Most cemeteries do a great job at maintaining the grounds but the individual site and any Restoration & Repair is usually the responsibility of a family member.   Did you know that Headstones are covered under your home owners insurance policy?  Ask your insurance agent today. Q: Is it ok to place artificial flowers at a cemetery gravesite? A: Most cemeteries dislike artificial flowers being placed during the mowing season.  The reason is that most artificial flowers are NOT biodegradable and need to be thrown away.  If they blow away, they can make a very large mess for the cemetery workers to clean up.  Fresh flowers can be dumped out on the lawn and chopped up with out damage to the mowers and can actually be used with the lawn.  Artificial flowers should ONLY be placed in the Non Mowing months. Q. Isn't the cemetery responsible for the condition of my families gravesite? A. Cemeteries are responsible for the general condition of the cemetery grounds. They are required to maintain the grass to a respectable length and also trim around the trees and upright headstones. The condition of your monument or grave markers, unless broken or damaged by the cemetery themselves is the family's responsibility. Q. Should my monument or grave marker be maintained from the beginning of placement or should I wait until there is noticeable damage caused by the environment? A. We recommend maintaining your monument or grave marker from the day it is placed in the ground. General cleaning and polishing with the correct material will have your monument or marker looking it's best for many years and will reduce build up. If you wait for the environment to start eating away at the monument or marker, then decide to clean the monument or marker, the cost could be very expensive and the stone might never be the same as when it was new. We use only professional cleaners and have many strengths but we can not guarantee your stone to match it's original condition unless it is maintained from the day it was placed in the ground. Also, frequent cleaning, will not damage the stone. Q. Is it a good idea to clean a monument or marker with household cleaners, a power washer, harsh acids, or any other type of dangerous type product? A. You should never ever use a product that has not been proven to work on the type of material that you are cleaning. This could permanently damage the stone to a condition that is not reversible. Q. Will soap and water clean my stone to it's original condition? A. Soap and water is a good way to start but will never clean your monument or grave marker to it's original condition. You will need a professional cleaner in order to remove the deep stains. Q. Can a bronze marker be restored to it's original condition? A. Yes, the bronze markers can be restored professionally to it's original condition. This also depend if the bronze itself hasn't been tampered with. It there are nicks and chunks out of the bronze the answer is no, it can not be fully restored but the existing bronze can look like new again.