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TOMBSTONE CARE

How to avoid damage when cleaning tombstones and maintaining graveyards. Ways of reading inscriptions.


READING TOMBSTONE INSCRIPTIONS

A mirror can be used to reflect sunlight onto tombstone inscriptions to create shadows and add contrast for photography and viewing.

  1. NEVER mark or clean tombstones with abrasives, like wire brushes, chalk, etc.
  2. NEVER apply chemicals, like shaving cream, herbicides, etc.that may cause stones to deteriorate.

GRAVESTONE RUBBINGS

Pressure caused by cleaning, waxing, or rubbing for imprints of inscriptions may cause surfaces to collapse. Avoid directly rubbing the stone by covering its entire surface. Impressions can be obtained by dabbing and foiling stones too. Exposure may cause sandstone tombstone surfaces to harden and seem stable even though the interior has eroded.


CLEANING

Lichens, ivy, etc. scar and weaken stones chemically. They may be scraped off with non metallic tools made of wood or plastic. Poulticing can soften lichen.

Keep stones wet while cleaning them with soft natural or nylon bristle brushes. Household ammonia can be used, but flush and thoroughly rinse away any chemicals used with gently sprayed water from a garden hose, sprayer, or jugs. Avoid streaks and staining by scrubbing from the bottom to the top of the stone.


ABRASIVE INSTRUMENTS AND CORROSIVE CHEMICALS

Tombstones can scratched, eroded and corroded by wire brushes, abrasive pads, mowing equipment, acidic chemicals and power washers used commercially to clean buildings, etc. Even environmentally "safe" herbicides applied to the ground around tombstones, etc. can interact with the salts and minerals that compose fragile tombstones and damage them.

Sealing or water proofing may cause a stone to deteriorate by preventing the evaporation of water, etc. absorbed by it. Water trapped inside a stone may also freeze, expand and destroy the stone.


GRAVEYARD MAINTENANCE

Documentation helps preserve information so future generations can re-discover, restore and cherish forgotten cemeteries.

Tombstones loose meaning when they no longer mark the site of a grave, even if broken, so never move them or their foot stones to facilitate construction, mowing, etc.

Vines and other vegetation which damage stones may be prevented with plastic, carpet, etc. mulch, which will last longer and look better if cover by pine needles, etc. Monkey grass and other desirable plants can also help keep weeds from thriving. Mowers and the nylon cords of weed eaters may scar stones. Chemical herbicides may leach into the soil and corrode the stone.

Regularly emptied trash receptacles may help decrease litter. Signs and lighting may help deter vandals and unwanted visitors.


CONSERVATORS

Only time will tell whether costly new methods and techniques for protecting stone developed by well intentioned conservators will prove beneficial, or even harmful.


Some information for this web page was obtained from http://members.aol.com/ctgravenet/dosdonts.htm

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