Many Australian families have burial plots which are used over the course of many decades to bury members of the same family. Because of their age, family plots can often fall into disrepair. If you have recently lost a loved one and wish to have them buried in a family plot, you may be considering having restoration work carried out to the headstone and surrounding area before the funeral goes ahead. Below is a guide to everything you need to know about restoring a grave.
Permission
Before you can commence work restoring the headstone at your family plot, you will need to seek permission from the local authorities. Disturbing a burial site without permission is an offence in many states so you should make contact with the owners of the cemetery or your local community council. When you make contact, it will be easier if you can explain the location and the type of restoration you wish to carry out. This will allow the authorities to establish the extent of the work and the likely disruption to the body and to other plots in the cemetery. For example, if you only wish to clean and restore the headstone, that is a relatively small job. However, if you plan to remove the headstone, iron railings or even a body so it can be relocated to another grave, this will be more complex, and the authorities will want to make sure you have the right skills and tools.
Tools
Cleaning products
To remove grime from the surface of a gravestone, you can use household cleaning products which contain ammonia. However, these should be heavily diluted with water in order to prevent damage to older headstones.
Tripod
If you are planning to lift a damaged headstone up from the top of the grave so that it can be transported away for more professional cleaning and repair work, you will need a tripod and a pulley system. Headstones can be extremely heavy and present a crush hazard, so it is important you do not attempt to lift a headstone from the ground using your hands. The tripod should be placed on firm, solid ground. If the ground in the cemetery is soft, you should set the tripod up on a solid metal or plastic board.
If you would like to find out more about restoring a burial plot, you should contact a funeral home today.
Share3 November 2017
Welcome to my blog. My name is Molly, and a few years ago, I lost my husband to heart disease. He had only just turned fifty, and it wasn't anything we were expecting. Through my intense grief, I had to host and organise a funeral. I wanted to include religious elements from our pasts, but I also wanted to be true to the non-religious but spiritual beliefs of my husband. I think many people are in the same position, and if you are, I want to help you. This blog focuses on making funerals meaningful. It provides tips, ideas, facts and more. I hope it inspires you.