Grave Marker & Monument Cleaning & Repair Basics Workshop

The workshop will be held at the historic Millhafen Farm—the headquarters of Craftwork Training Center and LimeWorks.us—located at 3145 State Road, Telford, PA 18969.

1 Day – 8:00 am to 3:00 pm

While cemeteries are often considered to be perpetual, their most prominent feature, the grave markers, is not. Additionally, deferred maintenance usually accelerates the deterioration of gravestones and monuments which can result in safety hazards. Our preservation practices attempt to keep gravestones and monuments from deteriorating further; respect the significance of original materials and details; and stabilize, repair, and retain features wherever possible to ensure their safekeeping for future generations. To understand basic preservation and stabilization measures, participants will be introduced to the LimeWorks.us Graveyard Kit and practice working with a combination of the products. The lecture, demonstrations, and hands-on exercises review the steps to prepare a natural field-mixed glue to repair small, broken stone elements; using Waterglass to consolidate friable masonry; and choosing the appropriate products and techniques to patch, repair, and clean sensitive stones effectively without causing damage. Students are also encouraged to document any work they perform in the field. Prior masonry experience is helpful but not required.

Learning Objectives:

• Begin to understand the science behind breathable natural hydraulic lime.
• Begin to realize the importance of documentation and condition assessments.
• Be familiar with the conservation materials included in the LimeWorks.us Graveyard Kit.
• Introduce how to repair loose masonry joints and cracks.
• Start to recognize when to use Lithomex to patch broken or missing masonry details.
• Begin to be able to work effectively with D/2 Biological Solution to clean discoloration and soiling caused by organic growth.

A non-refundable deposit of $100 is required two weeks in advance with the balance due at the beginning of the workshop. All the necessary materials and tools will be supplied and a light lunch is provided for your convenience. The program will start promptly at 8:00 am. Please arrive 15 minutes early to complete the check-in process and come appropriately dressed and prepared for hands-on training. To ensure an exceptional learning experience, the class size is limited. However, a minimum of 6 participants is required to hold the workshop.

Click here for registration!

2024 Schedule:

• April 12th
• July 12th
• October 18th