Significant Steps in Resetting Leaning Headstones
One of the most significant maintenance concerns regarding headstones is resetting them when they begin to lean. The reason is that shifting soils and weather conditions will eventually take a toll on a headstone's foundation, causing it to lean sideways, backward or forward. When it happens, water or snow attack the foundation, eventually causing the headstone to fall. Resetting monuments helps restore their stability and ensures they last another couple of years. However, resetting headstones is only effective if carried out correctly. Here are a few valuable tips regarding proper headstone resetting.
Remove the Headstone
When you look at a leaning headstone, you might think you can restore its stability without removing it from its current position. After all, you only need to pour concrete around a monument and let the motor dry. Notably, professionals approach headstone resetting differently since you never know the cause for the leaning. Unless you find out the real cause for a headstone's condition, you might be forced to address the same issue a few months later. In this regard, it is advisable to remove a monument entirely from the ground. It allows you to inspect the ground before establishing the best course of action. Removing a headstone also lets you level the hole so that the structure sits straight when you reinstall it.
Inspect and Restore the Base
Sometimes, you might come across leaning headstones whose bases are broken or cracked. In such cases, you must first restore the base before re-digging the hole. If a headstone base is broken or cracked, it will not sit straight for long inside a newly dug pit. Notably, cracked or broken headstone bases are not stable enough to stand on their own, even if you try to stabilise them with concrete. Thus, restoring a headstone base to its original condition is advisable before installing it inside a new hole. It ensures that a monument sits upright when filling a new hole with concrete.
Insert a Headstone
The last step in resetting a leaning headstone is to re-insert it inside a newly dug hole as carefully as possible. It is especially the case when dealing with heavy or delicate monuments because one wrong move could lead to costly damages. Thus, it is often advisable to use a pulley mechanism to restore a headstone in a new hole. A pulley mechanism helps protect the monument and does the heavy lifting. Next, gently lower the headstone inside the hole and fill it with gravel and soil until the memorial feels firm. As you do this, constantly check the headstone's alignment with a plump to ensure it remains straight throughout the resetting process.
Keep these tips in mind when looking for headstone suppliers near you.
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