Headstone is a generic term for any stone made memorial for a cemetery plot. For centuries, headstones are used to commemorate a loved one who has passed away. Different cultures from across the world uses some kind of memorial headstones as a tribute to dead persons with some sort of inscriptions in praise of the deceased or quotations from religious texts and some emblems.

Headstones are made from various materials such as:

Granite:
Being one of the most beautiful and durable natural stones, granite has been a popular choice for making headstones. Granite is strong and can come in lovely colors. With granite, artisans can make skillfully carved intricate designs for headstones. As the durable quality of granite can stand the test of time for years it is the first choice amongst buyers shopping for memorial headstones.

Bronze:
The metal alloy known as bronze has been regularly used for making headstones for centuries. Bronze headstones are popular as it does not need much maintenance. Bronze headstones are available in a wide variety of designs and options. However the best part about this particular material is that they are less expensive than other types of materials used for headstones.

Marble:
It is a great material for carving intricate designs and so headstones made of marble come in very elaborate and beautiful designs. The down side to marble headstones is that when exposed to the mild acid found in rainwater for years, the inscriptions become unreadable. So, such headstones are not everlasting and so people looking for quality product does not prefer this material.
Headstone is a generic term for any stone made memorial for a cemetery plot. For centuries, headstones are used to commemorate a loved one who has passed away. Different cultures from across the world uses some kind of memorial headstones as a tribute to dead persons with some sort of inscriptions in praise of the deceased or quotations from religious texts and some emblems.

Sandstone:
This material can be cut in different custom shapes and sizes to make customized headstones. Available in elegant yet light colors ranging from sandy to grey, sandstones are durable in nature. But when moisture gets between the layers of the sandstone its beauty is lost.

Iron:
This particular material is durable and can last for generations. But the one made of wrought ironwork cannot stand the test of time. This type of headstones is often made by specialist foundries or the local blacksmith.

Slate:
Due to its smooth and pleasing texture, slate headstone was also popular for a time. It was easy to carve and was often highlighted with white paint or gilding. But as it was slightly porous and crumbled over time, its popularity did not last for long.

Fieldstones:
The earliest form of headstones was made of fieldstones. The natural fieldstones used for making headstones were either left unmarked or decorated using a metal awl. Typically, such headstones included a symbol and the deceased’s name and age.

Wood:
This was a popular material during the Georgian and Victorian era. It was crafted in intricate designs but as it lacked the durability factor, this material was soon replaced by other durable materials. Due to natural decomposition, wood headstones cannot survive more than 50 to 100 years.

Which one to choose?
It is important to choose a material that can last for many generations. When it comes to durability, granite and marble are the best options. You can make a choice between these two materials based on your budget as marble tends to be very expensive as compared to granite.

Well, now it is up to you as which material suits your style, taste and budget.