What is the most durable material for a headstone? Find out more about choosing the longest lasting headstone and the common headstone materials.

Choosing the Longest Lasting Headstone

Choosing the perfect headstone for a loved one is an important decision. You want an unforgettable and long-lasting monument to signify their resting place. Weather elements can cause extensive damage to the memorial over a long time, so choosing the best quality headstone materials is vital for multiple durable years. 

Traditional headstones were crafted with slate, marble or limestone. Today the memorial industry mostly uses Granite, owing to its great durability and pre-deposition to avoid natural deterioration for over 1000 years, as well as its relatively low cost, making it perfect for the UK climate. If you're looking for information on the highest quality natural materials used for headstones, continue reading and remember to note down useful maintenance tips to ensure the intricate designs stay highly resilient!

Common headstone materials

There are many considerations when choosing the perfect headstone material, the preliminary factor being the durability of the memorial materials used. Another consideration is budget, yet with many budget-friendly options available, every memorial can be unique.

Although choosing the best material the first time is the soundest option, those with existing headstones can contact a gravestone and memorial art renovation company to bring the original polished headstone back to its former glory. Different materials offer varying durability and finish; below, we break down the most resilient and longest-lasting headstone materials; Granite, Limestone and White Marble. 

Granite

Granite is currently the most popular choice for a headstone material used in many cemeteries worldwide, and it's relatively low cost meaning everyone can assess the best material available. Granite is a seemingly indestructible and high-quality stone to battle the unpredictable and unforgiving weather elements of the years. 

Granite headstones are a common choice as the stone can be crafted in varying colours with different finishes, from a polished finish on all sides to a part polished finish. Creating intricate inscriptions on Granite headstones is also relatively easy for specialist craftspeople. Moreover, certain cemeteries will only allow the right materials to keep a consistent look throughout the whole graveyard, so check this before choosing a cemetery or headstone material. Some of the Granite colours available include;

Limestone

Limestone is a naturally occurring stone found all around the UK and worldwide. Its natural properties mean each limestone slab is unique and has differing designs, allowing distinctive individual burial spaces for your loved ones. Portland Limestone is a popular choice in the UK, with many London architecture built using this material. Unfortunately, limestone is prone to damage from mild acid found in rain, and over several years, it shows deterioration from the weather elements. Although not as sturdy as Granite Headstones, Limestone still makes a popular memorial material in many churchyards.

White marble

Marble headstones, and more specifically, white marble memorials, make for a very distinctive and stylish choice. This headstone material has differing blue and grey tones, making each slab slightly varied. Marble headstones are often given a fine and smooth finish, making them a sleek choice for your loved one. Marble headstones aren't as sturdy as Granite, and damp areas can be damaged, for this reason, certain cemeteries ban White marble headstones. 

What Makes Granite the most Durable Headstone Material?

So, we know Granite is the most popular choice for memorials, so let's investigate what makes it so strong, and its other properties. From black and greys to blues and reds, Granite comes in varying colour palettes, making each slab unique. 

Granite is one of the high-quality natural materials regularly chosen to make highly resistant headstones, its resilience coming from the lengthy natural geological process it goes through to form. Granite's resilience enables almost any design to be added to the most popular stones. This 1000-year process also makes the rock less sustainable, though there are vast supplies of the material available. 

The individuality of Granite stone means its natural strength can vary. Granite strength is categorized using grades, each reflecting the different qualities listed below;

Durability

Density

Structural integrity

Consistency

Suitability for cutting, crafting and finishing

Commercial lower-grade granite headstones are prone to faster deterioration, chipping and some discolouration after a long time. If you desire intricately carved designs on a headstone, low-grade granite is a poor choice, as even the most skilled craftspeople may struggle more than with other materials. Lower grade granite has more flaws, lower density and various inconsistencies that damage the integrity of the headstone material. 

Expectantly, high-grade granite costs more than its weaker counterparts, yet it provides greater durability and can save you money in maintenance costs over time. Skilled family advisors and memorial providers will be able to offer information on the quality of the granite they use, along with any guarantees or warranties offered with the memorial. 

How Does Granite Perform against Weathering?

Weather elements, like mild acid rain, can cause most materials to deteriorate, and although granite is naturally durable, some unique characteristics can weaken it. Weathering is the natural process of breaking stone down from sediment, this process can happen in three ways; 

• Physical Weathering: Natural processes like frost, ice splitting and most commonly, abrasion, cause deterioration of the stone over time, leading to chunks separating and breaking down further.
  
• Chemical Weathering: When stone interacts with various elements like air, acid and water, it becomes chemically weathered. 
  
• Biological Weathering: Stone broken down by microbes, plants, and animals has been Biologically Weathered. 
  

Differing rock types, qualities and variations will weather at different rates. As mentioned, Granite is the most durable headstone material, it's an Igneous rock that allows little water to penetrate its walls. Whereas other materials like Marble are easily weathered by mild acids in rain or sometimes even water. 

Granite is the most commonly used and most durable headstone material for good reason. Different rock types weather at different rates. Igneous rock, like granite, weathers especially slowly because it is hard for water to penetrate. Other types of rock, such as marble, are easily weathered because they dissolve in weak acids, like water.

Without question, granite has become the staple headstone material. It is accepted by almost all cemeteries and will last for generations to come.

Tips for Granite Headstone Maintenance

No matter what quality granite you use for a memorial, with simple care and maintenance it can ensure the granite headstone retains its intricate designs and polished finish. 

Tree sap, grass clippings, hard irrigation water, birds and other natural harming processes can cause the Granite Headstone to become stained, making lettering and designs harder to see. 

Cleaning a memorial is easily done, and ensures your loved ones' individual burial space is protected and cared for. How stained or dirty the memorial is will determine how often it needs cleaning and the level of work required to ensure the headstone keeps the same look. Alternatively, specialist memorial cleaning services can provide assistance or advice. 

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Are you looking for hand crafted gravestones and headstones in Tuxford, Nottingham or Nottinghamshire? Follow the link below to discuss your personalised headstone requirements. 

  Headstones in Sheffield.