The Soil is the Enemy
Drexel Heights sits on alluvial soil near the Santa Cruz wash. It moves. When monsoons hit, water doesn't just run off; it cuts channels. It washes the dirt right out from under the concrete foundations. We call this "undercutting." If you are looking for headstone cleaning services near me because a monument is leaning or sinking, that isn't a mystery; it’s the ground failing. We monitor this grade shift. Our tombstone repair and restoration process involves stabilizing the base before gravity pulls the marker over completely.
Baked-on Clay Dust
The wind off the San Xavier flats carries fine clay dust. It lands on the stone, gets wet, and dries into a hard, reddish shell. It effectively plasters over the inscription.
Standard cleaners won't touch this baked clay. You need specialized surfactants to break the bond. Tending provides grave site cleaning services that lift this layer gently. We reveal the polished granite underneath without using abrasive brushes that would leave the stone looking hazy.
The Fading Name
There is no shade out here. The sun beats down on the engraving paint until it chalks and falls out. The name disappears into the background color of the stone. We specialize in cleaning stone gravestones and re-applying high-contrast lithichrome. We make sure the name pops, so you don't have to squint to read the dates.
