Purchasing a private mausoleum is a major decision, comparatively similar to
purchasing a house. The decision takes a lot of time and money, so one must be prepared to
spend both, if the purchase is going to provide maximum satisfaction throughout the ages.
Some helpful steps to follow when buying a memorable private mausoleum for your loved one
are listed below:
First, obtain a copy of and read the cemetery rules to determine if the cemetery will
permit the installation of a mausoleum, and whether or not the rules contain any
restrictions on size, color, dimensions, memorialization, or other details.
Second, determine the price range and availability of mausoleums so you can be aware of
the prices of the competition to obtain the best price and quality for your dollar. One
can spend from $10,000 to millions for a mausoleum.
Third, determine the number of crypts the mausoleum will hold. Though this assumption is
not always true, usually, the larger the number of crypts inside the mausoleum, the higher
its price.
Fourth, select the building materials, which could be many different options, including:
brick, stone, concrete, marble and granite. Granite is a preferred medium in many
instances, so I will focus on granite within this article. However, many of these points
apply across any materials selection.
Fifth, choose a style that epitomizes your preferences. Over the years, I have developed a
preference for a two-crypt vertical mausoleum over a two-crypt horizontal mausoleum. The
vertical mausoleum allows for greater creativity in terms of memorialization. If you
choose to spend a lot of money, you might as well build a memorial that will be an
attractive symbol for your family.
Sixth, color of material is important, as the color of granite may dramatically change the
price of a mausoleum. Gray granite may be the least expensive source, while Wausau Red is
probably the most expensive granite. Price varies based upon demand, competition, and any
one quarry’s monopoly on a particular color of granite.
Seventh, recognize that some pricing factors are uncontrollable when speaking with a
monument dealer. Factors such as transportation costs, crane costs, concrete, depth of
foundation, and installation are beyond the control of the monument builder’s.
Eighth, a solid foundation under any mausoleum is a necessity, as the crypt is being built
to last forever. Not all foundations are equal. Be sure to ask the monument builder
specifics about the foundation. Thickness of the foundation may vary based upon the weight
of the mausoleum, surrounding structures, soil, weather, and freezing conditions.
The use of footings and iron rebar to support the foundation is also a smart idea. This is
not a time to be penny-wise and pound-foolish, so to say. You will want the monument
builder to specify, in writing, how exactly the foundation will be built. As a result of
the weight, the size, and the investment of the mausoleum, we recommend the use of an
engineer and a contractor in the preparation of the foundation.
In order to save money, some mausoleums have a concrete, instead of granite, floor. As
long as the monument builder makes a full, complete, detailed disclosure, either option
should be acceptable. At least one company produces an all-concrete mausoleum, which it
advertises as a lower cost alternative to marble or granite.
Ninth, as you make your purchasing decision; don’t forget about the costs for
exterior, and, for a larger mausoleum, interior memorialization. The life story can be
expressed through engraving (sandblasting), etching, which provides life scenes and
details, a porcelain photograph, or through bronze, either through plaques or
ornamentation. A high-quality porcelain photograph should be considered an essential part
of memorialization.
Everything comes with a price. Many monument builders have very little experience with
memorialization, so be careful to hire a company that maintains editors on its staff in
order to assist the telling of your “living legacy SM”.
A less expensive mausoleum choice tells a life story over a less crowded, larger
mausoleum, only expressing names along with the dates of birth and death. Tell the life
story for future generations so the mausoleum will be a memorial along with an exquisite
work of loving art. A memorial should help to tell the story of the person’s life.
The idea is to have descendants visit 100 years from now and be able to learn something
about the person’s life, occupation, hobbies, values and their genealogical data.
Purchasing a private mausoleum is a major decision, comparatively similar to
purchasing a house. The decision takes a lot of time and money, so one must be prepared to
spend both, if the purchase is going to provide maximum satisfaction throughout the ages.