4105 Chatham Hill Rd Winston-Salem NC 27104 US
Restoration and Preservation Specialist
"Show me your cemeteries and
I will tell you what kind of people you have"
Benjamin Franklin
We Use Exclusively D/2 the ONLY Gravestone
and Monument Cleaner Approved by the U.S. Parks
*See Slide Show Below
They May Be Gone...But
They Don't Have to Look Forgotten!
"Gravestone Guardians"
Specialist in Gravestone Cleaning, Conservation, and Preservation
336-575-8721 GravestoneGuardiansNC@gmail.com
Lee Brown 4105 Chatham Hill Rd. Winston-Salem, NC 27104
Our Service, In Honor:
Reflecting great empathy, care, and Christian diligence, we provide professional services: headstone cleaning, gravestone cleaning, weeding, marker or footstone cleaning, bronze marker restoration, lichen removal, engraving enhancement, delivery or planting of flowers, and historic marker preservation. We never power wash, sandblast, or use harsh chemicals on any gravestones. We are OSHA-certified, fully insured, and trained specialists in restoration and preservation. We are not a franchise, but a family- and veteran-owned service based in Winston-Salem with family roots in Surry and Yadkin counties. Most importantly, we are honored to provide this service for you.
Newer Granite Headstones
Also Need Cleaning
“There should be in every life, a place . . . where you can come and visit your past, and the past of your people, ...here timelessness lives. All of us need a place like that — a place where we can have history close at hand, where we can see it, touch it, learn from it.”
— Ann Rivers Siddons, Novelist
(Notice how good the edge trimming
of the grass makes the marker look)
OUR MISSION -- is to provide you
and your love ones with the most ReMarkable service experience ever.
We are dedicated to the cleaning, preservation and care of grave-sites with dignity, respect, knowledge and professionalism. We promise to
maintain each grave with the same
"care and respect" that you would.
(special care for bronze)
What Damages Gravestones, Markers, and Monuments:
- Carbonaceous or sooty soiling
- red clay, dirt, grime, age;
- pollution in the air - acid rain.
- Organic--algae, mold, fungi, lichens, moss,
- Stains--metallic, oils, hard-water, fertilizer,
- grass, weeds, wind, rain, freeze / thaw, ice, snow, UV damage,
- Efflorescence (salts) some are naturally occurring in the stone, others come from irrigation systems.
Over time dirt, moss, lichen or other pollutants will attach themselves to gravestones' surfaces. One can see a lot of this around Mount Airy, Dobson, and Elkin. Not only does this make it very difficult to read inscriptions and see other details it can actually cause permanent damage.
How Do We Clean a Gravestone?
There are only a couple of safe ways to clean a tombstone AND many that are harmful. We prefer to use D2 Biological Solution. A neutral PH balance non-ionic product that has been widely endorsed & used by the National Battlefield Park Systems including Arlington Cemetery and endorsed by the Veterans Administration. It has also been used to clean the White House, The Alamo and the Acropolis in Athens Greece as well as 3 ½ million tombstones. This is a safe "time released" product that is very unobtrusive to the stone and the environment. Orvus soap is also often used for initial cleaning to remove heavier soiling found in Surry, Stokes, Wilkes, Guilford and Forsyth counties. Orvus has a neutral PH and is gentle enough to use on antique quilts made of vegetable died materials. Setup, breakdown and cleaning a polished granite headstone takes about 2+ hours.
We believe and stand by the
Cemetery Conservationist's creed “To Do No Harm”
When possible, we try to even use distilled water because distilled water is soft, has no chemicals and will not affect the stone by adjoining additives such as salt or mineral deposits. These deposits in tap-water can cause a break-down in the synthesis of the stone. Gravestones in Yadkin, Guilford, Davie and Davidson county are especially damaged by hard water.
If You Are Going to Clean the Grave Yourself --Please:
Avoid cleaning with detergents that contain compounds like sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, ammonium carbonate, and trisodium phosphate (TSP or Calgon); they contribute in the build-up of soluble salts beneath the surface of the stone. Do NOT use a household cleaner like soap, borax, Spic and Span, salt, shaving cream, bleach, Fantastik, Formula 409, muriatic acid, phosphoric acid, and other strong acids and bases because they tend to be corrosive and can hurt older head stones.
Why do you need us?
While cemeteries may be maintained, individual graves usually aren't. The maintenance crew doesn't clean off mud, dirt, moss, lichen, black mold, or encroaching grass off the flat stone grave markers. The condition of your monument, mausoleum, or grave marker, unless damaged by the cemetery, is the sole responsibility of the family.
These are our loved ones—our personal links to the past. Gravestone Guardians preserve your family’s history.
ONE GRAVESTONE AT A TIME
Gravestone Guardians, is a family and Veteran owned and operated service, specializing in cleaning, maintaining, and honoring the gravesite of your loved ones with dignity, respect, knowledge and professionalism. We were founded on the values of cherishing the memories of our loved one – something I learned from my Father in caring for family graves in Surry County. Such a transferable value is important for generations to come.
Fully Insured
...for Your Confidence
My story is not unlike many of yours. It is not always possible to properly upkeep your family’s gravesite, no matter how much we loved those who have passed. You may live too far…in another country, state or city; time commitment prevents you from giving the attention you desire; health issues, travel costs or military deployment may be keeping you from maintaining the graves to a high standard; or you may simply not know how to properly care for a monument and fear that you will do more harm than good. The answer – we would be honored to help you watch over your loved ones.
When Gravestones Are More
Than 60 Years Old!
There is a big difference between the old marble or sandstone tombstones and monuments found in historic cemeteries near Elkin, Dobson, Wilkesboro, East Bend, Yadkinville, Booneville, and even Greensboro versus the granite markers found in more modern cemeteries. Our experience has taught us that to restore and preserve the older markers, a specialized type of care is needed. This care can only be given by a tombstone and cemetery conservator who has the correct knowledge, as explained below.
Conservation of Artifacts: Should Monuments Be Sealed?
Older, weaker, and friable marble and sandstone monuments need to be strengthened or "conserved" in order to prevent injury, decay, or loss. In the field of historic preservation, this means performing procedures that help protect and stabilize an artifact (a marker, gravestone, or monument) through a technique called "consolidate or densify." Monuments also need to breathe, or they will become brittle. Therefore, instead of sealing a stone completely, a solid penetrates deeply beneath the surface and re-bonds the molecular structure on a cellular level. It finds the voids and fills them. It is not a sealer, as the stone can still breathe, but it will limit the absorption of moisture, acid rain, and pollutants to a slower rate. Gravestone Guardians is the only team in North Carolina or Southwest Virginia that uses this advanced engineering technique.
NOTE: The experts at Gravestone Preservation explain, "If a stone is sealed, it will trap moisture inside along with soluble salts. When the moisture moves towards the surface during the evaporation process, it carries minerals and salts along." This mineral migration causes in a softer stone a hardening or crust and a weakening interior. Further complications come when the stone is sealed; the minerals and salts still migrate towards the surface. Unable to escape, the stone will never dry out, leading to a massive tension failure. "Tablet Stone" headstones are monolithic, meaning they are one piece. Usually, there is as much underground as there is above ground. Consequently, these flat headstones that stick up in our older cemeteries will wick up whatever is in the ground water.
Contact by Clicking Picture Above
or call 336-575-8721
GravestoneGuardiansNC@gmail.com
The ONLY Safe Way to Clean Monuments
Our Services are Sometimes As Simple and Inexpensive as Cleaning Away Grass and Delivering Flowers For a Loving Family That Can't Be There.
Contact us for special pricing for cleaning entire cemeteries or consultation for Volunteer Projects.

ASK how Cleaning Monuments can Fund Your Cemetery Upkeep Committee.
200% Guarantee:If we damage the gravestone with our nationally approved cleaning methods, then I will refund your money and pay for someone else to clean it.
(30-day Option)
Also see 1-year stay-clean guarantee in #3 "Covenant Understandings" below.
Services and Cost
Grave Markers (Gravestones, Headstones, Monuments, Tombstones) are a symbol and a tribute of the love and memories of our loved ones who have passed on. A tool by which we pass on our heritage to our children. Cleaning gravestones is a way to honor and remember the people that we will never forget.
"Show me the manner in which a nation cares for its dead,
and I will measure with mathematical exactness the tender
mercies of its people their respect for the laws of the land
and their loyalty to high deeds."
- William Gladstone
SERVICE
DETAILS
COST
NOTES
Gravestone Bio Deep-Clean
Approximately 3 to 4 hours of service for the first extensive cleaning of both the headstone and marker to remove dirt, pollutants, bird droppings, lichen, algae, and other biological growth. Multiple visits, at no charge to you, may be required to achieve adequate removal of biological growth. We also remove debris, litter, leaves, plant matter, and trim Grass, perform edging, weeding, watering, and pruning of plants and bushes.
(SPECIAL: Add flower delivery for $10 plus the cost of flowers.)
$80 per grave-site for the first site. Labor and tools.
$60 per gravesite for the 2nd and 3rd sites.
$50 per grave site for 4 or more sites.
$45.00 per gallon for D/2 Biological Solution for Cleaning.
(These discounts promote the cleaning of entire family or community plots on the same date.)
The marker or footstone (standard size) is $10.00 when combined with the headstone.
The price is for a normal-size (one-person) headstone and marker. Additional space is +/- 30% per space.
Bronze Marker Restoration
Bronze markers have a protective clear-coat that is worn away with time and UV exposure. Then it dulls, the letters fade and the copper changes colors. We away, those properties. Special treatment includes cleaning, color restoration, restored and conditioning,
$sealing. or $130.00
Rough or Older Monument Cleaning
Same as Gravestone Bio cleaning but application is on rough or unpolished Deep-Clean,, granite, marble or other similar sandstone,
$10.00 and stone. added to Gravestone Bio Deep-Clean according to up are of the condition
the headstone.
Monuments years older than 50 be and may rough or
unpolished. more time and It takes uses more expensive a
Seal, Protect, & Polish Granite
This Granite combined with Gravestone Bio service, comes with a Deep-Clean, 50% free refundSealing against guarantee. damage. Guarantee to remain free of fungus for 18 environmental
$months. require20.00 may access to electricity and visit at no additional mileage a second
Special Treatment to Conserve Older Marble, Limestone, or Sandstone charge.
3 Monuments. treatment of calcium carbonatevisits forbased stones such as sandstone, - and marble. Limit the absorption of moisture, acid limestone, and subsequent decay to a slower rate. (raid, of Artifacts in See Conservation the articleabove.) It visits to assure absorption and all but stop takes multiple
$70 per visit for each treatment of a typical headstone or $15 per square foot of decay. monuments. Mileage from oversize applies.
$170 if you desire that "tablet stone" be extracted plus treatments.
This amazing the shop been used
on the White House.
Flower Delivery
Your choice of House. artificial Delivery
$20.00 plus real or of flowers and arrangements.
Flower Planting
$40.00 plus materials mileage. Planting
Engraving Detailing
Darken letters and mileage.
$25.00+ per Detailing or engraving on polished headstone
Arial Photo Shoot
Still and video photography from marker only
$granite. restful visual story to pass on to above.
Resurfacing of Concrete Slab
75.00: A
generations.
Basic Plot Slabs
Removal of debris, litter, leaves, and plant $150.00
Grass edging, weeding, and pruning of plants Maintenance bushes matter. and cleaning of ; light grave headstones
Recommended every 3 to 6 and
markers.
Done months. to 6 $45.00 within 3 deep months cleaning. Often used as a follow-up visit. Mileage applies. Before of bio- after and
Subscription photos were Basic Plot sent.
Removal of debris, litter, leaves, and plant matter Grass trimming, edging, weeding, and pruning of plantstobushesMaintenance and cleaning of ; light grave headstonesService after and cleaning. Includes markers. cost the initial the delivery
$29.00 on a monthly subscription of fresh flowers.
Includes delivery of for 12months. of fresh flowers. be added. Before The cost flowers will and sent. Mileage applies.
Restoration of Gravestones, Markers, and Monuments.
Repair and Markers, of leaning, broken, Monuments. or damaged gravestones, restoration and fallen,
$300.00 and markers,
$35 charge for
written up for a preservation
plan following
a condition and risk assessment
"The Grave Saver"
This unique frame keeps grass and weeds from covering the grave-marker and from the marker sinking.
This long-lasting marker frame made from polyethylene sinking. HDPE, an environmentally safe and recycled material. It resists UV damageis will not stain, swell, splinter, or crack due to freezing or
$150.00 includes "The Grave Saver" and installation when combined with gravestone and
weather.
Normal price is $199.00 plus cleaning.
Over time, a grave marker weighing up to 100 The normal starts to sink mileage. the ground and become overgrown with grass. The Grave pounds has a patented design into prevents grave markers from sinking into the ground and being overgrown with SaverTM
Veteran's Grave Cleaning has a 10% discount that
honored with the placement of a small US grass.
"Heritage Preservation is Good for All of Us"
Covenant Understandings:
1) We must adhere to each cemetery's regulations. To avoid additional charges, please provide the name of the cemetery,the address, any contact info (as best you can) and details of the location of the grave within the cemetery. We understand that you may not always know the location of the gravesite, but any information is better than none. To avoid confusion, please provide the correct spelling of the loved one's name, date of birth and date of death, or within close proximity of the date to help us locate the grave. Tell us how long approximately the grave has been there and what the stone is made of (granite, marble, sandstone, slate, limestone, etc.) No refunds if a different grave is cleaned due to incorrect or insufficient information provided by the customer. There is also a trip charge of $30 if you direct us a cemetery in error.
2) First visits are usually priced higher because the initial cleaning can take hours if a headstone hasn’t been cleaned for many years. Rates drop for subscription plans that provide regular cleaning. Photos will be emailed each visit.
3) GUARANTEE: Please be realistic, as it may not be possible to clean the monument to an "as new" appearance without damage to the stone. Unless, the stone was previously damaged we offer a Guarantee when the combined "cleaning and sealing" are purchased; that the cleaning will be 80% effective for 1-year or we will provide a 50% REFUND or do the job over again for FREE.
4) As professional conservators, we use only products and processes that are designed for this type of service and we can only be held liable for any misuse of those products. We are not responsible for damage to the monument that would have been the result of normal "wear & tear", an act outside our control, events related to the environment or the condition / associated risk inherent of the monument. We DO NOT pressure wash or "particle blast", but we may use a $9,000 Soft-Washing low-pressure unit that contains its own water supply and water-heater if needed.
5) PLANNING IS IMPORTANT: Our goal is to provide the service within fourteen days of payment. Flower deliver is within 3 days of the assigned date. Fees may apply for last minute expedite or delivery requests; or requests 14-days (other than flower delivery) before a holiday. Full payment is made before the service and is non-refundable except as described in #3.
6) A photo will be emailed to you of before and after of the service. Printed photos may be mailed for an additional $5.00 fee.
7) Any Special trip (flower delivery / planting, weeding, snow removal, and similar one service jobs) will be at 22 cents a mile from office ($5 minimum). Bundled services are charged outside of zip code 27104. There is no mileage charge for return visits for the same job in service.
8) Especially large tomb-stones, foot-stones, grave markers, or benches, monuments, signs, vases, plaques, mausoleum, etc. will be priced accordingly.
336-575-8721 GravestoneGuardiansNC@gmail.com
Lee Brown, 4105 Chatham Hill Rd., Winston-Salem, NC 27104
Goliath Plus His 4 Brothers Makes
5-Common Cemetery Concerns
1. Weeds
Weeds often grow out of control and overwhelm most, if not all, of a cemetery. Weeds ruin healthy grass by taking nutrients away from it, turning the grass a grave brown, or killing it entirely. However, getting rid of these unwanted weeds is not as easy as simply spraying a weed killer. The chemicals present in the weed killer could potentially damage any headstones and grave markers that are near the weeds.
2. Basic Cemetery Responsibilities
Cemeteries offer a wide range of services, of which grounds and building maintenance are their top priorities. The world’s largest cemetery spans 2.32 square miles! Therefore, it's not hard to imagine that the large size of your cemetery or its age makes it difficult to maintain, especially individual graves. In the case of church cemeteries, they are often maintained by a volunteer committee, so funding and donations, the health of caregivers, the age of the volunteers, and the number of volunteers determine how much can be done and when.
3. Weather
Harsh weather, such as unbearable hot days, rain, snow, ice or sleet, makes it hard to properly tend to cemeteries. After such weather, the soil in cemeteries often becomes waterlogged, and completely flooded. This drowns the grass and creates the formation of layers on the surfaces of headstones. At the other end of the spectrum, drought also suffocates the soil and grass in cemeteries, drying out all of the plants and cracking the earth.
4. Time
Not everyone has the time to visit a loved one’s grave to give it the proper care and maintenance it requires. Sometimes, families move away from their childhood homes and the cities their loved one’s are buried i n, and are unable to travel back and forth regularly to tend to or to even place flowers on the grave.
5. Aging Grave Markers and Headstones
Over the years, headstones and other grave markers can gather dirt, stains and biological growths from weather, or even simply age. These appear on headstones in the form of colored patches and can be harmful for headstones because they trap moisture on, and under the surface of the stone. These growths might also secrete acids that are corrosive to the stone, causing it to crack. A cracked stone is often to fragile to clean, and the cracks become a permanent part of the headstone. To prevent this, headstones and grave markers need to be gently cleaned regularly.
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