When it comes to choosing materials for memorials, there’s an impressive variety available, ranging from metals to plastics and wood. However, stone stands out as one of the best choices. Why? Its very versatile, it can include a wide variety of looks and styles and its exceptionally long lasting. In this blog, we’ll explore why stone memorials are a top contender and highlight the specific types of stone we recommend for memorials.
Slate Memorials
Slate is a timeless, understated material that brings elegance and character to any memorial. Each piece of slate is unique, featuring natural markings that make every memorial truly one-of-a-kind. We offer slate in several thicknesses, including 12mm, 20mm, 30mm, 50mm, and 75mm, along with popular slate wedges. It has a beautiful honed finish that’s not shiny, offering a subtle yet sophisticated look. You can choose between leaving the slate natural or having it oiled for a deeper, darker hue.
Some natural burial sites and churchyards accept slate, but we always recommend confirming with the burial ground first. We can help with any necessary paperwork to ensure a smooth process.
Slate is perfect for deep engraving, with the option of paint filling in any of our stock colours such as Memorial Gold, Silver, Black, White, and Purbeck. Our Memorial Gold and Silver paints even contain real gold leaf for a luxurious touch. Simple images can also be engraved and painted, while more intricate designs can be laser engraved, providing a stunning surface-level finish. For the ultimate personalized memorial, we can combine deep engraving with laser engraving for a detailed and unique effect.
If you’re seeking a vibrant, full-colour memorial, we also offer tough print plaques that can be inset into the slate for lasting colour. For smaller slate plaques, we can drill holes for wall mounting, or you can choose from our range of wrought iron plaque holders to display the memorial. For slate memorials placed on the ground, we recommend using slate risers to gently slope the plaque, preventing water from pooling in the engravings and prolonging the life of the paint.
Granite Memorials
Granite MemorialsGranite is another popular choice for memorials and shares many similarities with slate, such as a range of thicknesses and wedge-shaped options. It comes in a stunning array of colours, allowing for creative and meaningful combinations. Some of our favourite granite and lettering colour pairings include:
- Black Granite with white or gold text
- Celtic Granite with black or white text
- Dark Grey Granite with gold or Purbeck stone letters
- Green Granite with gold or white letters
Like slate, granite can also accommodate simple images, full-colour photo memorial plaques, and mounting options such as holes, stakes, or risers.
What sets granite apart from slate, however, is its ability to feature impact-engraved images. This process creates high-quality, detailed images that are surface engraved onto the stone, perfect for including photographs on the memorial. Additionally, granite can be honed to meet churchyard regulations that restrict polished surfaces, although this is not typically our preferred option.
Conclusion
Whether you choose slate or granite, stone is a durable, beautiful, and customisable material for memorials. Both materials offer a range of options to suit your preferences and can be personalised with engravings, colours, and images. With proper care, stone memorials provide lasting tributes to your loved ones.