Help preserve a cemetery by learning the proper methods to clean and repair tombstones.
Cemeteries provide valuable information about our history, but the information on tombstones can be lost to weathering, pollution and other damage. An overgrown cemetery may seem like a good project for an amateur restorer, but it is possible to do more harm than good if you don't know the specifics of stone conservation. Leave major repairs and cleaning to a conservation professional, but there are things you can do to protect the tombstones in a cemetery from the effects of time. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Record Tombstones
1. Obtain permission from the cemetery association or property owner before undertaking any cemetery-restoration project.
2. Clear overgrown vegetation around the tombstones. Use a mower and edger for larger areas between stones. Use pruning shears to carefully trim overgrowth around the stones.
3. Find all tombstones using the cemetery map. Match each stone to the corresponding burial plot on the map. If no map is available, sketch a map of the visible stones. Note any extra or missing stones.
4. Record each tombstone in a notebook, noting the shape and material of the stone. Record any engravings or decorations.
5. Record damage and weathering for each stone. Stones with significant cracking, breakage, or erosion should be repaired by a professional restorer.
6. Photograph each tombstone. Take photographs with the sun at an angle to the stone, if possible, to allow natural shadows to make inscriptions more visible. This provides a record of each tombstone before conservation.
Clean and Repair Tombstones
7. Gather fragments of broken tombstones. Look downhill for any missing pieces of severely damaged stones.
8. Wet the stone thoroughly with clean water. Clean only those tombstones that are stable and in good condition.
9. Loosen any dirt using a soft brush and water, working from the bottom to the top to prevent staining. Rinse frequently with clean water.
10. If stains remain, mix one ounce of ionic cleaning solution in five gallons of water, and use this to remove further dirt using a nylon scrub brush. Clean gently and do not scrub at stubborn stains.
11. Rinse tombstone thoroughly with water.
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