Terms & Definitions

A headstone and/or Memorial stone is a cut of stone that is set at the head of the grave plot. Headstones are typically inscribed with the names of the deceased (or family name) on it's face and/or back face of the stone. 

Grave Grass / Pillow / or Foot Markers are stones that are placed at the head or foot of the grave plot.
They can also be used as a stand-alone memorial. ​

Slant Memorials are memorials that stand upright. This stone is thinner at the top and tapers down to a thicker bottom as seen in the photo above. This means it is able to stand on its own or with a base.

Upright memorials are tablet-style headstones that sit on a granite base and are set on a foundation. They can vary in shape, size, and color.

A companion headstone is slightly different. Instead of two separate headstones, it's one single headstone for two people. Thus, a companion headstone is typically larger than most average headstones.

A bronze memorial is a plaque made of precious metal, installed at a cemetery gravesite or crypt. Bronze memorials may be installed on foundations of granite or concrete.

The Memorial Base is part of a two-part monument, & sits on the foundation. (As seen above) Flat bronze headstones are usually attached to a granite base as well. To prevent monuments from settling or shifting over time, cemeteries often require poured concrete foundations to support them.

A Grave Cover covers nearly the entire grave plot. These are usually made out of concrete. It rests on top of the land & is flat to the ground. 

A Ledger Grave Marker is a thick slab of stone, usually 4 inches thick, covering the entire grave. Ledger Grave Markers may be engraved and used as the headstone itself, or may also include a monument or headstone at the head of the grave.

Coping refers to the granite “walls” that are used to enclose cemetery grave plots. 

Flat Grass Memorials are set flat and flush to the ground. They are usually about 4 inches thick, whereas the Bevel Memorials sit 6 inches high in the back & 4 inches in the front. This difference in measurement gives the stone a slightly slanted face created from having a higher back edge and shallow slope. 

"Polished 5" means all sides of the memorial are polished. Whereas "BRP" (or "Balanced Rock Pitched")  means just the front face and back face of the memorial is polished, leaving the sides with a natural rock finish as shown in the example above.

Sandblasting is a method used for engraving the design into the surface of the stone without chipping the granite, but still allowing the design to be seen. 

Laser etching is a process that vaporizes materials to engrave permanent, deep marks. The laser beam acts as a chisel, incising marks by removing layers from the surface of the material. The laser hits localized areas with massive levels of energy to generate the high heat required for vaporization. This is why we can get such a crisp finish on photos and designs for the memorial of your loved one. 

A cremation urn is simply a container that holds cremated remains. Most are made out of wood, ceramic, metal, or plastic. Most urns can be sealed.

A keepsake urn is a small urn that holds a tiny portion of cremains, usually between 1-35 cubic inches depending on the design of the keepsake. (standard adult urn size holds 200 cubic inches)

Color Litho is a coloring material sprayed into the lettering and carving of the headstone to create an artificial shadow and/or add a pop of color to the memorial of your loved one.