Click on any commonly-asked question below for answers about our GFRC cast stone replicated rock products:

How are the memorial rocks manufactured and shipped?
The rugged castings are hollow, approx. one-inch thick, and open at the bottom. They weigh between 50-60 lbs. (but are exact replicas of rocks that weigh 800-1,000 lbs.) and are manufactured from construction-grade GFRC cast stone to withstand freeze-thaw conditions and 9,000 psi (pounds per square inch) of pressure. They are shipped via FedEx Ground in 350-lb. test, double-walled corrugated boxes using an industrial foam-in-place packaging system.

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How many years will the memorial rocks last?
Due to modern high-performance polymers and other scientifically-developed, construction-grade admixtures, our GFRC cast stone replications are designed to last for generations--even in freeze-thaw conditions--and typically wear in the same manner as, or superior to, natural rock. The memorial rocks are actually one of the few products that will look better with age as the elements (i.e., rain, sun and snow) give them an even more lifelike, weathered appearance with each passing year.

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Do the memorial rocks require special care?
The only special care required is in climates with freeze-thaw conditions. Our cast stone formula includes moisture-proof admixtures and an industrial sealer has been applied to all surfaces. However, we strongly recommend purchasing from your local hardware or home improvement store a penetrating concrete sealer and applying it to the boulder (after gently washing it with mild, soapy water to remove dust) every 5-6 years for best protection against moisture intrusion and freeze-thaw cycles.

No chemicals or cleaning solvents should ever be used to clean the products. Care should be taken when unpacking, moving and installing the boulder(s), but if one should be accidentally scratched or chipped, the mark will likely disappear from view as natural weathering takes place over several months, similar to natural stone. However, easy-to-use scratch "kits" are available upon request.

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Is there a manufacturer's product guarantee?
A 100% Satisfaction Guarantee is offered for the lifetime of each memorial rock if the craftsmanship is found to be defective in any way (with the exception of naturally-occurring adjustments in color). Customers with a valid defective craftsmanship claim will receive an immediate replacement with an identical product once the product is returned and the claim is confirmed.

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How are the memorial rocks colored?
Since detailed latex molds for the memorial rocks are tediously taken from actual rocks found in nature, our customers expect that the color process used for them match the realism of the replica castings.

Their demand for quality is met by skilled craftsmen who enhance the GFRC cast stone with permanent natural shades using a proprietary coloring process which requires no special maintenance in the future. (In fact, as previously mentioned, customers are usually pleased to learn the three basic colors of the memorial rocks will actually appear more lifelike over the years with the helpful affects of the natural elements such as the sun, snow and rain).

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What choice of natural colors are available?
There are three natural colors to choose: Slate Gray (popular in the Midwest and East Coast areas of the United States), Sandstone and Red Rock. Examples of these colors are available elsewhere on the website.

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Does each memorial rock come with an urn to hold cremated remains?
No, but for an additional charge, a customer can specifically request that a 250-cubic-inch, moisture-resistant internal receptacle for cremated remains be manufactured into the memorial rock being ordered (click here to see the example). The thick, industrial-grade polyvinyl chloride urn and threaded cap are accessed from under each model and opened-closed by hand so the cremated remains can be placed in the urn container. Simple instructions are included with each memorial rock shipped.

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What if I need an urn to hold two individuals' cremated remains?
Make this request at the time of ordering and, for an additional charge, the internal moisture-resistant, 250 cubic-inch urn will be extended to double the size so it can hold two sets of cremated remains. Please note the double urn will further extend below the bottom of the memorial rock and will therefore require a small circular hole be excavated in the soil directly underneath where it is going to be finally placed so that the urn rests easily inside it.

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I already have an urn. Will it fit inside the memorial rock's urn?
Although the memorial rocks are designed for those who haven't otherwise already purchased an urn, the rock's receptacle (click here to see the example) will accommodate another urn measuring no more than 5" (W) x 5" (L) x 8" (H).

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Do the memorial rock prices include the custom bronze plaque? Who installs it?
Absolutely. All memorial rocks include a handsome bronze plaque sized 7 1/2" (W) x 5" (H) which feature your choice of up to 10 lines of text with as many as 46 characters per line (typically a name, date of birth-death, and special verse or quote). Although 10 lines are potentially available, it's not necessary that all lines be used if a customer prefers to have less text appear on the plaque.

Remember, the maximum number of characters per line is 46 (each letter, number, space and punctuation is a character that should be counted in this per-line total). The more characters and words on each line, the more the individual characters must be reduced in size to fit the final layout. More instructions for writing and submitting the epitaph for the plaque can be found elsewhere on this website.

Once the plaque is received from the bronze foundry (usually 15-20 business days), it is pre-installed by the manufacturer into a chiseled recess in the memorial rock before being shipped to its final destination.

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Can I get help writing the epitaph on the bronze plaque?
As much as someone is loved, recalling what made them special and summarizing those feelings after their death into a maximum of 10 lines of text can be challenging. However, experts agree that the process of writing a loved one's epitaph can often actually be comforting and essential to a normal grieving process.

Even today, many individuals will still simply put a person's name and dates of birth and death on a plaque or monument. However the generous amount of space on the memorial rock's 7 1/2" (W) x 5" (H) plaque allows for a more detailed, meaningful expression of remembrance and we encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity to let those viewing it in future years gain a better sense of the loved one's personality and what he or she meant to surviving friends and family.

Although there are examples to provide inspiration for an epitaph located elsewhere on this website, consider gathering thoughts for the bronze plaque from friends or family face-to-face, on the phone or by e-mail. Their collective memories are certain to make it easier to create an epitaph that portrays the essence of the individual who has departed.

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Who determines the plaque layout? What if a mistake on the plaque is my fault?
We reserve the right to determine the style, size, capitalization and layout of the text provided according to the plaque space available to ensure the most professional appearance possible unless a specific request is received from a customer for a particular layout at the time of ordering. Most importantly, we are not responsible or liable in any way for misspellings or errors in fact contained in the information submitted by customers.

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Is it possible to see a proof of my bronze plaque before it is cast?
Absolutely!  We will provide a proof of the plaque layout for your approval, usually by fax, before it is sent to the foundry for casting.

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What about ordering a plaque if one or more people haven't passed away yet?
There are several choices if a customer wants to order a memorial rock and plaque, but one or both of the individuals haven't passed away yet and the ability to add dates to the plaque later is desired.

A plaque for two people, called a "companion plaque," can be ordered for an additional charge with or without date "scrolls" (pieces of bronze--with cast lettering--screwed into drilled and tapped holes in the plaque) depending on whether one, both or neither of those named on the plaque are still living as explained in the choices below. See elsewhere on this website for examples of companion plaques and contact us for pricing depending on the option chosen.

When ordering either replacement scrolls or new scrolls (to be installed in a space on the plaque that has already been drilled and tapped in the past), we will need to confirm the exact locations of the drilled holes so the foundry matches them exactly. This can be done by sending the entire plaque back to us or the foundry or placing a piece of paper over the existing holes as a template and carefully marking them for distance on it before mailing the template to us for processing of the new scroll order.

• If both individuals are departed:
  1). No scrolls are needed since the dates of birth and death will be cast into the original plaque at no additional charge.
  
• If both individuals are still living:
  1). We can drill, tap and leave empty the spaces under their names for when a scroll is ordered in the future, or
  2). We can drill, tap and install scrolls with their date of birth only, but no date of death, to be replaced later one-by-one or together with scrolls containing the complete information as needed.
  
• If one individual is living and one has already departed:
  1). We can drill, tap and leave empty the space under the name of the person still living (for when a scroll is ordered in the future) while drilling, tapping and installing the date of birth and death scroll for the individual who has already departed, or
  2). We can drill, tap and install a scroll with the date of birth only, but no date of death, for the person still living (to be replaced later by a scroll with the complete information when needed) while drilling, tapping and installing the date of birth and death scroll for the individual who has already departed.
  

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What if I want to order a plaque that's larger than the standard size?
An 11" (W) x 8 1/2" (H) bronze plaque can be ordered and fitted into a custom-chiseled space in the memorial rock for an additional charge equal to the difference between a standard-sized plaque and the larger one. Please contact us for your pricing.

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How many days before I receive my order? How will it be shipped?
Once your order is received, please allow 15-20 business days for production and pre-installation of the bronze plaque and 3-5 business days for shipping depending on its final destination in the United States (longer if elsewhere).

Since they can weigh between 50-60 lbs., all memorial rocks are carefully packaged in 350-lb. test double-wall corrugated boxes using an industrial foam-in-place system to protect them during transit. They are then shipped via FedEx which usually does not require that someone be home to sign for the package at the time of delivery.

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I have a ceremony in two weeks. Can I receive the memorial rock sooner?
Absolutely! Customer sometimes ask that their memorial rock be shipped before the plaque has had time to be cast by the bronze foundry. In that case, it is possible for the memorial rock to arrive in as early as 4-6 business days from the order date when requested by the customer.

If a ceremony is scheduled and a customer wants to have a temporary plaque visible in the chiseled inset of the memorial rock for the event, at no charge a computer-generated replica bronze plaque on photo paper--mounted on FoamCore™ and sealed with acrylic spray--can be shipped along with the order. The temporary plaque will have the exact same text as the original which will arrive separately within the normal 15-20 business days.

Please note that, although there is no charge for the replica plaque, there is an additional $20 charge for separately shipping the original plaque--once it has been cast by the bronze foundry--and a tube of epoxy adhesive (with installation instructions).

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Once the memorial rock arrives, what's the best way to unpack it?
First, whether home at the time of delivery or not, it is the customer's responsibility to check for damage in the unlikely event something happened to it during shipping. (On the rare occasions there is damage, the customer must contact Fedex at 1-800-GO-FEDEX to make a claim before contacting the retailer who sold the memorial rock to him or her to discuss a replacement).

Once the package is opened, the industrial foam-in-place packaging system material can be removed by breaking off or carefully cutting it away from the memorial piece-by-piece and disposing of it. (Note: Traditional bubble-wrap or "peanut shell" material isn't suitable for shipping products as heavy as the memorial rocks). Cutting and tearing off parts of the corrugated box often make it easier to access the hardened foam for removal.

Please remember, the manufacturer is not responsible for any damage to the memorial rocks when customers unpack or place them.

If a memorial rock was ordered with an internal urn for cremated remains, the customer should look for it among the packaging foam where it has been wrapped and placed for him or her to find and hand-tighten into the model according to the instructions provided.

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I ordered a memorial rock with an urn. How do I place the cremated remains inside it?
If a model with an urn was ordered, before installing the cremated remains inside it place the memorial rock on a soft surface such as carpet, grass lawn, towels or other padding. (Please remember, the manufacturer is not responsible for any damage to the memorial rocks when customers unpack or place them).

The memorial rock should then be gently turned over to access the urn receptacle underneath it. Next, as added protection against any moisture getting inside the urn, the role of Teflon Threaded Seal Tape that is shipped with memorial rocks ordered with an urn should be wrapped four or five times in a clockwise direction (while looking at the opening) over itself on the threads located at the bottom of the cremation urn near the hollow opening.

Once the cremated remains have been placed inside the urn, the white threaded cap can be hand-tightened onto the end of the urn. (Note: If a customer is concerned about complete security of the cremated remains, a tube of epoxy adhesive can be purchased in advance from a hardware or home improvement store and applied to the threads of the cap which will make it nearly impossible to unscrew the cap again without uncommon and destructive force).

Depending on the memorial rock chosen, once the urn is tightened together it is normal for it to extend out from the bottom of the memorial rock which simply requires that a small circular hole be excavated directly underneath where it is going to be finally placed so that the urn rests easily inside it.

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Should I worry about possible theft of the memorial rock?
Once customers see how realistic the memorial rocks look, they often agree it's unlikely anyone is going to bother with what appears to be an 800 lb. natural rock that would require incredible effort to move from their usual placement as landscape accent in a fenced backyard garden or lawn.

However, whether they feel they need the additional security or not for the 50-60 lb. replicas, customers appreciate the fact each model includes a heavy-duty metal eye bolt manufactured underneath it for anti-theft purposes. To use this feature, customers should purchase four items from a local hardware or home improvement store: 1). An inexpensive key or combination lock, 2). A small sack of "just-add-water" quick-drying cement, 3). A five-gallon plastic bucket if they don't have one, and 4). A three-foot-long piece of sturdy 2/0 or 3/0 straight link chain (75 cents-$1 per foot).

They then dig a hole directly below where the memorial rock will be finally placed, use the lock to secure one end of the chain onto the metal eye bolt, mix the cement in a bucket, fill the hole with the cement slurry, push as much of the remaining length of chain into the cement, and rest the memorial rock over the hole where the chain can dry in the cement and serve as an anchor.

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