Moving a headstone... any tricks?

texasjohn · Jul 8, 2009

We're moving my mother's resting place from a public cemetery to a private family cemetery about a mile away. All is going well except moving the headstone.

It is a granite double headstone for both mom and dad (still going strong at 96), 6 feet long, 14 inches wide at the base, no more than 2 feet high. The engraved part is separate from the base and seems to be "glued" to the base. It is in perfect shape, sitting on flat ground and needs to be moved to flat ground. I'd estimate it weighs 1000 lbs, probably a little less. There is easy access at both locations, obstacles are not a significant problem

Initial arrangements were for the people moving the casket to also move the headstone. There was some misunderstanding... they never got the request and don't do this. They indicate they are worried abut liability and getting it level. The people we purchased the headstone from say they haven't moved a headstone in 17 years and are closed for a week's vacation and can't do it until next week and can't give me a price yet.

The funeral director has no further ideas about who might do it.

We're having a memorial service on Saturday and I'd like the headstone to be in place also. I'm thinking I can do this myself if I have to, even tho it is HOT.

Why is this hard.... or is it?? What am I missing??

Looks to me like all one needs to do is to:

dig under the headstone sufficiently to get a heavy strap under it in several places with equal tension,
lever it between the base and ground sufficiently to break it loose from the ground,
attach straps to FEL hooks, lift gently and place into bed of pickup on some 4X4's,
drive carefully to new location
prepare ground at new location to receive the headstone and have it level
place on ground, reversing the straps/FEL process.

If I can't find somebody to do this for me, why can't I do it myself? What risks are hidden other than the obvious ones of dropping it, cracking it with uneven lifting, jarring the stone loose from the base where it is glued (this appears to be a substantial bond). In other words, normal risks/precautions for tractor work.

I regularly lift over 2000 lbs with my FEL, have pickup, trailer, straps, etc. and everything I can see that might be needed to mechanically get the job done. Location is only about 10 miles from my place, transportation not a problem.

newbury · Jul 8, 2009

texasjohn said:
<snip>

dig under the headstone sufficiently to get a heavy strap under it in several places with equal tension,

lever it between the base and ground sufficiently to break it loose from the ground,

attach straps to FEL hooks, lift gently and place into bed of pickup on some 4X4's,

drive carefully to new location

prepare ground at new location to receive the headstone and have it level

place on ground, reversing the straps/FEL process.

<snip>

Make sure your Dad agrees with you doing it.
Do #5 first
Be VERY careful with #2
Maybe make a mockup out of a refrigerator carton or something about the same size and practice the lift into the truck
use a LOT of padding, not just 2x4's in the truck

Good luck.

texasjohn · Jul 8, 2009

Dad is totally in agreement.... the movement is symbolic of a healing of a schism between two families that is now resolved....a very good thing is happening.

I hear you re attaching things down during transit... will use straps, have them with ratchets... not these wimpy ones... I have the wide ones like real truckers use.

Redbug · Jul 8, 2009

Another possibility is to use a set of forks...

texasjohn · Jul 8, 2009

agreed.... got forks.... afraid would split the thing.... or chip the base if lifting it with them.....could strap to the forks.

2manyrocks · Jul 8, 2009

I think you need to get in contact with somebody that installs headstones, explain your dilmena, and ask for some pointers. I'm guessing there are some steel rods in holes that connect the top to the base and some mortar holding them together (along with gravity). Once you start moving it and putting pressure anywhere, I don't know what would happen. I'm curious if they transport them in a wooden crate or anything to protect them. I'm sure they are strong right up to the point that they crack, but I don't know what that point is.

RobS · Jul 8, 2009

I've never done this John, but admire what you are working on. Two things came to mind as I read it all. First thing, pour a concrete foundation at ground level several inches larger all around. This will give it a good base plus be much easier on the trimming (your mower can overlap the concrete leaving no trimming at all!).

As for lifting, I'd use straps with a cinch arrangement of some sort. Rather than going under, go around the base with the cinches (clevises?) translating the lifting load to the more horizontal, squeezing load.

Again, I've never done this so I'd want to test on something representative. Sounds like a rather heavy piece of stone!

wv1720 · Jul 9, 2009

My 2 cents. Instead of lifting the whole thing. I would try to slide it onto a trailer. I would think the most risk is in lifting high enough to place in a truck, then reversing this operation.

charlz · Jul 9, 2009

I think I'd let the pros do it. They have all the right equipment and knowledge. Not only big $$$ if you break it but it gives a non-family person to blame for any damage. That might be worth it's weight in gold: "Hey John, remember that time you broke Mom's headstone and everybody cried for a week?"

If it's a double and already in place... what do they do when the second person passes? They don't engrave it right there in the cemetery do they? I would think that pull, engrave and re-install is not unheard of.

Reg · Jul 9, 2009

From the "mechanics" view of it; Yes I would think a straight lift with a "choker" strap would do it.
The stones are either bonded or they aren't, I doubt that they would separate, but if they do they would almost certainly mate back up again just fine at the new site.
I am thinking that they may not be "bonded", but there might be a line of nothing much more than a grout that looks like a bonding cement.
{Ask a PRACTICING stone Mason, one that DOES headstones in your area.}
I can't imagine either part breaking under it's own weight.

From the "legalities" view of it; I don't know, but you should check and it might come under some very local (and perhaps obscure) bylaws.
It is possible that a church has jurisdiction.

From the "family" view of it; If anything does go wrong or even ever so slightly weird, you will be the bad guy in family legends for generations.