If we’re being honest, monuments
aren’t necessarily permanent. They require some maintenance and cleaning to keep the
pristine appearance of the original design. Some monument designers may gloss over this
fact, so it’s important to choose someone who will level with you.
Specifically, I would like to talk about using lithochrome, a popular feature of monuments
these days. Lithochrome is a special paint used within lettering and etchings to add color
and contrast.
Lithochrome can turn a plain monument into a work of beauty, but the point is that it must
be maintained, and some monument designers won’t mention this at the time of sale.
The monument needs to be refreshed with new coats of lithochrome over time to maintain the
monument’s striking appearance.
In particular, laser etchings come alive with the addition of lithochrome. However if it
isn’t refreshed, your etching may just resemble scratches with little or no color, a
shell of the beautiful memorial that once existed.
How long will lithochrome last? The short answer is that no on knows for sure. The product
continues to improve, but no one in the industry gives a long-term guarantee. Whether
lithochrome fades after one year or ten years, it is certain that either touching up or a
new coat will be necessary at some point.
Don’t get me wrong. I recommend lithochrome; there’s nothing like it.
My best advice is to contract with a full-service monument company for periodic cleaning
and maintenance. It’s is a nice way of paying continuing respect to your loved ones.
Or, you may set up a trust to ensure the maintenance of your own memorial when the time
comes. Whatever the case, you and your loved ones deserve a long-lasting tribute.
If we’re being honest, monuments
aren’t necessarily permanent. They require some maintenance and cleaning to keep the
pristine appearance of the original design. Some monument designers may gloss over this
fact, so it’s important to choose someone who will level with you.