Coastal Bend Algae
Victoria sits in the Coastal Bend. The air is wet.
This breeds black algae. It roots into the granite. People searching for headstone cleaning services near me often use pressure washers. That is a mistake. It drives the roots deeper.
We use a biocide soak. It kills the roots inside the rock. The dead algae rinses off.
Gumbo Clay Sinking
The soil here is heavy "Gumbo" clay. It holds water.
Heavy monuments sink. We find flat markers buried inches deep. Digging them up fails. The soft mud swallows them again.
For tombstone repair and restoration, we install a stabilizer grid. We lift the stone. We slide the grid underneath. It spreads the weight. The stone floats on the mud.
Agricultural Dust
Farms surround the city. The wind carries dust mixed with chemicals.
This creates a sticky film on the markers. It bonds to the polish. Rain beads up on it. Wiping it dry smears the grease.
We use an industrial degreaser for grave site cleaning services. We strip the chemical film. Once the grease is gone, the stone washes clean.
Live Oak Tannins
Old Live Oaks line the cemeteries. They drop leaves all year.
Wet leaves bleed tannic acid. It leaves a deep brown stain. It looks like coffee. Soap won't touch it.
We use a chemical poultice. It draws the stain out of the pores over 24 hours.
Fire Ant Acid
Fire ants build mounds against the bases.
"Tending is a platinum standard cemetery/headstone restoration company. I can’t say enough good things about Tending!"
— Beatle, Texas
The dirt is acidic. It burns the polish. It leaves a rough, dull ring. You cannot wash this damage off. We treat the ground. Then we use alkaline cleaners for cleaning stone gravestones. We neutralize the acid.
