killers around stones (they are porous)
Reading stones:
- YES: Manipulating digital photos, waiting for the sun to be overhead, reflecting light with a mirror
- YES: Temporarily applying water or aluminum foil to help the lettering stand out
- NO: Applying chalk, shaving cream, flour, etc.
Cleaning stones:
- YES: Soft natural or nylon brushes with water or D2 biocide, or, for marble only, diluted ammonia (4 parts water to 1 part ammonia)
- NO: Wire wheels, pressure washing, sandblasting, bleach, household soaps or cleaners, acids of any kind, sealers or waterproofing
Resetting leaning stones:
- YES: For long tablet stones: Setting half in/half out in tamped dirt and gravel
- YES: For tablets with bases: Using original slotted bases with sand mortar
- YES: For stack stones: Using a tripod hoist with nylon straps, setting the base on tamped dirt and gravel
- NO: Placing any stone in wet concrete!!! (Chemicals in the concrete weaken the stone from the bottom up. If the stone is hit by a mower, tree limb, etc. it will break off at concrete level, making future repair very difficult. Marble and slate markers were never meant to be placed in concrete!)
Repairing broken stones:
- YES: Consulting an expert
- YES: Using special epoxies meant for stone-to-stone contact and filling voids with stone dust mortar
- YES: Using an unattached aluminum channel brace to hold the stone upright
- NO: Using hardware epoxies, adhesives, caulk, cement, metal strips, screws, bolts, wet concrete standing or lying down
Resources to contact for help or advice:
- Jessica Davis: jessdavis314@yahoo.com
- The Association for Gravestone Studies: http://www.gravestonestudies.org/ (Information about cleaning, repairing, and tools used)
RULE #1: DO NO HARM! RULE #2: Consult an expert!