Grave Cleaning & Headstone Restoration in Fort Collins

Stone Care in Northern Colorado

Fort Collins is full of pioneer graves. Places like Grandview are tough to maintain because the stones are old and soft, and the pine trees drop sap all over them. We see damage here that you don't see in newer cemeteries.

We fight a constant battle against pine pitch and the thick yellow pollen that covers everything in spring. We also work on old sandstone markers that are literally falling apart. Families searching for headstone cleaning services near me call us to save these eroding names and to clean up the biological growth that thrives in the shade.

Soft Sandstone Preservation

Many pioneer graves in Fort Collins are cut from red or gray sandstone. This material is incredibly soft. A pressure washer or a stiff wire brush will destroy the lettering immediately.

We use soft brushes and a cleaner that kills the growth chemically. We let the solution do the work so we can rinse the dirt away without scrubbing the stone surface away with it.

Pine Sap and Pollen

Grandview Cemetery is full of massive trees. Dust sticks to the dripping sap and hardens into black lumps.

If you try to scrape that off cold, you will take a chunk of the stone with it. We use a solvent to melt the pitch. It turns into a soft goo that wipes right off, saving the stone underneath.

Farm Dust and Grime

Farming kicks up a lot of dust around here. That dirt blows into the cemeteries and packs tight into the letters.

It fills in the dates and names until you can't read them. We clean out the grooves using steam and brushes. We get the packed dirt out so the lettering is deep and sharp again.

Lichen Growth

The shade and the nearby reservoir create the perfect environment for lichen. It grows in green and orange patches that dig into the granite.

Pulling lichen off while it is alive damages the stone. We kill it first. Dead lichen releases its grip. We brush it away, and the stone underneath stays smooth and undamaged.

Hard Water Scale

The irrigation water here is hard. It coats the markers in a white crust that hides the polish.

We use a specialized cleaner to soften the mineral buildup. Then we remove it by hand. It brings back the dark contrast of the stone so the family name stands out again.

Service Costs in Fort Collins

Cleaning old sandstone takes patience and specialized chemicals. Removing pine sap adds time to the job. We look at the condition of the stone and what is growing on it before we give a price.