11 posts · written for humans70 min of reading
Notes from Monumize.
Less reference, more reflection. Things we've learned about working in this category that didn't fit in the Learn hub.
7 min read
Sandblast stencil for headstones: thickness, liners, cuts
A monument shop guide to sandblast stencil: published thickness in mils, single vs double liner, punch formats for Gerber and other cutters, and fillers.
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7 min read
Companion grave markers: plan now for the second date
How to plan a companion grave marker so the second date goes on cleanly later: cemetery rules, open space on granite and bronze, and VA options.
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7 min read
Matching headstone lettering when you add a final date
A shop checklist for matching the original lettering when you add a final date: letter set and version, height, spacing, alignment, date format and dashes.
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6 min read
When does a headstone need replacing instead of adding to?
Most stones can take a new inscription decades after they were carved. A few cannot. Here is how monument dealers tell the difference.
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7 min read
Sandblasting vs laser etching: which lasts longer on a headstone?
A practical comparison of the two modern engraving techniques used on US monuments — what each one does well, where each one struggles, and how to choose.
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6 min read
Cemetery etiquette for families visiting a grave
The unwritten rules American cemeteries actually expect from families: photography, flowers, rubbings, and the things that quietly violate the lease.
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9 min read
A short history of monument lettering in the United States
How American gravestone lettering went from hand-carved slate to photo-based cut files, and what each era tells us about the people who chose it.
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6 min read
What to write on a headstone inscription: 40 examples
Forty headstone inscription examples — from the most traditional second-date format to the most personal epitaph lines — in the patterns families commonly choose.
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4 min read
How to photograph a headstone with your phone
A practical guide to taking a headstone photo that’s easy to straighten, read and match. Five rules and a short shot list.
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5 min read
When is it too late to add a second date?
A short answer (it almost never is), and the practical considerations that come up if you’re adding a date years after the death.
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