Overview of Headstone Materials

Types of Stone, Maintenance & More in the Guide
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Tobias Messerschmidt Steinmetz Meister
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There are numerous types of headstones from which we create our memorial stones. To help you learn more about the production and origin, we've compiled all the essential information about the different headstone types in this article.

Key Features of Our Headstones at a Glance

More information, images, and additional details can be found below

What Types of Stone Are Available for Headstones?

There are various types of stone for headstones, which differ greatly in structure, hardness, and characteristics. 

Gravestone Materials at a Glance

Granite, marble, sandstone, and limestone are not only exceptionally durable. Each has unique qualities that make the tombstone truly special.

Marble Headstones

Marble is a type of rock. The word marble essentially translates to mean both 'shiny' and 'sparkling.”  

 

Where Does Marble Come From?

Marble is considered a high-quality stone used for headstones, and it is also challenging to extract. Despite this, marble can be found in many regions around the world.

It is mainly found in regions around the Mediterranean. The most famous marble quarries are located in France, Turkey, Greece, and Italy.

Other marble deposits can be found in Iran, China, India, and Mozambique. The most renowned marble comes from Tuscany. This is known as Carrara Marble, famous for its bright white color. In ancient times, it was used for sculpture and building construction. Today, it is exported worldwide.

 

What Types of Marble Exist?

Marble exists in a wide variety. It comes in different colors and patterns. From subtle shades and white marble to intense veining and black marble.

The veining that makes the stone so unique is due to the mix of differently colored base rocks of various origins. Therefore, the marble's veining is dependent on its origin. Another distinctive feature of the stone is the sparkling of calcite crystals in intense sunlight.The types of marble vary not only in terms of appearance but also in origin, uses, and maintenance. There is Carrara marble, which ranges from light gray to white. Marble Verde has a green shade, while Lasser marble is pure white and can feature green, yellow, or gray hues.

Maintenance of a Marble Headstone

To keep the headstone looking as pristine as the day it was installed, regular maintenance is required. Since marble is a soft stone composed of various minerals, it has a high absorptive capacity, which can lead to significant dirt accumulation over time.

To avoid unwanted deposits and green algae, we have compiled some helpful tips for you below.

  • Tip: Preventing Deposits and Green Algae
    It is recommended to use acid- and surfactant-free cleaning agents. For instance, traditional soap and soft soap are excellent for removing dirt. To remove deposits and green algae, you should use vinegar essence for unpolished stones and ammonia water for polished stones.
  • Tip: Cleaning the Headstone
    No special instructions are necessary to clean the headstone. A marble headstone can be cleaned with a wet cleaning cloth and then dried with a dry cloth.
  • Tip: Cleaning Inscriptions
    To properly clean the joints and inscriptions, a small brush is needed to scrub away the dirt completely. A toothbrush works excellently for this purpose.

 

Decision-Making Aid for Marble Headstones

Advantages:

  1. Durability: Marble is a durable stone. With sufficient care and cleaning, it can exhibit a long lifespan. The marble headstone is very sturdy.
  2. Design: Marble is an ideal stone for creating figures and shapes due to its structure, making it highly suitable for intricate design work.
  3. Aesthetics: Marble offers a wide variety of different types. It appears very elegant and clean. The marbling is unique and beautiful.

Disadvantages:

  1. Cost: There are significant differences in the price of marble. The variation in price is due to its origin and the type of marble. 
  2. Maintenance and Cleaning: Marble headstones require considerable maintenance and cleaning to maintain their beautiful appearance. 

Sandstone Tombstones

 

Where Does Sandstone Come From?

As the name suggests, sandstone primarily consists of sand. Additionally, sandstone contains various minerals. It is a type of sedimentary rock formed from multiple layers, composed of 50% sand grains.

The presence of sandstone is mainly within shallow seas, which are also the origins of sandstone. In Germany, notable locations include Mansfelder Land, Elbe Sandstone Mountains, Harz, Eifel, Taunus, Black Forest, and Sauerland. Sandstone can also be found in other European countries, as well as in India and China.

 

What Are the Different Types of Sandstone?

Sandstone can appear in various colors - from yellow, brown, and reddish tones to bluish and blue-black hues. It is possible to incorporate figures, sculptures, and other shapes into the tombstone. This is feasible due to the rock's properties.

To introduce you to some types of sandstone, here are a few local varieties:

  • Schweinstäler Sandstone: ranges from yellow to orange and red to brown
  • Burgpreppach Sandstone: light gray to slightly brown
  • Elbe Sandstone: can vary from yellow to gray and may have marbling
  • Green Sandstone: yellow-green to blue
  • Reinhardtsdorf Sandstone: white to gray/yellow-gray
  • There are also many other regional sandstones suitable for tombstone creation.

What should be considered when maintaining a sandstone headstone?

How do I properly clean my dirty sandstone headstone?

For light stains, a damp cloth and a soft brush are completely sufficient. Stubborn and deep-seated dirt can be treated with commercial cleaning agents.

 

Is it beneficial to seal my sandstone headstone?

Given the high porosity and the cracks, a sealing is definitely beneficial. This seals all slits, gaps, and openings. As a result, no moisture and any dirt can penetrate, protecting the headstone from irreparable damage. If you have any uncertainties or need more details, it is advisable to consult an expert.

 

How is a sealant properly applied?

First, the headstone should undergo a thorough cleaning to remove all accumulated dirt. Then, the headstone must dry before the new sealant is applied. To achieve long-term success, the sealing should be repeated every few years.

 

How much maintenance effort does this ultimately require?

In essence, a sandstone headstone does not require much more maintenance than any other headstone. Occasional cleaning with a cloth and a brush is adequate. However, one should not underestimate or neglect the maintenance effort. Green spots can appear quickly, which can occur less frequently with sealing.

 

Decision guide for sandstone headstones

Advantages:

  1. Cost: A positive factor of sandstone headstones is the low cost of the stone. Sandstone can be sourced from domestic quarries, making it independent of the recently increased transportation costs for materials from farther away. 
  2. easy processing: Since sandstone is such a soft rock, almost all design possibilities and processing options are available. Beautiful headstones, grave decorations, sculptures, ornaments, figures, and shapes can be created. Additionally, sandstone is also very popular in other areas, such as the construction industry.
  3. variety: Sandstones can have different colors and even come with marbling.

Disadvantages:

  1. Weather sensitivity: Sandstones have many pores where dirt and moisture can collect on the surface.
  2. high maintenance: Sandstones require regular maintenance and must be cleaned frequently. However, sealing can greatly reduce the maintenance effort.

Granite Headstones

 

Where Does Granite Come From?

Granite is one of the oldest types of igneous rock, formed when granite magma solidifies within the Earth's crust. This type of igneous rock is also known as plutonic rock.

You might be wondering how granite made its way from deep within the Earth to the surface. The answer is simple: due to the constant movement of tectonic plates over millions of years, granite has been transported to the Earth's surface. Granite is mainly quarried in the south. Countries like Spain and Italy have extensive granite deposits.

 

Characteristics and Suitability

Granite is one of the most popular stones for crafting headstones. It consists of three primary minerals. When coming into contact with surrounding rocks, the granite undergoes natural alteration.

These alterations give granite its distinctive appearance, with a wide range of color spectrums, patterns formed by crystals, and its medium to coarse grain texture.

Due to varying concentrations of these minerals, granite can appear in various colors such as light grey, red, blue, yellow, or green.

Because of its immense strength, granite is almost indestructible. Despite its durability, granite is still a popular choice for creating headstones. Granite headstones are among the most sought-after.

Due to its durability, granite is rarely used for carvings or sculptures, but it is commonly used for windowsills, flooring, fountains, and bathrooms.

The most popular granite headstones are:

  • Baltic Brown Granite. This type is relatively new on the market and is popular for its weather resistance.
  • Epprechtstein Granite comes from the Fichtel Mountains and is used for almost everything due to its strength, including buildings, fountains, and even sculptures.
  • Wurmberg Granite is suitable for both interior and exterior spaces.
  • Kapustino Granite is well-regarded for its distinctive colors (ranging from red to white to black) and is a popular choice for headstones.

Maintenance of Granite Headstones

  • Tip: Unpolished stones are more susceptible to dirt. Our tip: Polish your stone and use ammonia water or household ammonia if the shine starts to fade.
  • Tip: Steam cleaners are excellent for cleaning dirt if used carefully.
  • Tip: If you don't own a steam cleaner, a soft brush and water can also work to scrub off heavy dirt.
  • Tip: For stubborn stains, a special stone cleaner is recommended.
  • Tip: Avoid using acidic or surfactant-based cleaners, such as vinegar essence, at all costs. 
  • Tip: A sunny day is the best time to clean a granite headstone. This ensures the stone dries quickly and prevents water spots.

 

Choosing a Granite Headstone

Advantages:

  1. Low maintenance: Due to its hardness, granite can withstand almost any condition and therefore requires less frequent maintenance.
  2. Durability: Because of granite's strong resilience, it is weather-resistant. This property makes granite stones excellent for outdoor use.

Disadvantages:

  1. Design complexity: Due to the hardness of the stone, it takes considerable effort to work on it.

Limestone Headstones

Limestone headstones are a popular choice for creating dignified memorials. In the following paragraphs, we explain what makes limestone special and why it is so favored.

 

Where Does Limestone Come From?

The essential components of limestone are minerals such as calcite.

Many limestones can be up to 600 million years old. Limestones are categorized into different types based on their age groups: chalk, Jurassic limestone, Triassic limestone, and Paleozoic limestone.

Most types of limestone are of biogenetic origin. This means the limestone comes from living organisms or was produced by them. Over millions of years, the remnants of these organisms (former fossils and bones) compress into a solid sedimentary rock.

Limestone is quarried in the Alps of Europe, including areas like the Black Forest, the Ore Mountains, the Swabian Alb, and the Franconian Alb. Additionally, there are other deposits in countries such as Switzerland, Sweden, France, England, Croatia, Italy, Serbia, Tunisia, and Vietnam.

 

Characteristics of Limestone

Limestone is considered a soft stone and is used in many different applications. This soft stone offers numerous design possibilities, allowing for the creation of all shapes and figures, commonly referred to as headstone decorations.

Limestone has a robust stone structure and is resistant to wind and weather. It features a yellowish to beige hue.

Some of the most popular varieties are:

  • Canstatter Travertine
  • Solnhofen Plate Limestone
  • Belgian Granite

Maintenance of Limestone

The limestone grave marker does require some maintenance. Here are the key points to keep in mind:

You should avoid using abrasive cleaners. This includes products like vinegar-based cleaners and descaling agents. Instead, opt for alkaline and eco-friendly cleaners such as soap and water for cleaning.

Remove deep-seated dirt (such as deposits and moss) using a stiff brush.

 

Guide to Choosing a Limestone Headstone

Advantages

  1. Local and Fair Product: Regional limestone is abundantly available and can be found throughout almost all of Europe.
  2. Cost: The price depends on origin, type, color, and quality, similar to other natural stones.
  3. Durability: Limestone has a long lifespan of 50 to 80 years. It is also weather-resistant and highly suitable for outdoor use.

Disadvantages

  1. Maintenance: As with other stones, limestone requires regular upkeep.
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