Shipping & Installation Policy

At The Monument Store, we handle the entire process from fabrication through professional installation at your cemetery. Unlike ordinary retail shipping, monument delivery requires specialized equipment, experienced crews, and careful coordination with cemetery authorities. This policy explains what to expect.

Nationwide Service

We provide monument delivery and professional installation to cemeteries in all 50 United States. Our network of experienced installation crews is strategically positioned across the country to serve families wherever they need us. Whether your cemetery is in a major metropolitan area or a rural community, we can deliver and install your monument.

What's Included in Your Order

Our standard pricing includes the complete delivery and installation process:

• Monument fabrication: Cutting, shaping, polishing, and engraving your granite monument to your approved design specifications
• Quality inspection: Thorough inspection of the finished monument before shipment to ensure it meets our standards and matches your approved proof
• Freight shipping: Secure transport of your monument via specialized freight carriers designed for heavy stone products
• Concrete foundation: Pouring a reinforced concrete foundation at the cemetery to properly support your monument (unless the cemetery requires their own foundation contractor)
• Professional setting: Expert installation of your monument on the cured foundation, including leveling, alignment, and final cleanup
• Installation photos: Photographs of the completed installation sent to you for your records

Timeline: 8-12 Weeks

The typical timeline from order confirmation to completed installation is eight to twelve weeks. This timeline accounts for:

• Weeks 1-2: Cemetery approval process and production scheduling
• Weeks 3-8: Granite fabrication, engraving, and quality inspection
• Weeks 9-12: Freight shipping, foundation work, curing time, and monument setting

Factors That May Extend the Timeline

• Imported or rare granite colors that require international sourcing (add 2-4 weeks)
• Complex designs with laser-etched portraits or detailed scene work (add 1-2 weeks)
• Cemetery approval delays, especially during peak spring season
• Winter weather in northern states that prevents foundation work (installations may be postponed until ground thaw)
• Cemeteries that require their own foundation contractor and have scheduling backlogs

We provide regular status updates throughout the process and will notify you promptly if any delays arise.

Shipping of Heavy Items

Monuments are heavy products, typically weighing between 100 and 2,000 pounds depending on size and type. They require specialized handling throughout the shipping process:

• Monuments are securely crated and palletized for freight transport
• We use established freight carriers experienced with stone products
• All shipments are insured against damage during transit
• Monuments are delivered directly to the cemetery or to our local installation crew's staging area

Monuments are not shipped to residential addresses. All deliveries are coordinated directly with the installation crew and cemetery.

Installation Process

Our professional installation crews follow a detailed process to ensure your monument is set properly and will stand for generations:

1. Cemetery coordination: Our crew contacts the cemetery sexton to schedule the setting appointment and confirm lot location
2. Site preparation: The installation site is excavated to the required depth, leveled, and compacted
3. Foundation pour: Reinforced concrete foundation is poured to meet or exceed cemetery specifications
4. Curing period: The foundation is allowed to cure for a minimum of 48-72 hours (weather permitting)
5. Monument setting: The monument is carefully placed on the cured foundation using appropriate lifting equipment
6. Finishing: The monument is leveled, joints are sealed, and the site is cleaned and restored
7. Documentation: Photographs are taken and sent to you confirming the completed installation

Cemetery Foundation Fees

Some cemeteries require that foundation work be performed by their own contractors or maintenance staff. When this is the case, the cemetery charges a foundation fee directly to the family. This fee is separate from our installation charges and varies by cemetery, typically ranging from $100 to $500 depending on monument size and local rates.

We will inform you during the ordering process if your cemetery requires their own foundation work so you can plan for this additional expense.

Seasonal Considerations

Monument installation is affected by weather and ground conditions:

• Spring (March-May): Peak season with highest demand. Allow additional time for scheduling. Ground conditions are ideal once frost has cleared.
• Summer (June-August): Excellent installation conditions. Consistent scheduling availability.
• Fall (September-November): Good conditions with moderate demand. An ideal time to order for families who want to avoid spring backlogs.
• Winter (December-February): In northern states, frozen ground may prevent foundation work. Monuments can be fabricated during winter for installation in spring. Southern states generally allow year-round installation.

Damage During Shipping

In the rare event that a monument is damaged during shipping, we will replace or repair the monument at no additional cost to you. Our shipping insurance covers all transit damage. If damage is discovered upon delivery, our installation crew will document the issue and we will begin fabricating a replacement immediately.

Contact Us About Shipping

If you have questions about our shipping and installation process, timelines, or your specific cemetery's requirements, please contact us: