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Embossed
- Background sandblasted away leaving letter raised with polished face.
- Background then painted, sealed or left natural sandblast.
Incised
- Sandblasted into the stone. Letter then painted or gilded.
Hand V cut
- As incised but deeper and "hand" finished in a "V".
- Letter then painted or gilded.
Lead
- Letter sandblasted into the marble and "keying" holes drilled into each letter.
- Lead is then tapped into the key holes and letter, and finished/dressed flush
with the face of the marble. Letters treated with ammonia to give black finish.
Raised lead
- Granite drilled with "key" holes and molten lead poured to form a "blank".
- Each letter is then hand chiselled to shape.
- The top/face of the letter is sometimes painted.
Bronze
- Bronze letters of various styles, with pins attached. Stone is drilled and the letter glued on with epoxy.
Gold - gold lettering is 23 carat gold leaf.
Paint - oil based enamel paint.
Bronze - bronze with a protective clear coating.
Embossed
on granite, (can do on marble for added inscriptions, but painted not recommended due to rapid deterioration of the paint.)
Incised
on granite, (can do on marble for added inscriptions, but painted not recommended.)
Hand V cut
on granite, (can do on marble for added inscriptions, but painted not recommended.)
Lead
on marble.
Raised lead
on granite.
Bronze
on any surface.
Embossed - natural, washed/sealed, painted.
Incised - gold, painted, washed, natural.
Hand V cut - gold, painted, washed, natural.
Lead - natural.
Raised lead - natural or paint.
Gold - 10 to 15 years on upright memorials. (see "deterioration" below.)
Paint - 5 to 7 years on upright memorials. (see "deterioration" below.)
Lead - 25 + years. (shade encourages fungus to grow behind the lead
and push the letter out.)
Raised lead - as per lead unless painted, which reduces the life of
the paint.
Bronze - surface discolours with age. (Protective coating breaks down
& pateena effect - scratches easily.)
- If the inscription is on a sloping or flat surface, explain the
shortened expected "life" of the paint or gold. (Greater exposure
to the elements and more chance of prolonged exposure to water/moisture.)
- Paint has "Normal" deterioration of it's surface by the "elements"
and also deterioration of it's bond to the stone caused by the absorption
of moisture by the granite & marble. (marble has a high water absorption
rate.)
- bond to the stone is paint, it suffers bond breakdown through moisture
absorption by the granite or marble.
NOTE: Abnormal influences can shorten the life considerably. Eg salt,
lichen.
Natural
- none.
Gold
- Squeeze a clean wet sponge above to allow water to run down
over gold.
- NEVER wipe gold as every contact removes a minute layer of the gold.
- Gold can be regilded when required, but only by a skilled tradesman.
Paint
- Wipe clean with moist cloth or sponge.
- Can be repainted when required.
Lead
- Can be carefully wiped with a wet sponge if lettering in good condition.
- BUT care must be taken not to catch the edge of a letter and pull
it out.
- Can be refurbished, if in good condition, with a fine grade wet
emery paper using lots of water, and then treated with ammonia.
- It can be refurbished by a Mason by tapping back the existing letters
and replacing missing or damaged ones. This can only be done if the
marble is in good condition and not under 40 mm thick if in situ.
(all care, no responsibility)
Raised lead
- Can be repainted, but better to be wire brushed or sanded and left
natural.
- Letters can be replaced, but at a very high cost.
Bronze
- Clean with soft cloth, sponge or chamois. Take care as easily scratched. |
