Mountain Runoff on the Bench
Provo cemeteries sit right on the bench. The ground angles sharply downhill. Rain hits the slope, grabs mud and gravel, and washes it straight down into the monuments.
That muck stacks up on the uphill side of the headstone. It buries the base in wet dirt. That trapped moisture is a killer; it rots the stone from the bottom up. We hand-dig that debris channel. We don't refill it with dirt. We backfill it with drainage gravel. The water runs through the rock and around the monument instead of soaking into it.
Scrub Oak and Pine Sap
Trees on the East Bench drop sap all summer. It hits the stone sticky and clear. Then the dust hits it.
It turns into hard black bumps. It looks like road tar. Razor blades are a bad idea here; they slice right into the granite polish. We apply a solvent meant for cleaning stone gravestones. It dissolves the bond chemically. The tar melts, and we wipe it clean without scratching the finish.
Deer Antler Damage
Deer are a real problem here. During the rut, bucks use the upright stones as rubbing posts.
They grind their antlers against the corners until the granite snaps. They also leave a greasy smear on the face of the stone. That oil sinks deep into the rock pores. We treat the grease with an enzyme cleaner. Then we fix the chips. We use hand polishers with diamond pads to knock down the sharp edges so the stone stops crumbling.
Leaning on the Slope
The ground here creeps downhill. It takes the heavy monuments with it.
Stones start leaning forward. This puts massive stress on the metal pins holding the tablet to the base. If the pin snaps, the stone falls. We excavate the low side and jack the base up. We pack angular gravel underneath. Unlike dirt, gravel locks together. It creates a level shelf that holds the weight even when the hill moves.
Lichen on Rough Stone
Old markers here often have rough, rock-pitch edges. That uneven texture traps water. Lichen loves it.
The roots dig in and eat the stone minerals. Families looking for headstone cleaning services near me often try wire brushes. That destroys the rock texture. We soak it in a specialized biocide. The lichen dies, turns to dust, and washes away. We save the natural look of the stone without aggressive scrubbing.
Hard Water Calcium Lines
To keep grass green on a hill, you have to water it a lot. Provo water is hard. It hits the hot stone and evaporates in seconds.
It leaves a white calcium line that covers the names. It bonds to the granite like cement. We use a buffered acid to soften the crust. It bubbles the calcium off so we can rinse it away. Then we seal the stone. Now, the sprinkler water hits the granite and runs straight off. It doesn't get a chance to dry and leave white spots.
Service Costs in Provo
Prices vary based on the work. A quick sap clean is cheap. Jacking up a tilting monument takes a crew and equipment. Here is the breakdown:
- Sap & Tar Removal: Chemical dissolution of pine sap and biological residue.
- Runoff Clearance: Excavating mud from the uphill side and installing drainage.
- Slope Leveling: Jacking and resetting leaning monuments on the bench.
- Hard Water Treatment: Acidic cleaning to remove white calcium crusts.
We inspect the site. We check the slope stability. We see how bad the sap is. Then we give you a firm price.
