How long does it take to have a
memorial stone installed?
I've
never purchased a memorial before. How do I know I'm
buying the right thing?
How much do
memorials cost today?
What is a foundation?
Why is the concrete foundation so
important?
When I visit the cemetery, why are
some of the stones tipping or falling over?
Do you remove the stone to add a
name or date to it?
Are arrangements made over the
phone or in your office?
With all the brochures and letters
I received, how can I be sure to do business with the
right company?
How long does it take to have a memorial stone
installed?
Most jobs
are completed in six to eight weeks. With a large
inventory and a full time shop, Fox-Becker Granite isn't
so dependent on the large manufacturers. One deciding
factor is the completion of the concrete foundation in
the cemetery. Cemetery work schedules, weather and
ground conditions determine when a foundation can be
constructed.
I've never purchased a memorial
before. How do I know I'm buying the right thing?
Like other major purchases, the purchase of a
memorial should be a family decision. At Fox-Becker
Granite, we sincerely want you to make an informed
decision. We spend time with each family explaining the
product and going over the options. We are dedicated to
design a memorial to fit your budget, your present needs
and the future needs of your family.
How much do memorials cost today?
Many factors go into the development of a quality
memorial. The main factors are: quality of the stock
used, size, finish, lettering style, floral carving and
cemetery fees specific to your cemetery. Today, simple
memorials start around $450.00 while a family monument
will range from $900.00 to $8000.00, complete with
Lettering, Installation and Sales Tax. It is not
uncommon for more elaborate memorials to exceed
$10,000.00.
What is a foundation?
A foundation is the underlying support, and must be
constructed properly. A minimum of three feet deep, the
bottom should be flat and slightly larger than the
footprint of the memorial itself. Once filled with
properly mixed concrete and allowed to cure it will
support the memorial for many years. At Fox-Becker
Granite, we prefer to do our own foundations because we
have the knowledge and the proper equipment to do them
correctly. We use 3000 P.S.I. concrete mixed at the
cemetery by a mobile concrete plant.
Why is the concrete foundation so important?
The foundation must support the weight of the
memorial and withstand the extremes of weather and
temperature. An average family memorial can weigh
nearly 2000 pounds.
When I visit the cemetery, why are some of the stones
tipping or falling over?
Most often a poor foundation is to blame. The
original person either didn't understand the importance
of a good foundation or didn't care. Sometimes it is
caused when a grave is opened for a burial. Being a
full service monument company, we also remove and
replace foundations when they no longer support the
weight of the memorial.
Do you remove the stone to add a
name or date to it?
No. Most of the time with
the use of specialized equipment the work can be
completed at the cemetery plot.
Are arrangements made over the phone or
in your office?
Many arrangements are made at our office but about
25 percent are made over the phone. When a customer
visits our office, having 50 different monuments of all
shapes, colors and sizes is very helpful. In either
case, with the Monu-Cad system, one of only two in
Connecticut, we can offer our customers in-house custom
design. Simple markers, lettering or duplication of an
existing memorial can usually be handled over the
phone. We also offer home appointments for those who
find it difficult to visit our office.
With all the brochures and
letters I received, how can I be sure to do business
with the right company?
The company must be knowledgeable, professional and
willing to take the time to listen to your needs.
Anyone who calls you just a few days after the funeral
or urges you to make a hasty decision, does not have
your best interests in mind. At Fox-Becker Granite, we
believe that only you know when the time is right. We
often encourage customers
to postpone the selection
when we find they are still grieving. A dealer
interested only in quickly selling you a block of stone,
needs only to know the size and price that you have in
mind.
We hope
you will find this information helpful. Rules and
regulations differ from cemetery to cemetery and many
times from section to section. It is a good idea to
contact your cemetery to verify your section, lot
number, grave layout and size restrictions. This
information will help us in assisting you to make your
final memorial decision.
Before you
buy, please allow us the opportunity to review any
quotation you receive. We can help you determine
whether you will receive the highest value for the
dollars you will spend.
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