Texts carved into stone accompany us throughout our lives and decorate buildings, monuments and, in most cases, cemeteries. They record historical moments, memories, names and years, and therefore the reconstruction of the old text is important for the further preservation of values. Time and weather conditions cause text to age, lose color and legibility.
In this article, we will look at how to easily restore the old font on the monument and how to give it a new, bright look for many years.
Photo: Stone gold leaf, glue, stone paint, or a brush are basic equipment for font reconstruction
Analysis of the condition of the writing on the monument and its surroundings
Before starting work, it is important to thoroughly assess the condition and degree of pollution or damage.
We notice whether the original color is peeling off, whether there are lichens, mosses and other impurities settled in the stone.
If you plan to add text or a date, it is better to do these steps together so that the color is the same throughout the text.
Necessary equipment for the reconstruction of the old text on the monument
- Suitable cleaning agents for stone. We covered the topic of how to clean a stone in the article How to clean and maintain a grave.
- Medium hard brush for deep cleaning of the font.
- Petrol and cloth.
- Stone paint. You can view the entire offer on our website. A selection of top products will be mentioned in this article below.
- Suitable brush with firm hair. Choose its width according to the font size. Sizes No. 4 and 6 are most often used.
- Razor blade or blade for cleaning dried paint.
- Foil for eventual covering from rain
How to choose a stone color? And how about real gold?
It is appropriate to mention that, until recently, only stoneware gold leaf was used to a large extent. With correct and, above all, professional application, the color stability of the gilded text was extremely long-lasting. Gilding or gilding is a really professional and demanding application that requires practice. That is why only experienced experts - stonemasons or restorers - apply gold. If you are interested in gold letters, contact an experienced stonemason in your area.
PHOTO: Detail of a freshly gilded sandblasted font.
However, time has moved in such a direction that the application of proven colors to chopped, engraved or sandblasted lettering is no problem and does not represent a significant difference in life compared to gold leaf. We will be happy to offer you proven products that have been used daily by master stonemasons for many years.
What shade of paint to use for the monument?
The most preferred color is gold. It looks dignified, it is expressive and the text looks valuable. However, you can also choose the color of the font according to the color of the stone or match it to the color of the accessories (for example, silver font for stainless accessories - lamps and vases). Therefore, in addition to gold and silver, shades such as white, black or brown are also used. It is important that there is sufficient contrast between the color of the stone and the color of the font, so that the font can be easily read from at least 3 meters away.
A selection of TOP products used by stonemasons
Our experience with the mentioned assortment dates back to 2010. In the internet offer you will find a wide range of colors for stone, but we can responsibly recommend only a few specific products. Why do we have other products in our offer that we don't mention? This is because some of our clients work with them and the quality that the product offers is enough for them.
- Metalliq gold color - clearly the best-selling product since 2014. Durable acrylic paint with a beautiful golden pigment. To date, we have not registered a dissatisfied customer.
- White pearl color - a white-silver-blue mother-of-pearl effect beautifully highlights the text in the stone. The shade is similar to silver, only slightly brighter.
- Silver color - according to our stonemasons, this particular product has the most beautiful luminous silver color.
- White, black or brown color from the proven brand DUROL or AKEMI. Two competitive stone brands with balanced quality.
PHOTO: Selection of popular colors suitable for coloring the font on the monument.
How to do it? Complete procedure on how to reconstruct the font on the monument
- Clean the entire surface of the stone around the inscription with a suitable cleaner intended for cleaning stone.
- Specially focus on cleaning the font thoroughly. Use the cleaner again and we recommend using a special brush. Let the surface dry.
- Degrease the text with white spirit. There is no need to remove the remnants of the old paint that stick firmly and do not peel off.
- Mix the paint container thoroughly. Apply the first layer. You don't have to put a lot of emphasis on the cleanliness and accuracy of the coating. The color can also extend beyond the edge of the font. Direct the brush stroke from top to bottom (like when painting a wall).
- After drying, apply a second coat of paint. On the first sign, notice whether the second layer thoroughly overlaps the substrate (first layer). If so, a third coat of paint will not be necessary. In that case, you can change the brush stroke to movement as if you were "poking" the text (perpendicular to the surface). This way you get a more plastic surface with a natural structure.
- After it has dried thoroughly, use a blade or a razor blade to trim and tear off the excess paint outside the font.
- If there is a threat of bad weather and the coating has not yet thoroughly hardened, cover the text with plastic to avoid contact with water.
PHOTO: Applying silver paint to sandblasted writing in stone.
Conclusion
The reconstruction of the old writing on the monument is not a very difficult task, but by following our advice and procedures, you will get not only a beautiful and durable reconstruction, but also a good feeling every time you look at your work..... And the memory will be preserved for future generations.