Gulf Salt Spalling
Palm Harbor sits on the Gulf. The wind carries salt mist. It soaks into the stone pores. The water dries, but the salt stays. It forms crystals inside the granite. These crystals grow. They push against the stone from the inside out.
The face of the stone pops off. We call this spalling. Searching for headstone cleaning services near me often points to pressure washing. That is dangerous. It drives salt deeper. We use specialized grave site cleaning services. We use a chemical poultice. It draws the salt out. This stops the internal pressure.
Sugar Sand Washout
North Pinellas soil is "sugar sand." It is fine and loose. Tropical storms turn it into liquid mud. Water rushes under the concrete foundation. It scours the sand away.
The monument floats on nothing. It tilts. Adding topsoil is a waste; 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 sand.
Oak Tannin Stains
Many local cemeteries have large Oak trees. Leaves drop onto wet markers. They release tannic acid. This dyes the stone a dark brown color, like tea.
This is not dirt. It is a chemical stain deep in the pores. Soap won't remove it. We use specific surfactants. They break down the organic acids. We lift the stain out without scrubbing. The natural stone color returns.
Marine Bronze Corrosion
Salt air destroys bronze markers. It eats the factory clear coat. The copper reacts with chlorides. It turns green and chalky. This is "Bronze Disease."
It pits the metal lettering. We use strict cleaning bronze cemetery markers protocols. We strip the dead lacquer. We neutralize the corrosion. We heat the metal and reseal it with marine-grade clear coat. This blocks the salt air.
