Straight answers, gently given

Headstone prices can look very different until you see what each one leaves out. Here is what affects the cost, where the extras hide, and what to ask.

The ground needs time to settle before a headstone can be set safely. Here is how long the wait usually is, and what can be done while you wait.

Adding a name to a family stone is one of the most common things we do. Here is how permission, lettering and timing work, and what happens if there is no space left.

Polished black, Vizac Blue, tropical green or rustic Scottish granite. How each looks in Scottish weather, which lettering reads best, and why granite outlasts marble and sandstone.

Not sure what to put on a headstone? Here is the usual structure of an inscription, traditional phrases families often choose, and how we help you get the words right.

Gentle, safe cleaning advice for granite, marble and sandstone headstones, what to avoid, and the signs that a stone needs a mason rather than a brush.

Most family graves can be found with a name, a rough date and a little patience. Here is where to look, in the order that usually works best.

Buying a lair buys the right of burial, not the ground. Here is what the lair certificate means, why the lair holder matters, and how rights are transferred.

From a name added to a family headstone to a small granite memorial or plaque, here are the ways families remember someone whose ashes are interred or scattered.

A stone laid flat by the council is routine safety work, not a judgement on the family. Here is why it happens and how the stone can be put back up properly.

There is no right way to choose a memorial, and no deadline. This guide walks through the decisions gently, in the order they usually come up.

Councils set rules on memorial sizes, foundations and safety, and every new stone or inscription needs a permit. Here is what that means in practice, and why you never have to deal with it yourself.