Name: Emerson Monument and Vault
Price range: $$

The Monument Making Process

Process Overview

Made By Hand.

Creating a headstone is a multistep process that begins with understanding the wishes and desires of the bereaved. As the salesperson, you will work closely with both the family and our design team to ensure every detail of the memorial is perfect. This process begins with you submitting an order that clearly lists the following:

The color, shape, size and polish of the stone
The facing of the monument in the cemetery and who is on North/South if applicable
The cemetery name
All biological information for the honored individual(s)
Design information

Upon receiving your order, our design team begins processing the information you provided.

One thing that makes our design team unique is that they are adept with the entire monument-making process. They understand exactly how each stone will react to the client’s specified design, thus allowing them to provide valuable advice on what will look good on the stone and what will not. It also allows them the ability to suggest alternatives that will both please the client and ensure the memorial looks it’s best.

We do require that each accepted proof be signed, either digitally or physically. This approach protects both our organizations and the client. After the client signs off we begin cutting the rubber stenciling required for the engraving process. The video to the right demonstrates this manufacturing step.

Step 1: Design, Approval & Stencil

Communication Tip

The monument-making process does take time. While the videos make it look simple and quick, it is not. This fact will catch your client by surprise if it is not communicated to them.

We highly recommend listing the monument turnaround times on your sales agreement. It is wise to have the client initial that they understand the turnaround time. This helps avoid and/or resolve potential issues in the future.

We also recommend completing the client checklist while you are sitting with the client. We send this checklist with them to help them remember to provide any outstanding text/photos/payment/etc. It also acts as a reminder of the turnaround time that applies to their purchase.

You are welcome to download and/or print the checklist to the left and use if with the families you serve.

Step 2: Layout & Manufacture

After we cut the stencil, we are ready to lay out the monument. Our craftsmen use a variety of tools to ensure the stone is precisely cut and the stencil is perfectly applied.

Perfection is the key at this point in the process. If the stone is misshaped or the stencil isn’t centered, then the finished memorial will leave the client dissatisfied.

Of course, no one wants a dissatisfied client! So we take our time through this part of the process, allowing our team to use precision in regards to each and every detail.

Step 3: Installation

The last step of the process is installation. Of course, everyone is in a hurry to get their memorial installed before decoration, a holiday, an anniversary, or a birthday. It is important to note that we do not guarantee the installation of any memorial to occur on or before any specific date.

Should a client ask you to have it by a specific date, we recommend documenting the date on the order and bringing it to our attention. While we will not guarantee it, we will try to be as mindful of it as possible. But still…no guarantees.

After the monument has been installed we will send you an email and some photos of the newly installed memorial. At that time we will also prepare in invoice for payment.