When people close to us leave our lives, we try to do our best to honor the memory of the deceased in the best way. Most often, we express our feelings of loss at a monument that is customary to be installed at the person’s burial site. They all differ in the breed of material and its quality, color and texture, shape and height. But in most cases , the service life of any monument depends on its proper installation. Most often, people resort to the help of specialists in this field, but if you have the necessary tools, you can do all the work yourself. Consider how to erect a monument on your own so that it lasts a long time.
Performance Requirements
Many people know that installation works of this kind are best performed in the warm season. But not everyone knows how to properly install a monument on the grave, and that a significant role is played here not only by weather conditions, but also by the state of the land cover. The reliability of the installation of the monument and its durability will depend on the nature of the soil at the time of the work. Therefore, if you are engaged in studying the question of how to erect a monument on your own, it is important to study the factors that influence the success of the whole thing. Frozen land is not the best foundation for the foundation, and warm weather will be most favorable for drying building materials. Choosing the right time, you can safely collect everything you need.
Necessary inventory and materials
How to install a monument on your own? Finding all the tools to do the job is not so difficult. Almost every owner will find a shovel, trowel, crowbar, spatula, rubber mallet or a heavy hammer, several jumpers, a tape measure and a special level for construction. If one or two tools are missing, they can be replaced with similar tools. The list of building materials for the installation of the monument includes several bags of sand, gravel, a bag of cement and water. The standard mass of finished monuments is usually 100-120 kg, so for productive work it will take several people.
We make the foundation for the monument
First of all, at the place of installation of the product, it is necessary to dig a shallow hole, the width of which should be almost a meter. One and a half meter jumpers are superimposed on top of it (ordinary channels, parts of the old fence, poles can replace them). Such a framework will make it possible to erect a monument in the cemetery reliably and for a long time, preventing it from falling prematurely due to sagging soil.
The installation of jumpers should be accompanied by monitoring the level - even from the slightest error in the measurements, the monument may tilt or fall over time. Only a perfectly even foundation guarantees reliable fastening of the stone product. You can find the corners of the grave using a crowbar, after which they are marked for marking the parameters of the foundation. The top of the earthen embankment is safely removed, after which the general level of the foundations of other monuments is determined.
Mounting the stand under the stele
Since we are interested in how to erect a monument on our own, that is, without the help of specialists, we will prepare the solution ourselves. It should have a liquid consistency, contain a minimum amount of water, cement, as well as sand. The resulting mass becomes a springboard for the stand for the monument - it is leveled and adjusted to the intended height. Only the surface of the slab is made smooth, the corners do not require such thoroughness. After that, flower beds are placed, delving into the ground by 25-30 cm. All work is accompanied by an indispensable leveling. The drying speed of the solution can be increased by sprinkling the base with cement. Next, proceed to the direct installation of the monument.
How to install a granite monument on your own
The peculiarity of a material such as granite, in its immunity to water. Excess fluid will not help fix the product. The material is very susceptible to mechanical shock, so you should work with it with extreme care. A stele is installed on the prepared base, fixing it in place with a metal pin. It is placed inside a special hole inside the stand, and the other end is attached directly to the arch. Further fastening occurs with the help of a solution - it is used at the joints of the stele and stand. The drying time of concrete may vary depending on climatic conditions, wind speed and season.
How to install a monument of marble yourself
The installation process of a marble stele practically does not differ from similar works when installing a monument of granite. Marble is also not a very durable material, and therefore it is worth working with it very carefully. The monument is also installed on top of the pin, and the joints are lubricated with ultra-resistant glue. This will protect it from the effects of low temperature and extend the service life.
The finished construction can be very shaky at first. It is very important to protect the stele from pressure and external influences - it must remain in a stationary position until the solution finally hardens. Seams and joints are wiped with a cement mass moistened with water. After drying, they should be sanded and excess removed.
Final work
After the entire basic process of installation of the stele is completed, it is necessary to wait from 10 to 14 days until the solution has completely dried out wherever it was applied. After this period, the place for a flower garden can be covered with soil - it is better to bring high-quality soil with you to create good conditions for vegetation. Instead of land, sand or marble chips are also often used, which gives the monument an unusual appearance and does not look so dull in the cold season. The territory in and around the monument is often planted with flowers and bushes, paving slabs are laid in the passageways.