Better Headstones was created to allow online ordering of high quality, yet affordable, hand crafted flat grave markers. Larger grave markers such as base and dyes, slants, and beveled formats, as well as monuaments of all types and business signs, are featured on our company website (PioneerRock.com).
Our Story Pioneer Rock and Monument is a family business specializing in custom designed headstones and grave markers. "We take pride in fine art designs, affordable prices and caring service." We make each stone one at a time, with love. Dealing with the passing of a loved one is always hard. We just hope that we can help a little by making the process of marking a grave a little easier by treating customers with love, respect and friendliness. Pioneer Rock and Monument has been in business since 1985. We opened the business out of our garage, and saw a steady stream of orders. In 2002 the business moved into a new 2000 square foot shop, better able to handle the increasing business. In 2004 our son Ben joined the team. In 2007 we began selling stones through the Internet. Since then we've shipped headstones to three countries and forty-eight states. In 2011 our grandson Nick began learning the trade, making Pioneer Rock and Monument a family business consisting of three generations. Most monument shops are retailers, and do not manufacture the stones themselves. At Pioneer Rock and Monument, on the other hand, we make each stone in our own shop.
Selecting Headstones: Shapes and Sizes Headstones range in types and sizes from simple, flat markers (sometimes called grass markers) up through large monuments. There are several common shapes and each shape comes in a variety of sizes and colors.
Colors The precise color and grain of the stone is determined by the quarry where the stone originates. Most common colors are available from different quarries, and so they are given common names like gray. Specific inventory includes an additional name, like Georgia Gray, Morning Rose, Imperial Red, and Nero Black as shown here, though these colors are generally substituted. More exotic colors like Cat's Eye, Tropical Green and Blue Perl come from limited quarries and identify a narrowly available stone. Black is a particularly interesting color because when polished it becomes highly reflective, giving a stunning final presentation. This effect is particularly noticeable on larger stones. On dark stones like black, blue, green and red, designs are often frosted to provide a light background for black lettering or, at times, all the lettering is done in white.
Flowers
It seems that since time immemorial people have been placing flowers at grave sites. It also seems that since shortly thereafter, headstone carvers have been carving flowered designs into headstones. The basic design idea is to take the underlying headstone design and carve a flower that has been otherwise placed on the stone. Of course the problem then becomes which flower, how many and where to place them. And, since the days of colored headstones, the issue also includes what color. Roses are by far the most common flower used on headstones. When done in color these are usually done in red with green foliage. Pink, yellow and white are also common rose colors, and nearly every rose design is offered in these other colors.
Double Names
We also carry headstones that have space for 2 names, typically a husband and wife. Headstones with 2 names saves the cost of a separate stone. These stones work to get both names onto a stone. Typically the last name is presented only once. The first names and dates are separate. Various designs allow for epithets and limited art.
Religious Art
The other traditional type of art found on headstones is religious. Within this theme, designs using some form of cross are the most common. Of course the cross is readily combined with flowers, so cross designs are usually seen with flowers. There is also considerable variety in crosses themselves. Specific groups of Christians have their tradition cross designs, and we offer a selection of those. Religious art goes beyond crosses, and includes bibles, doves and angels of various types.
For more information please visit http://www.betterheadstones.com