Granite and marble are durable materials, but when used for monuments, time has a negative impact on them. After several years, you may find that the monument has begun to look aesthetically unpleasant, and the inscriptions have faded or been completely erased. It is not necessary to completely replace the product; restoration work is allowed. In this case, you can cope on your own, without turning to professionals. It is important to choose the right paint for monuments. The process and types of coatings will be discussed in detail below.
Monument care
To avoid having to frequently resort to painting the monument, proper care is required. Experts recommend adhering to the following principles for caring for granite and marble products:
- Trees and bushes should not grow near the product; due to their root system, it can damage the material. You shouldn’t plant a lot of flowers nearby either, they attract moisture, which negatively affects the stone;
- No aggressive chemical elements are used to wash the surface of the monument; any kitchen detergents are also not suitable. Due to their influence, the surface is destroyed, the cohesion of the factions becomes weaker;
- Do not use hot water or fire nearby, these elements lead to the formation of stains on the surface.
If expensive marble was used, then for safety in severe frosts, it is advisable to cover the monument with something. Film coatings or moisture-resistant fabrics can be selected. If cracks or chips have formed, they are covered with polish or other suitable means to protect the stone. The product will prevent the defect from enlarging.
No aggressive chemical elements are used to wash the surface of the monument; any kitchen detergents are also not suitable.
Additional recommendations:
- To make the inscriptions look much more beautiful, you need to sand the chopped signs before painting until their surface becomes relatively smooth to the touch.
- By mixing enamel or acrylic “metallics” of different colors (for example, “gold” with “bronze,” “mother-of-pearl,” or “copper”) you can get paints with original and beautiful shades of gold.
- It is better not to neglect the rules for preparing the surface for painting (thorough cleaning and degreasing), as well as the use of protective varnishes. Otherwise, the shine from the inscriptions may quickly disappear and “green” will appear. The same can happen with a single layer of paint.
- On horizontal surfaces (for example, tombstones), paint adheres much worse than on vertical ones, because moisture is retained on them and the sun's rays hit them at a much greater angle. This must be remembered when giving the customer any guarantees.
Paint for inscriptions and portraits on stone
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Restoring the inscription on the monument
Monument paint, gold or another color, may be needed to cover faded letters. Paint is an easy option to update signatures; the painting process is simple, so you can restore the clarity of the color yourself. And this will significantly save your budget, because professional services can be expensive. For work, you should select the paint in advance, prepare the required tools, and only then you can proceed to painting. Below we will describe in detail how to paint the monument and how to do it.
Monument paint, gold or another color, may be needed to cover faded letters.
Paint selection
Stone paint for monuments must be selected correctly; not all products will be a good option. Some may move away from the surface too quickly after painting or may not adhere to the stone base. Sometimes the product peels off quickly, although the coloring occurred without problems, and the result leads to worse external properties than it was before applying the paint. Eliminating unnecessary paint is difficult; it is necessary not to scratch the material during the process.
How to paint a marble monument or another? Specialized compositions are selected, especially when it comes to letters. Products labeled “paint for marble for exterior use” based on acrylic have proven themselves; they are chosen not only for inscriptions, but also for border elements and other structures located in the cemetery. At the same time, they are also suitable as an option for painting a concrete monument.
You should not choose them if the installation was carried out using plaster without cement in the composition.
Marble paint for monuments has the following advantages:
- Durability;
- High degree of UV resistance;
- High air permeability.
You can find products in various colors on the market. The standard colors are gold, silver, black or white. You can choose between a matte or glossy effect; drying of acrylic paints takes a couple of hours. They do not emit a strong odor and are applied with a brush. If the consistency is too thick, dilute the paint with water; the shelf life of the layer is 5-10 years. You can also upgrade ordinary paint and varnish material; detailed recipes will be given later.
Specialized compositions are selected, especially when it comes to letters.
Necessary materials
The success of the result also depends on properly prepared tools and materials. To work you will need:
- Plastic spatula;
- Cleaner in paste form;
- Soft rags;
- Thinner – alcohol, with acetone;
- Gold paint on stone or other color;
- Brush;
- A means for fixing the last layer.
The success of the result also depends on properly prepared tools and materials.
Operating procedure
Begin by cleaning the surface, using a soft, damp cloth to wipe away dust and dirt. You should not leave any plaque elements in place; to remove complex contaminants, use a special paste containing phosphoric acid. The area with dirt is treated with the product, after fifteen minutes, the pasty layer is removed with a spatula.
Degreasing is carried out, only the dried surface is painted, then the following actions are performed:
- The brush is soaked in the selected material; it is important to remove the excess.
- Paint over the existing inscription, if desired, draw a new image.
- Wait until the layer dries completely.
- A fixing agent is applied; it will be more convenient to work in an aerosol form.
The inscription must be applied quickly; the paint may still dry on the painting tool.
It is necessary to apply the inscription at a fast pace.
It is possible to transform the structure of the inscription on a monument without the use of paints; polishing with zinc powder will help make the letters clearer. The method is used if you need to refresh the color, if the letters have already disappeared, then you cannot do without paint.
They work like this: the powder collected on a napkin is rubbed onto the required areas. The substance will help you easily obtain rich, bright elements. However, such a conversion should be carried out periodically, usually every couple of months.
Polishing with zinc powder will help make letters clearer.
Application of material
Paint with a stone effect can be used for finishing work of various types and has been successfully used on a wide variety of apartments, houses and even personal plots. This material can be used for a variety of purposes:
- it is excellent not only for performing interior work, but also for finishing facades or, if necessary, decorating a wide variety of elements of the site;
- fits well on walls of all types;
- for finishing the floor, and thanks to its excellent strength characteristics, it will not crack or deteriorate for many years, even in the most trafficked places;
- when painting stairs;
- as decor for a kitchen apron;
- decorate various elements of furniture;
- will give a rather original appearance to a fence, gazebo, flower bed and even path in the garden;
- a fireplace or stove decorated with stone paint will look solid and respectable;
- A very good solution is to design concrete and even tiles to look like stone. Thanks to the use of such paint, the surface of these materials acquires a very rich, solid and expensive appearance.
Restoration of letters
Restoration work with letters does not require much time, they do not take up a lot of space, accuracy is more important here in order to repeat the previous beautiful font. The clarity of recordings deteriorates faster, rain, snow and other natural factors affect the moment.
You can use painting or rubbing with special zinc powder for restoration. The first method will last longer, but requires more time. And the second will be a short-term method, but it is carried out easily and quickly.
You can use painting or rubbing with special zinc powder for restoration.
Advantages of working with gold paints for stone:
- The use of gold paints is the most low-budget option for gilding, which at the same time gives very good results, often almost indistinguishable from gilding with gold leaf.
- With proper quality and carefully followed application technology, gold paint can stay on stone for many years without losing its physical properties and beauty.
- Working with gold paint is easy and even beginners can do it. They are executed quite quickly, because... paints are sold ready for use, and the surface for them does not require special preparation, in most cases even priming.
- Gilding made with gold paint that has aged and lost its original appearance can be renewed quickly and easily. Such work is very easy to perform in the field, and it is inexpensive for the customer.
Painting portraits and inscriptions on a granite monument
Granite surfaces are easier to work with than marble surfaces. Granite is less demanding to care for, the material’s reaction to the use of thinners is calmer, and the likelihood of lightened defects appearing is lower. It is recommended to choose granite paint for monuments for the main area of the product in spray cans. The letters are painted using an old office using a thin brush.
There is another option, which is most often used by professionals. The method consists of applying a special acid in the required areas, it acts on the granite, and the necessary beautiful marks are obtained. But the technique is not suitable for independent implementation; it requires special skills and abilities.
Granite is less demanding to care for, and the material’s reaction to the use of thinners is calmer.
Inscriptions on marble
If the letters have already peeled off almost completely or completely, then a more complex process of surface restoration will be required. The first step is to remove the old paint; fine-grained sandpaper can be used to work through all areas where elements of the paint layer remain. If you can’t remove the flaws with sandpaper, you can try a thin chisel, a utility knife, or a hammer. But all these tools are used carefully, otherwise the marble itself can be damaged.
The easiest way to remove the old layer is with a sander.
When the surface is clean, degreaser is applied and paint is applied using the standard method. If the monument is expensive, then it is better not to save money and entrust the work to professionals; installing a new one, if the monument is damaged, will cost much more.
If the monument is expensive, then it is better not to save money and entrust the work to professionals.
KM recipes from the people
As mentioned earlier, it is possible to change the characteristics of coloring agents using conventional components. This is an economical option for painting a marble monument. Add a little borax solution and drops of nitric acid to acrylic paint. As a result, you get white paint; you can use color to get a different shade.
Add a little borax solution and drops of nitric acid to acrylic paint.
How to restore the inscription?
Unfortunately, even well-made tombstones do not last forever, and the inscription is the first thing that suffers under the influence of external factors. Many people are wondering how to restore the inscription on a marble monument. Any bureau that produces tombstones will offer you the service of restoring the monument and inscription with a visit to the place of its installation. However, this entails unnecessary expenses, and, in addition, it is not always possible to agree on the time of work with the master. Fortunately, updating the inscriptions on marble monuments is not difficult, especially if you choose the right materials.
The main question that people faced with such a need ask is what to write on a marble monument so that the inscription does not require restoration in the next few years.
There are many options here. On the Internet, to the question “how to tint the letters on a marble monument,” you can sometimes find completely wild answers, including acrylic paint and suggestions to use spray paint for graffiti.
Not every paint is suitable for working with marble. And the process itself will take more time due to preparatory procedures.
So, if you are looking for how to correct the inscription on a marble monument, then you will need the following things:
- solvent;
- a soft cloth, preferably microfiber;
- special paint or pigment (sold in hardware stores) for working on stone;
- flat brush;
- fixative (you can find it in stores where you get paint).
Before you start updating the inscription, you need to thoroughly wipe the monument with a slightly damp cloth and wait until it dries. After this, you need to degrease the surface that is being worked. For these purposes you will need a solvent. Since it evaporates very quickly, you can begin restoration immediately after treatment.
We warn you right away that the paint used to paint on stone has a special structure and, most often, dries instantly, almost immediately on the brush. Therefore, it is necessary to have a steady hand in this work.
After you have applied the inscription and it has dried, cover the monument with a special protective agent (usually they are suitable for working with both marble and granite). It will not only help extend the life of the inscription itself and preserve the stone from weather influences, but also protect it from vandals, who sometimes paint monuments with inscriptions and graffiti.
How to choose a marble monument so that it does not have to be restored in the near future? Find out here. Read about the cost of high-quality marble monuments in this article.
Tips for caring for a monument
A marble monument is a product that requires special attention in terms of care. After all, the stone is whimsical, but timely maintenance can help reduce the frequency of restoration. It is required to clean the surface once every six months for prevention using the methods described below:
- Heavy stains are removed with special substances and a soft cloth is used to wipe them;
- After drying, impregnation is applied to the marble material; it acts as protection, making the surface dirt-repellent;
- Next, a moisture-protective agent is used, applied in several layers.
Manufacturers understand the specifics of natural stone, so they create products that are most suitable for it; it is better to purchase them.
A marble monument is a product that requires special attention in terms of care.
You can restore a monument in a cemetery with your own hands; the degree of the problem is taken into account, and based on this, a processing method and remedy are chosen. There are special paints on the market that will not be difficult to update the inscriptions with. But with expensive materials it is better if they work with specialists who guarantee the safety of the material.
Finishing surfaces
The composition of the stone coating is developed by specialists, taking into account maximum compatibility with the majority of popular building materials, including:
- various types of plastered surfaces;
- various surfaces made of concrete and foam concrete;
- composite materials;
- plastic materials;
- tree;
- drywall;
- glass surfaces;
- tile surfaces;
- metal;
- ceramics;
- polyurethane.
In some cases, when creating a landscape design, it is necessary to paint crushed stone or other material that remains after construction.
