bespoke Archives - UK Memorials

Granite Memorials and Plaques

Posted on 3rd November 202224th May 2023 by Peak Online

Each material that we craft with at UK Memorials can make a memorial stand out in its own way, but we’ve always found there to be an outstanding finish to our granite memorials and plaques. Granite has been a long-lasting popular choice for memorials (traditionally and specifically headstones due to its toughness and durability). This is why we have chosen to continue the tradition of crafting memorials from granite – but we also choose to offer granite memorials with a modern twist.

Handcrafted Granite Memorials

Granite has a stand-out, high-quality appearance (particularly when polished by our thorough and expert team). Specialising in bespoke memorials is something that we are incredibly proud of. No two memorials need to look the same, allowing some to honour the traditional layout of a memorial, and others to personalise and modernise a memorial to celebrate the loved one that they’re honouring in a way that feels right for them.

By nature, granite has a natural appearance as a result of being quarried which gives some variation in each piece of stone. Additionally, granite is available in several different colours including shades of black, blue, grey and green – allowing space for our customers a choice when designing a memorial. Our granite memorials and plaques are also available in different thicknesses, shapes (including wedges) and sizes. While we stock some sizes as standard, our talented craftsmen can work with you to achieve the final appearance that you had in mind.

Granite Memorial Wedges and Plaques | The Sign Maker — Granite Wedges

Designing A Bespoke Granite Memorial

Layout and lettering are important features of memorial design. Using a blend of traditional and modern crafting techniques, we can craft granite memorials and plaques that can be cherished for a long time to come. In terms of lettering, we can use a wide range of fonts, and recently we have seen an increase in those choosing to include images in memorials (whether they are photographs or small graphics).

Depending on the level of detail you’d like and the finish you want to achieve, we may choose to sandblast or impact engrave the final design once you have approved a proof copy from us. Impact engraving is still a relatively new technique for us, but one that we have had great success with so far turning out some revolutionary results.

At Uk Memorials, we are proud to craft with quality precision, but we are also proud to be memorial specialists who are able to keep your wishes at the forefront of our craftsmanship and service. Being a family business means that we appreciate the challenges that come with designing a memorial, but we are here to support and advise you throughout the process.

Why Granite?

Granite is a timeless classic of a material when it comes to memorials and plaques. Granite’s effortless ability to honour and celebrate the lives of loved ones has been evident since we first began crafting memorials. This material is long-lasting, versatile in terms of design, and a wonderful way to create a tangible record of a life and legacy.

Telephone: 01769 561355 | Email: sales@uk-memorials.net | https://linktr.ee/thesignmaker

Remembrance Day

Posted on 2nd November 20213rd November 2021 by Kate

We Will Remember Them

We make war memorials in a whole range of different materials for long-lasting and poignant tributes.

As we come up to this season of remembrance, here at UK Memorials we wanted to take the opportunity to write and reflect at this time of year. Remembrance is a national opportunity to mark the anniversary of Armistice Day and to recognise the sacrifices made by many to protect the freedom that we have today.

We understand and appreciate how challenging it can be to make decisions around the memorial of those that we have lost, so we want to make this process as easy as possible for you, while still creating something special and significant. Whether looking for a traditional plaque, wooden cross or a modern heart-shaped memorial, we create a wide range of memorials and believe it is important that they are carefully crafted for you. To help with this process, we have created this simple guide of some of the most popular memorials that we can put together alongside you, as you remember your loved ones.

Cast Memorial Plaques

Cast memorial signs have a long-lasting finish and are made using a combination of the latest technology and traditional craftsmanship methods The cast making process gives you more freedom in the designing process because you can choose from a wider variety of fonts, motifs, layouts and stylistic lettering. Once cast, your plaque will then be tended to by hand and given the final finesse that you’re looking for.

Cast bronze is a timeless classic for memorial plaques. The background of the bronze can be left natural or painted in. Patented bronze is also an option available at UK Memorials which would give your memorial plaque a finish to be proud of. The Cast Bronze Memorial Plaques can be made in a variety of shapes too (another benefit of choosing a cast sign). A popular choice for memorial plaques is the cast bronze memorial heart. A cheaper alternative is the cast aluminium memorial signs, still a traditional choice but possibly more cost-effective. Either way, both would create a wonderful piece to help mark your remembrance for a loved one. You can learn more about our cast memorials here.

Corian

Corian is a stone-like material with a clean composition, made up from clear acrylic resin, natural minerals and pigments – meaning that it is available in a variety of colours. Corian has a high-quality finish that would make a beautiful tribute to your loved one in a memorial. You can find more about our corian memorials here.

Memorial Crosses

At UK Memorials, we make a range of wooden crosses that are particularly popular around remembrance. Wooden crosses were first used to mark the graves of soldiers who had died in battle but they now serve as a remembrance sign nationally. They are handmade traditionally using Oak timber but could also be made for you in Iroko, Opepe or Sapele. The lettering can be engraved directly into the wood. Alternatively, you could choose to have a metal plaque created. Though more expensive than the wooden crosses we make, stone-like Corian also makes beautiful and distinctive memorial crosses. They tend to last longer and can be used as either a grave marker or a permanent memorial. Memorial crosses continue to be a popular choice here at UK Memorials and we’d love to make one for you and you’re loved one too. Have a look at our full range of memorial crosses.

Wooden Plaques

Here at UK Memorials, we believe that a memorial piece should be personal. That is why we create a range of unique memorial signs and plaques to help you mark your loved ones resting place or a memorable and special location.

The engraved wooden plaques are a favourite of ours, particularly the wooden hearts. Using beautiful timbers followed by specialist care and treatment, these plaques have a high quality and long-lasting finish – we take great care to make these memorials perfect for you. We can include motifs and images on these memorial signs enabling you to be expressive and creative in your designs. There is a wide range of fonts to choose from too, and any additional fixtures, fittings or mount you require can be included too. The memorial hearts are also available in a range of different materials too. Learn more about our range of wooden memorials.

Photo Memorials

Our long-lasting and high quality full-colour memorial plaques are becoming increasingly popular too. The plaques have a long-lasting resistance to colour fading as a result of the completely encapsulated aluminium plate. These types of memorial plaques are even suitable in harsher weather conditions, for example, by the coast. The photo memorials can be portrait or landscape and are typically finished with gloss or satin as to your preferences. We think these make beautiful memorials that capture moments in time with their photos and are a long-lasting piece to remember a lost loved one. Have a look at our full range of photo options here.

The acts of so many selfless individuals will never be forgotten, which is why here at UK Memorials, we want to ensure that we create memorials that reflect their courage and bravery and our respect for them. Memorials are an important part of remembering any loved one that we have lost, in the war or otherwise. War memorials act as a tangible reminder of the fragility of life and what was sacrificed, and memorials generally are a reminder of the love between family, friends and even strangers. Life connects us in ways that cannot be put into words and therefore memorials of those we have lost, connect us again in celebrations and recognitions of those we have shared life with. This Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday, we will remember them.

To learn more about our range of war memorials, click here.

Buy Now

Please do get in touch if we can help you design a memorial. We are here to help you and will enable you to design exactly what it is that you’re looking for. More information can be found on our website and online shop, and we’d love to hear from you.

Telephone – 01769 561355

Email – Sales@sign-maker.net

Website – https://uk-memorials.net/

Corian in Crematoria

Posted on 9th April 20207th April 2020 by Kate

Corian is a great material for memorials

Versatile and cost-effective, Corian memorials are the modern choice for lasting tributes.

It might not be the favourite topic of conversation but planning ahead for the future is something we all must consider. This isn’t just for family income or funeral arrangement purposes. It’s about having the choice in advance for your wishes to be documented and respected so when the time comes to carry out your chosen lifetime tributes, they are followed sensitively and compassionately, honouring your choices as closely as possible.

Depending on your wishes, the costs can sometimes mount quite quickly with funeral preparations generating unforeseen expenses which could create an unexpected burden for loved ones in addition to their loss. This is one of the reasons why we offer a choice of cost-sensitive materials to help create long-lasting signs, plaques and memorials for remembering family, friends and pets.

High quality, corian memorials made by craftsmen at The Sign Maker.

A wider choice of materials.

Time has moved on from traditional granite or slate tombstones being the only hard-wearing, long-lasting material available. There is a much wider choice of materials today than ever before. When visiting church graveyards and crematorium gardens, you’ll find the grounds are populated with gravestones and memorial plaques made from a variety of modern materials.

From wooden crosses to engraved plaques made from brass, stainless steel or aluminium, there is a large selection of hard-wearing natural and man-made materials to help create a special place for loved ones to visit and somewhere permanent to reminisce, remember special moments and leave flowers and gifts.

One of the most popular materials in recent years for creating contemporary memorials is Corian, a versatile and durable man-made material developed in the 1960s. Corian is used in a variety of industries and its key qualities are found within its ability to withstand exposure to the elements all year round.

Despite its original purpose to provide a heat-resistant, mould-resistant, scratch-resistant worktop surface in kitchens and bathrooms, Corian has firmly established itself as an extremely functional and affordable alternative to granite. In appearance, Corian is very similar to granite and stone dust is actually used in the manufacturing process.

Learn More

Bespoke memorials, made here at The Sign Maker in North Devon.

A unique, environmentally friendly material.

The unique surface of Corian resists fading, scratches and stains. It can be sculpted into many forms and engraved with words or pictures. It is suitable for indoor or outdoor use and is weatherproof against damage caused by the sun, the wind and the rain.

Another reason why Corian is particularly popular is the way this man-made material is created from sustainable and renewable sources. Corian is made from a mixture of acrylic resin, natural minerals and pigments. It has the cold-to-touch feel of real stone as well as the matt finish and substantial weight. Corian is an environmentally friendly material designed to last for many decades, without impacting on its surroundings.

With funeral, burial and crematory costs rising, Corian is a preferred choice for engraved signs, nameplates and tree markers. The finished memorial has the appearance of a traditional stone memorial but without the variation in composition, flaws or cracks.

The surface is renewable and suitable for making additions or alterations. You may wish to have favourite quotes, memorable sayings or pictures taken from illustrations or photographs, inscribed in the Corian surface.

Feel confident when you purchase a corian memorial from The Sign Maker.

Memorials for pets and people.

A Corian memorial is as suitable for pets as well as humans and there has been a recent increase in the number of requests for Corian plaques for woodland and garden use as well as in church graveyards and cemeteries.

Corian memorials and Corian plaques are cost-effective, durable and versatile. They are a popular choice for indoor and outdoor tributes to loved ones. You can browse examples of our work online and we would be happy to discuss designs with you to help create a thoughtful, long-lasting tribute that will withstand the weather and offer a special place to relive cherished memories.

Buy Now

If you would like any more information or would like us to put a quote together please do not hesitate to contact us using any of the methods below:

Tel – 01769 561355
Email – Sales@sign-maker.net
Don’t forget to follow us on social media for regular updates.

https://www.facebook.com/uksignmaker/photos/a.152219668253499/1815008625307920/?type=3&theater

First Blog

Posted on 26th March 202027th March 2020 by Kate

Hi there! We are UK Memorials

Hi everyone! Welcome to our first ever blog post here on the UK memorials. We thought it would be fitting to let you know a little bit ourselves.

Our Background

As a company, we originate from The Sign Maker, an online sign-making firm with over 17 years worth of experience. We specialise in high-quality, bespoke signs in a wide variety of materials. Onsite you will find talented craftsmen from carpenters to stonemasons, vinyl and engrave technicians. Thanks to our expertly skilled team and alongside our experienced designers we have created a wide range of expertly crafted signs. As the sign business began to expand we started to turn our hand to making memorials. Many of the tools, equipment and skills required to make signs are transferable to memorials. From there our memorial range grew from strength to strength however our sign making site became too large. To respond to our customers feedback we have decided to create a new website dedicated solely to memorials.

The wonderful staff here at UK Memorials.

What we Make

Here at UK Memorials, we have a wide selection of memorials to choose from. One of our most popular ranges is our stone wedges which are used on an existing grave or as a lawn memorial. You can choose to have the wording etched directly onto the wedge or have a corian plaque applied. Another range of memorials includes our wooden memorials such as crosses, plaques and lawn memorials. Finally, we make a wide range of engraved memorials, such as brass, full colour memorials and more. For more information on the type of memorials, we make take a look at our website.

A wide range of high-quality bespoke memorials made by Craftsmen and UK Memorials.

Our Company Ethos

Finally, we thought it would be good to provide you with information on our ethos as a company. Here at The Sign Maker and UK Memorials we care a great deal about our team and the environment. Starting with our team, we feel our greatest asset is our employees. A happy team equals a happy company. We spend a great deal of timing working with our staff to make a more efficient, creative and fun company. The second ethos of UK Memorials is the environment, we feel that every company no matter how small or large should do their bit. Our workshops are located in rural North Devon on an old farm. This has enabled the director’s Kate and Shaun Price to transfer the land into a safe haven for wildlife, they have planted thousands of trees and dug several wildlife ponds. Additionally, they have erected a wind turbine and installed a biomass boiler for heating and electricity. Therefore, when you purchase from either UK Memorials or The Sign Maker you know that you are purchasing from a company who does their bit!