Sandhills Soil Erosion
The ground in Fayetteville is mostly sand. It does not pack tight like clay. Heavy storms wash the soil right out from under the concrete foundations.
We frequently see headstones tipping over because the corner of the base is floating on air. Shoveling loose sand back under it is a temporary fix; the next rain will take it away again. We provide professional grave stone cleaning services that include stabilization. We lift the stone and pack the void with angular gravel. The gravel locks together and stays put, keeping the marker upright even during hurricane season.
Government Marker Cleaning
We are a military town. Our cemeteries are full of standard issue VA markers. These white marble and granite stones turn gray and patchy from neglect.
Families want these markers to look sharp. Blasting them with pressure ruins the stone texture. We use a specific biological cleaner meant for federal stones. It lifts the grime and kills the mold deep in the pores. We bring the stone back to that regulation white or clean granite look without damaging the surface.
"My service attendant Daschi was polite, attentive, and professional. Usage of the website was easy to navigate. Before and after photos of the headstone were frequently provided and let me tell you! The joy I felt when I saw the finished workmanship of the before and after headstone truly brought a smile to my face. Your loved one needs to be honored. Tending wll make that happen"
— CONSTANCE, North Carolina
Longleaf Pine Pitch
The pines here are massive, and they drop heavy sap year-round. It lands on the headstones and bakes into a hard amber resin.
The resin catches dust and pollen, forming hard black spots. Chipping them off is a mistake. It often pulls up the surface of the stone, leaving a permanent scar. We use a strong solvent that melts the pitch chemically. The sticky mess wipes away clean. We get the black bumps off so the name is visible again.
Red Algae Staining
Red streaks run down the markers here. It looks exactly like rust, but it is actually red algae thriving in the humidity.
Scrubbing it just spreads the spores to the rest of the marker. We saturate the stone with a biocide. It kills the algae on contact. The sun bleaches out the red stain over the next few days. The chemical stays in the rock pores and prevents new growth.
Traffic Film and Soot
Between the base traffic and the highways, the air here carries a lot of diesel exhaust. It settles on the cemeteries as a greasy gray film.
Rain doesn't wash this off because the oil repels water. We use an industrial degreaser to cut through the traffic film. We strip the oil away so the natural sparkle of the granite comes back.
Lawn Mower Scuffs
Landscaping crews move fast in the big memorial parks. We constantly see black rubber marks on the corners of flat markers.
The rubber burns onto the stone from the friction of the tires. Water won't touch it. We use a safe solvent to dissolve the rubber residue. We wipe the mark away and trim the grass back to give the mowers a buffer zone.
Ant Hills and Pest Damage
Fire ants love the sandy soil under the markers. They build mounds that push dirt up over the base and destabilize the stone.
The acid from the ant mounds can actually stain the stone over time. We clear the infestation and clean the acidic dirt from the base. We verify the stability of the stone to make sure the tunnels haven't caused it to lean.
Service Costs in Fayetteville
We price based on the type of stone and the severity of the weathering:
- VA Marker Cleaning: Restoration of government-issue marble and granite.
- Pine Pitch Removal: Chemical removal of hardened sap.
- Leveling & Stabilization: Fixing wash-out damage in sandy soil.
- Biocide Treatment: Killing red algae and mildew.
We assess the site. We check the stability. Then we give you a price.