River Dampness and Mold
We are right on the Arkansas River. It stays wet here. The dampness hangs over the cemeteries and keeps the stones soaking wet for hours every morning.
That constant moisture feeds the black mold. It grows fast and thick. It roots deep into the granite and turns gray markers pitch black. It hides the names and dates. Families searching for headstone cleaning services near me often think the stone is ruined. It isn't. We use a deep-penetrating biocide. We kill the infestation completely. The black layer dies, releases its grip, and washes away.
Oklahoma Wind Grit
We are right on the Oklahoma line. The wind kicks up dust from the west. This isn't soft dirt; it is gritty and sharp.
That grit packs into the lettering. Rain turns it into cement. If you wipe that off dry, you will scratch the face of the stone. It ruins the polish. We flood the stone with water first. We have to flush that grit away completely before we even pick up a brush to avoid damage.
Sandstone Peeling
In historic places like Oak Cemetery, we have markers from the 1800s made of local sandstone. This stone peels.
The face of the stone flakes off in sheets. Water soaks in behind the surface layers and pushes them open. You absolutely cannot pressure wash these. The water pressure will blow the face right off. We clean these by hand using soft bristles. We remove the biological growth that traps water. This slows down the peeling.
Crepe Myrtle Stains
Crepe Myrtles are everywhere in Fort Smith cemeteries. They look nice, but they drop sticky blooms and berries.
When these land on a white marble marker, they leave bright pink or purple stains. It looks like ink. Water won't remove it. We use a specialized poultice for organic stains. We draw the pigment out of the stone pores. It takes a few days, but we can usually get the color out completely.
Sinking in Sandy River Soil
Closer to the river, the soil is basically sand. It shifts every time it rains.
Heavy monuments sink or tilt quickly here. Adding topsoil doesn't work; the sand just swallows it. During cemetery plot maintenance, we lift the stone. We shovel out the soft sand and fill the hole with crushed rock. That rock packs down hard and creates a floor that won't shift under the weight.
Mower Scuffs
The grass grows wild in the river bottoms. Mowing crews are out constantly. They hit the stones often.
We see rubber marks and metal scratches on the bases. String trimmers whip grass chlorophyll into the stone, leaving green stains. We use organic solvents for cleaning stone gravestones. We remove the rubber marks and the green stains. We can't fix a chip, but we can make the stone look cared for again.
Red Clay Splash
In the southern parts of the city, the soil turns to red clay. Heavy rains splash this mud onto the stones.
It leaves a rusty orange stain on the base. This is iron oxide. Bleach sets this stain permanently. We use a rust remover for grave site cleaning services. We chemically dissolve the iron. The orange stain runs off, and the natural gray or white color returns.