Grave Cleaning & Headstone Restoration in Bellevue

Restoring Bronze and Lifting Sunken Markers in Bellevue

Bellevue cemeteries are green. That means water. In Sunset Hills and Cedar Lawns, the sprinklers run constantly in the summer to keep the grass lush. In the winter, it rains. That constant moisture sits on the flat markers. Water pools on the surface. It stands there. That standing water feeds the moss until you can't read the name.

The grass is another issue. It grows fast and thick. It creeps over the edges of the flat granite markers. You lose the border of the stone first, then the dates. We see markers where the sod has grown four inches onto the face of the stone. Families searching for headstone cleaning services near me call us to cut back that overgrowth, dig the sunken markers out of the mud, and refinish the bronze plaques that look green and chalky.

Lifting Sunken Lawn Markers

The soil in Bellevue is soft. Heavy granite or bronze markers settle. We find markers that have sunk down so far that the mud washes over the name every time it rains.

We dig them out. We cut the sod back to the original edge of the stone. Then we lift the marker and pack the hole with crushed angular gravel. Gravel drains water away and locks the stone in place. We set the marker flush with the ground again so it stays clean and visible.

Restoring Green Bronze

Bronze markers look great when they are new, but the damp climate destroys the finish. The protective coating peels off. Once that happens, the metal turns a chalky green or white.

Washing it won't fix it. We have to strip the old coating off completely. We clean the bare metal. Then we apply a new sealer. It darkens the background and makes the raised letters shine again. It stops the corrosion from getting worse.

Killing Thick Moss

The moss here creates thick carpets on the granite. Pulling it off by hand leaves the roots inside the stone. It grows right back.

We use a biological cleaner to kill it. We saturate the moss until the roots die. The plant turns brown and lets go of the stone. Then we scrub it off. Once the roots are dead, the stone stays clean for a long time.

Cleaning Mower Tire Marks

Landscapers move fast in these big cemeteries. They drive right over the flat markers. We see black rubber streaks across the names and chipped edges where the mower deck hit the stone.

We remove the rubber with a solvent. It dissolves the tire mark without hurting the stone. For the chips, we use diamond files to smooth out the jagged granite. We can't put the piece back, but we can make it look finished and intentional.

Removing Cedar Stains

Western Red Cedars drop acidic debris on the stones. The wet leaves rot right on the face of the marker. They dye the granite dark brown. Scrubbing won't help. The stone absorbs that brown liquid, pulling the stain deep inside where a brush can't reach.

We have to draw it back out. We apply a thick poultice that pulls the color out of the pores. We cover it and let it work. When we wash the paste away, the stain goes with it.

Service Costs in Bellevue

We have flat-rate pricing for Bellevue, Kirkland, and Redmond. We don't need to visit the cemetery to give you a price. Check our subscription builder to see the exact cost for your plot.