Monument & Heritage Restoration
Specialized cleaning, leveling, and restoration for grave markers, headstones, cenotaphs, and heritage stonework across Alberta. We work with families, cemetery boards, municipalities, and veterans organizations to restore what matters.
We Work With
- Private families
- Cemetery boards
- Municipalities & counties
- Veterans organizations
- Historical societies
Province-wide · Alberta
Monument & Headstone Cleaning
Careful cleaning of granite, marble, limestone, and sandstone grave markers. Our default method is hand cleaning with water, moving to D/2 Biological Solution — the same biocidal cleaner used by U.S. federal preservation and veterans' cemetery standards — for moss, lichen, algae, and other biological growth. For stubborn staining that doesn't lift with hand cleaning, we move to steam cleaning.
Includes
- Granite and marble headstones — hand cleaning with water, D/2 for biological growth, steam as needed
- Sandstone and limestone markers — handled with particular care; pre-1920 sandstone and limestone treated as extremely fragile, water only
- Bronze plaques and lettering — plain mild soap only, to protect natural patina
- Full cemetery sections — individual or multi-stone projects, volume pricing available
Headstone Leveling & Raising
Over time, ground movement, frost heave, and settling cause headstones to lean or sink. We provide careful leveling and raising of displaced markers, restoring them to a stable, upright position. Work is done with respect for the surrounding grave and landscape.
Includes
- Leaning and tilted headstones
- Sunken markers — raising to grade
- Frost heave correction
- Reassembly of displaced marker components
- Assessment of structural condition before and after
Cenotaph & War Memorial Restoration
War memorials and cenotaphs carry particular significance. We work carefully with municipalities, veterans organizations, and memorial committees to restore these structures — cleaning stone, bronze, and metal surfaces with appropriate techniques that respect the original materials.
Includes
- Granite and stone cenotaph cleaning
- Bronze plaque and relief restoration
- Staining and weathering removal
- Graffiti removal from memorial stonework
- Assessment and treatment recommendations
Graffiti Removal from Stone & Masonry
Removing graffiti from heritage stone requires care — the wrong method can spread paint into porous stone or cause permanent surface damage. We use steam cleaning and, where appropriate, conservation-grade chemical poultices to lift paint from stone, brick, and masonry without leaving ghosting or surface scarring.
Includes
- Spray paint removal from sandstone, limestone, and granite
- Heritage brick and masonry
- Public monuments and memorial structures
- Building facades and heritage stonework
The right technique for every surface.
Monument and heritage work requires care that general cleaning doesn't. We select the method based on the stone type, contamination, and condition of each individual marker.
Steam Cleaning
Our primary method for delicate heritage stone. Superheated dry steam at very low pressure removes biological growth and soiling without pitting surfaces or saturating porous stone. Safe for fragile sandstone and limestone that would be damaged by pressure washing or abrasives.
Learn MoreHand Cleaning & Detailing
For detailed areas, bronze lettering, recessed carving, and surfaces where equipment can't reach, we use hand-applied cleaning solutions, soft natural-bristle brushes, and conservation-appropriate methods. No power tools, no abrasives — careful work at the surface level.
Learn MoreConservation Sealing
Following cleaning, we can apply breathable penetrating sealers to protect stone from future weathering, biological regrowth, and Alberta's freeze-thaw cycles. We use conservation-grade materials that allow stone to breathe — never film-forming sealers that trap moisture.
Learn MoreCareful work on surfaces that can't be replaced.
Heritage stonework is often fragile, porous, and in varying states of condition. We assess each monument individually before selecting a cleaning method — what works safely on one stone may not be appropriate for another.
We don't use pressure washing on grave markers. High pressure forces water into porous sandstone and limestone, causing cracking and freeze-thaw damage in Alberta's climate. Our steam cleaning and hand-cleaning methods work at low mechanical impact — effective without risking the surface.
We document condition before and after each project, and we're straightforward about what's achievable — some staining is permanent, and we'll tell you that upfront rather than risk damaging a marker trying to remove it.