Guaranteeing Your Granite Purchase

"Elberton claims the title "Granite Capital of the World," annually producing more granite products than any other city in the world. The city's post-Civil War history has largely revolved around the industry, following the opening of the first commercial quarry and manufacturing plant by Dr. Nathaniel Long in 1889. As the industry grew in the early 1900s, so did Elberton's importance on the passenger and freight railroad lines, bringing many travelers and businessmen to the city and leading to its heyday." - Wikipedia

Supplying such large amounts of granite requires a skilled labor pool, expansive manufacturing plants and a system that can ensure quality control and the guarantee that granite monuments are free from any material defects including manufacturing and workmanship.

Century Granite Company Inc. guarantees that all stones manufactured in our plant will be free of defects, hidden or apparent, in the granite or the workmanship. Components of the monument, whether granite or non-granite, if any, not manufactured by Century, are separately guaranteed for a period of one year from the date of purchase. Century Granite Co., Inc. will replace or re-work, free to the purchaser, any part or parts which are found to be defective in either material or workmanship. Century hand selects the best granite available and employs highly skilled craftsmen to provide our customers with the highest quality in materials and workmanship. This guarantee is provided to protect our customers against any defects in material or fault in workmanship. 

To help further the granite monument industry, the Elberton Granite Association was formed in 1951. The E.G.A. still welcomes granite manufacturers today. As an E.G.A. member, and at the customers request, an "E.G.A. Certified Memorial" can be guaranteed against any defects in workmanship or materials by the Elberton Granite Association, Inc., of Elberton, Georgia. 

Once the certification process is requested, an independent quality-control inspector is called in to verify that the material and workmanship of the Certified Memorial meets industry standards of quality. This guarantee offers to correct or replace any certified memorial, or defective part, if the defects are due to material or workmanship of the granite.

For more information on having your granite memorial E.G.A. Certified, please contact your Century Customer Service Representative.

Granite Veteran Memorials

A veteran memorial is a building, monument, statue or sculpture to commemorate those who died or were injured in war. Throughout history, war memorials were erected to commemorate great victories. Honoring the deceased was secondary. A highly recognized example is the Arc de Triomphe in Paris which contain no individual names. By the end of the 19th century, it was common for the British Army to erect monuments to those who had died in smaller wars. However it was after the great losses of the First World War that commemoration took center stage and most communities erected a war memorial listing those men and women who had gone to war and not come home.

Today, the main intent is not to glorify war, but to honor those who have given so much for their country. They may also serve places of reflection and healing for those related to the deceased. Using modern technology, an international project is currently archiving all post-1914 Commonwealth war graves and Commonwealth War Graves Commission memorials to create a virtual online memorial.

 

Many veteran memorials take the form of a monument and serve as a meeting place for Memorial Day services. As such, they are often found near the center of town, at a local VFW or set in a park to allow easy public access. Many veteran memorials have epitaphs relating to the unit, battle or war they commemorate and often bear the military symbols for those who so bravely served. These memorials are usually designed in granite, metal, bronze or glass and are generally given public input as most are publicly or group funded.

 

Professional memorialists are challenged to satisfy the patriotism of those who spearhead these projects. Your Century Harmony salesperson can work one-on-one with you to create a one-of-a-kind and meaningful veterans memorial.

Cemetery Statues & Religious Sculpture

 

A statue is a sculpture, in the round, representing one or more people or animals normally full-length and can be close to life-size, or larger. A smaller-sized statue, usually small enough to be picked up, is called a statuette or figurine.

Many statues are commissioned to help commemorate a historical event, or the life of an influential person. Some statues are strictly intended as public art, exhibited outdoors or in public buildings. Others are religious or based upon something that was very personal to the deceased.

Religious statues are among the most popular for use in cemeteries. Be sure to check with your cemetery for any regulations concerning statuary when added to your monument. Statues are one if the easiest ways to add personalization and elegance to a family monument. Most are hand carved from marble or granite. Pricing will depend upon the sculptors skill level and previous work.

Be sure to ask your manufacturer if your statue will be hand-carved domestically in the US, or mass produced by artisans overseas.

In addition, molded statues are another option. Molded statues are copies of an original hand-sculpted piece, which allows for the reproduction of amazing sculpted details at a budget-friendly price. Do a little research before making a purchase. You'll know exactly what you are getting and you won't be disappointed.

Hand Etched & Colored Monuments

Century is one of the only granite manufacturers with full-time hand etchers on staff. Each monument is an individual piece of art created by Ken McLeskey and Troy Ayers. Ken received his BFA, with a concentration in drawing and painting, from the Lamar Dodd School of Art at the University of Georgia in 2006. He has a very successful career as a fine artist and his work has been sold across the country and continues to appreciate in value. Hand etched monuments will also increase in their artistic values in the future.

Our other resident artist, Troy, is a graduate from the Art Institute of Atlanta. He was the owner of the former Ayers Etching Company and has been hand etching for 17 years. Troy is an Elberton native and is currently studying for a degree in Art Education. 

Hand etching is the first step to create the artwork in the granite, giving the artist a "drawing" that can then be colored. The etching is then hand colored using lithichrome paints to ensure durability and coverage. Certain customers know what they want, while others ask our artists for help with designing the monument. It is possible to start with a scanned photo that be integrated with the final design. Coloring can match the original photo or be custom colored by request. Hand etching can be utilized on granite for the entire monument face, or in smaller areas as an accent.

All of our hand etched granite monuments are individual works of art. Please contact your Century Harmony Customer Representative to work one-on-one with our talented artists.

What is a Mausoleum?

Historically, mausoleums were large and impressive structures constructed to house the remains of the deceased. These small-scaled "buildings" were usually reserved for the wealthy and noble throughout history. However, smaller mausoleums soon became popular and the practice fell out of use entirely when Christianity became dominant. The practice of using mausoleums became popular again hundred of years later throughout Europe and are still utilized today.

A Mausoleum is usually a small building with walls, a roof and sometimes a door for additional interments or visitor access. A single mausoleum may be permanently sealed while multiple crypt mausoleums must be accessible when future burial is needed. Mausoleums can enclose one or more burial chambers, either wholly above ground or within a burial vault below. Mausoleums are usually located in cemeteries, but can also be found in churchyards or even on private land. Many churches throughout the US also house mausoleums in the lower levels of the building. They are typically smaller mausoleum-type internments, usually reserved for cremated remains.

Choosing an above ground burial is a personal choice. However, it can also be a good way to protect the casket from water intrusion or other below grade harm. Even though mausoleum doors are sealed, venting systems in the granite ensure any trapped moisture can escape, helping to keep the interior dry. 

There can be unlimited design options for mausoleums. Granite choices will usually depend on what region of the country you're ordering your mausoleum from. Be sure to personalize your mausoleum with your family name and sandblasted or etched designs to reflect and celebrate your family's life. In addition to the mausoleum, benches, crosses, religious statuary and other granite products can be utilized to create a unique "family plot" area for reflection.

Granite and Marble Crosses

The cross has always been the symbol of Christian faith. It is the emblem or attribute of Jesus Christ and is the symbol of Faith, Hope, Charity and Sacrifice. The early Christians inscribed crosses on solid monuments well before free standing crosses were sculpted. These monuments were known as cross tablets. Cross tablets generally had larger areas for inscriptions and carved artwork surrounding the cross.

Free standing granite and marble crosses are now popular choices for monuments in cemeteries world wide. The three common styles of crosses are Latin, Gothic and Celtic. Each cross differs in artwork and ornamentation, but are almost always supported on three distinct bases. These three "graded" bases represent the Trinity and the Three Christian Virtues: Faith, Hope and Charity. Usually one of the bases is large enough for a family name or an inscription.

In addition to the family name, family crests can be added to the design of the cross. Religious symbols can also be incorporated into such designs as a Celtic Knot or the True Vine. Many people also choose to inscribe sacred monograms onto the cross for example INRI - the initials representing the Latin word for Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews, which should always appear on the Crucifix when used on a monument.

Granite manufacturers will work closely with you to help make each cross a one of a kind monument. Custom carving and sandblasting, choice of granite colors and litho colors are all things you need to discuss when designing your granite or marble cross monument.

Monument Lettering Options

Granite is a rock with multiple grain patterns and color variations. Granite lettering can become hard to read depending on the font choice, size of the letters and the actual color of the granite. For this reason, many families choose to add color to the lettering to help detailed verses, family names, and birth and death dates stand out.

In general, the darker the granite color, the lighter the litho color. Therefore, it is usually recommended that as the granite colors become lighter, the litho choices become darker - as in the Feldman Monument above.

One of the most popular methods to sandblast letters is called "V-Cut", meaning the letters are cut back into the rock at angles. This process gives the typeface a more refined hand-sculpted look compared to flat sandblasting onto the surface of the rock.

Keep in mind the differences between "Polished" and "Frosted" areas, as some monuments and markers may have a combination of both.

Polishing the surface of the granite darkens the granite color; when letters are carved or sandblasted through the polish, the granite below the surface will appear lighter.

Frosted areas are sandblasted to a lighter finish and can help give contrast to lettering and artwork as in the example below. Note how the frosted bible panels are easier to read. Then notice how difficult the family name is to read. Adding a dark litho color to help highlight the family name would make this monument easier to read from a distance.

Remember:

Lettering in polish on light colored granites.

1.      Don't v-cut or frost a letter into polish.

2.      Always put a frosted panel around v-cut letters.

3.      If you need to v-cut a letter into polish use dark litho to highlight.

Lettering in polish on dark colored granites.

1.      Don't v-cut a letter into polish.

2.      Use frosted outline letters if they will fit.

3.      Use white or white hilite on letters.

In many cases, dark colored granites need two litho colors to really look their best.  (Ex. Black litho w/letters that have white hilite.)