In this article, we would like to look at the different advantages of granite and headstone memorials and headstones, but before we continue on to that, we’d like to take the time to point out an issue in the title of this article which has led to some confusion in the past. Headstones and memorials are not interchangeable terms, even though you will occasionally see them used as such. A headstone is a type of memorial, but a memorial does not necessarily half to be a headstone. When discussing stone memorials, headstones are admittedly one of the most common memorial types, but there are plenty of others which people opt for. Full monuments are not uncommon for the more opulent and showy deceased, whilst curbed memorials without headstones have been fashionable at times as well. So, whilst headstones are memorials, they are just a single type of memorial.
Now that we have that straightened out, we can continue to look at the advantages of each type of stone when creating a memorial (be it headstone or otherwise). We’ll begin with granite as it is considered a much more traditional material in much of the UK.
Granite has been popular for centuries due to its sombre colouration, durability and availability. It is certainly not a rare or expensive stone, but still has weight and strength behind it. It can be tough on carving or inscription tools, but is also harder to make mistakes on due to its density. What this all means is that it withstands discolouration from things like fallen leaves whilst also being able to stand up to the weather for much longer than softer stones. However, it also means that the designs on the monument cannot be as intricate or detailed. Even lettering can be difficult, and to keep the price of carving down it may be better to opt for embossed lettering. This does mean that the memorial lasts longer without needing as much maintenance though. The range of colours available is also much wider than it used to be due to polishing techniques and the variety of granite that can be found.
Marble differs from granite mostly because of its softness. It is less dense and thus easier to carve, meaning more detailed and intricate designs are possible. However, it also means that the stone becomes decoloured more easily, meaning that marble memorials under trees can end up looking speckled after a few autumns. There are also even more colour options available with marble than granite, including much lighter colours.
