Urban Salt Spalling
Oakland Park sits between I-95 and the ocean. The air carries salt spray. It lands on granite markers. The stone absorbs the brine. It stays wet inside.
The sun heats the stone. The water leaves. The salt stays. It forms crystals inside the rock. These crystals expand. They push against the stone from the inside. The face pops off (spalling).
Searching for headstone cleaning services near me often suggests pressure washing. Dangerous. It drives salt deeper. We use specialized grave site cleaning services. We use a desalination poultice. It pulls the salt out chemically. This stops the cracking.
Sandy Fill Washout
Much of this area is built on sandy fill. It is loose. Heavy tropical rain drains fast but moves the soil. Water rushes under the concrete base. It takes the sand with it.
The monument tips. It floats on air. Adding dirt fails; it washes right out. For lasting tombstone repair and restoration, we stabilize the sub-base. We excavate the loose sand. We install angular gravel. The rocks lock together. They create a friction pile. This supports the weight, even in loose fill.
Traffic Soot Accumulation
Heavy traffic flows through US-1 and Andrews Avenue. Cars and trucks release exhaust soot. This oily dust settles on the cemeteries. It mixes with biological mold. It creates a greasy black sludge.
Soap won't clean this. It is oil-based. We use industrial degreasers. We lift the soot out of the pores. Then we apply a biocide to kill the mold. The stone stays clean.
Irrigation Mineral Scale
Sprinklers here often use well water or reclaimed water. It is full of minerals. The water hits hot granite and dries instantly. It leaves a hard white cement.
You can't scrape it off. It scratches the polish. We use professional cleaning stone gravestones chemistry. We use acid buffers to melt the bond. We rinse it away. The shine returns.