Headstone repair?

savingmummy

Hope this is ok to post on here, it seemed the only place that felt suitable.

After doing my family tree i found my gt grandparents grave last summer, i`ve been visiting when i can and have noticed an issue.

The headstone is intact and solid ie not loose, BUT it is leaning forward slightly and sunken - worsened over the winter.
I asked one of the cemetry maintenance workers about it as i thought the stone backing onto it may have been pushing it, OR tree roots (its right by a tree) might be the cause.
He told me the tree is dead so it can`t be the tree roots, and then he said it was my grave pulling the other stone down as the foundation had sunk - both stones are on a shared foundation.

Apart from telling me to `keep an eye on it and let him know if it got worse by summer` he never gave me any information as to what to do about it.
Obviously this is going to worsen and eventually become unstable. Where do i go to get it fixed? what sort of cost will it be?

I have a feeling its going to be costly obviously, but it needs to be repaired and not just left to fall and be removed altogether

bongonaut

Have a word with a local monumental mason. They will probably be pleased to give you a free, no-obligation quote for refixing the stone to currently approved standards.
You could ask 2 or 3 different firms to get best value.

madbadrob

The cost would be virtually the same as if you had a new one laid. Interesting that the employee in the church yard said that because there are now H&S laws in place to cover headstones and usually the local council will have stones in the condition yo state laid flat for fear that they could fall on someone. You may also have to bear the cost of the other headstone as well if it is proved to be your stone being the problem stone

Rob

savingmummy

Where i live the grave stones are indeed laid flat and a notice is put on, the stones are removed if noone contacts the office.
I asked him about that, and he said the council there don`t do that.

He also told me some people fix them themselves which i found odd as our local cemeteries are very strict and any work carried out has to be done professionally and through the right channels!

Many thanks for your advise x