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Looking after a family memorial is something many relatives want to do, but keeping a headstone clean can become harder over time. Visits may become less frequent, persistent growth can appear on the surface, or you may simply be unsure about the safest way to care for the stone.
The Patio Black Spot Removal Company offers professional gravestone cleaning throughout Buckinghamshire, giving families the option of having this work carried out by a team experienced in exterior stone care. We visit cemeteries and churchyards across the county, from Aylesbury and High Wycombe to Marlow, Amersham and the surrounding areas.
Our service is intended to make caring for the memorial straightforward, with the method chosen according to the headstone in front of us and the type of build up that needs attention.
If you would like professional assistance with a loved one's memorial, get in touch and tell us where the headstone is situated. We can discuss what is required, confirm the cost and organise the work with you. Call 0800 500 3032 or email info@pbsr.co.uk to enquire.
A memorial can remain in the same position for decades, exposed to everything from rainfall and seasonal changes to material falling from nearby plants and trees.
One of the most visible problems is green algae, which can develop where moisture lingers on the surface. Lichen is different and can become much more firmly attached to the stone. Alongside these growths, everyday dirt and organic deposits can gradually alter the colour and clarity of the memorial.
The rate at which this happens differs from one grave to another. Buckinghamshire includes busy urban areas, smaller market towns, villages and open countryside, so the surroundings of individual burial grounds can vary considerably.
Understanding what is actually present is important. Loose dirt and established lichen do not necessarily respond to the same approach, which is why attempting to remove everything through forceful brushing or washing is not always appropriate.
If you would like to understand this type of growth in more detail, our article on black lichen and black spots on outdoor stone provides further information.
Professional help can be particularly useful when a headstone has not received a thorough clean for some time or when biological growth has become difficult to deal with through routine maintenance.
There may also be uncertainty about what the memorial is made from or whether a particular cleaner is appropriate. Inscriptions, decorative details and the general condition of an older headstone can all influence how the work should be approached.
Having the memorial professionally assessed removes the need to experiment with different products or techniques. It also provides an alternative for relatives who would prefer not to carry out more involved cleaning themselves.
Through our work with exterior stone, we developed Stone King Gravestone Cleaner specifically for use on gravestones, memorials and ornamental stone.
Stone King is formulated to deal with algae, grime, dirt and stubborn organic deposits. Its biodegradable formula works without abrasive scrubbing and reduces the need for forceful pressure washing.
Using a product created specifically for this purpose is an important part of our professional service. Rather than adapting an everyday exterior cleaner to a memorial, our team works with a treatment developed from our own practical knowledge of stone and the challenges caused by persistent biological growth.
Our service is suitable for many memorial materials, including:
If you are not sure what the headstone is made from, there is no need to identify it before contacting us.
We also take account of features that need additional protection. Lead lettering, for example, is covered so that it remains isolated from the treatment during the work.
To review the headstone before booking, please provide one clear photograph showing the front and another showing the back. We also need the cemetery or churchyard details and information that will enable us to find the correct grave.
If the memorial is difficult to describe or locate, you can arrange to meet us there instead.
Formal authorisation is not usually required, but it is sensible to contact the church or burial ground beforehand. This allows you to check that our planned attendance will not interfere with a funeral, wedding or another event taking place on the same day.
We can then review the details, work out the quotation and agree when the service will take place.
At the agreed time, we find the correct grave and inspect the headstone before beginning. Flowers, tributes and other removable objects can be placed safely aside where they prevent us from reaching the stone.
The headstone is the element covered by our standard service. Once everything is ready, areas requiring particular care are safeguarded and the cleaning solution is applied. We give the treatment time to act before washing the surface thoroughly and checking the memorial once the process is complete.
What can be achieved varies from one headstone to another. The age of the stone, its current state and the severity of the marks all have an influence. Our priority is therefore to improve the memorial through suitable treatment rather than promise the same outcome for every grave.
before
after
Having a relative buried in Buckinghamshire does not necessarily mean you still live nearby. Families move, circumstances change and returning to a particular cemetery regularly may no longer be convenient.
We can carry out the work without you being there, provided the details supplied allow us to confidently find the right memorial. This makes the service available to people living elsewhere in Britain as well as those based abroad.
Images are taken before and following the work. If requested, we can send copies to you so you can see the headstone after our visit.
The standard charge is £450 including VAT, with mileage added at £0.50 per mile for the complete return journey from GU10 2DZ.
This covers the cleaning of the headstone, while the travel amount depends on where the burial ground is situated. We will provide the overall quotation before the appointment is confirmed.
Very occasionally, an on site inspection may show that proceeding would not be appropriate. If this happens, the treatment will not be carried out and any deposit already paid will be refunded.
Once the headstone has received a full clean, families can use a simpler maintenance treatment rather than booking another professional appointment each year.
Patio Black Spot Preventer can be applied annually to discourage lichen from returning and remove fresh green algae. It does not require pressure washing, and visible green algae normally clears within around three to five days.
A future professional visit can still be arranged if required. Depending on how the memorial weathers, families may consider this after approximately three to five years.
For additional information, our guide explains more about dealing with green algae on outdoor stone.
You may decide that you would rather maintain the memorial during your own visits. Stone King Gravestone Cleaner can be purchased directly from our website for this purpose.
Always use the product in accordance with the supplied instructions. When carrying out the treatment yourself, it is generally left for approximately one hour before the headstone is rinsed thoroughly with clean water. A second application may sometimes be appropriate for stone with more established deposits.
You can order Stone King Gravestone Cleaner online if a DIY approach is more suitable for you.
We aim to provide families with a clear and considered way to arrange professional care for a memorial.
Our team provides professional headstone cleaning across Buckinghamshire, including:
If your loved one's memorial is in another Buckinghamshire cemetery or churchyard, please contact us with the location. We may still be able to include it within our coverage.
Although based in Surrey, we provide professional patio cleaning and pressure washing services throughout the South East and beyond, travelling extensively each year to reach our customers.
Areas we regularly cover include:Â
Surrey – Godalming • Farnham • Guildford • Weybridge • Esher • Kingston • Cobham • Haslemere • Chiddingfold • Petersfield • MidhurstÂ
Other Areas – Hampshire • Berkshire • Buckinghamshire • Hertfordshire • West Sussex • East Sussex • Kent • Oxfordshire • Watford • Enfield • Barnet • Harrow • Bromley • Croydon • Dartford • Epsom • St Albans • Richmond • Woking • Slough • Romford • IlfordÂ
If your town isn’t listed, simply get in touch – the chances are we cover your area too.Â
To discuss professional care for a loved one's memorial, call 0800 500 3032 or email info@pbsr.co.uk. Tell us where the headstone is situated and we can advise you on arranging the service.
Yes. You do not need to identify the material yourself before enquiring. We can consider this when reviewing the memorial.
Results vary according to the headstone, its age and the extent of the deposits present, so we do not guarantee that every memorial will achieve an identical finish.
Flowers, tributes and other movable objects can be temporarily placed aside where required to provide access during the work.
Usually not. Preventative maintenance can be used between visits, with another full professional service arranged later if the memorial requires it.
Get in touch today and we’ll reply promptly with a free patio cleaning quote – no pressure, just great service and results.
