The Dredge Tailings Shift
Folsom sits on historic gold dredge tailings. The ground is packed with smooth river cobble. These rocks are round. They do not lock together. They act like ball bearings under the foundation.
When the soil gets wet, the rocks roll. The concrete foundation slides off the pile. Monuments list to the side. If you are searching for tombstone repair and restoration because the headstone is leaning, adding dirt fails. We excavate the unstable cobble. We replace it with angular crushed rock. Sharp rocks lock together. They create a friction bond that holds the foundation in place.
Reservoir Lichen
Folsom Lake creates a humid microclimate. The winter fog feeds a specific type of hard-shelled lichen. It grows in tight circles. It doesn't just sit on the stone; it roots into the pores. It bonds physically to the granite.
Scraping it destroys the polish. It leaves "ghost rings" etched into the face.
If you are searching for headstone cleaning services near me because the stone has green spots that won't scrape off, that is shield lichen. We use specialized grave site cleaning services with biocides. We soften the shell chemically. We kill the organism at the root and lift it off without scratching the marker.
Sierra Iron Stain
The soil changes here. It turns into the red clay of the Sierra foothills. It is loaded with iron oxide. Basically, the dirt is rust. When sprinklers splash this mud onto a headstone, it stains instantly.
It turns gray granite orange. This is a chemical bond. You cannot scrub it out.
We use professional cleaning stone gravestones chemistry. We apply clay poultices. We draw the iron particles out of the stone pores through wicking. We stop the oxidation and restore the natural gray color.