Headstone Cleaning, Restoration and Installation in Moscow

In almost every case it cleans up. Black staining and green growth sit on the surface of the stone, not inside it: moss and lichen are removed mechanically with nylon brushes, then a stone-safe biocide is applied, left for 15–30 minutes and rinsed off with plenty of water. What genuinely ruins granite is the shortcut — acid or an abrasive disc. Those take the polish off, the stone turns matt and starts absorbing water, and no later cleaning brings the shine back. Cleaning costs ₽2,000–5,000 depending on the size of the monument.

Yes, that is routine — many people buy the stone direct from a producer and then find the seller does not mount it at their cemetery. We accept the stone from the supplier or at the cemetery and record its condition with photographs before mounting, so any chips that were already there are documented. The price for the work is the same as for a stone of our own. The three-year guarantee covers our mounting; the material itself stays the responsibility of whoever sold it. If the stone is thin marble that Moscow winters tend to crack, we will say so before the work, not after.

Six to twelve months at the earliest — the ground has to settle, otherwise even a correct foundation will shift. If it has to go up sooner, we use a reinforced base on beams that rests on undisturbed ground at the edges of the grave. The installation season runs from April–May to October, while the ground is not frozen.

Usually not. The stone is generally intact — what failed is the base: it was set on a shallow pad, the ground over the grave settled, tree roots lifted one side, or meltwater washed out the support. A tilt of up to about 5–7° is corrected by jacking and packing gravel and mortar under the sunken side, from ₽8,000. Worth doing early: while it leans it is a repair; once it falls it usually means chips, a cracked stele and damage to the neighbouring plot.

No. The whole process runs remotely: you send the cemetery name and, if you have them, photos of the plot; we reply with a fixed quote; the work is done and you receive a photo report of every stage. For an installation we need a notarised power of attorney and the burial certificate to obtain the administration’s permission — that is the one piece of paperwork required from your side, and it can be arranged at a Russian consulate in your country.

Every job ends with before-and-after photographs sent to your Telegram or WhatsApp — 6 to 12 shots from several angles, and for installations photos of each stage including the foundation before it is covered. Payment is due after you receive the report, not before.

Yes. Granite in Moscow picks up growth again within two or three seasons, faster in shade and under trees. Most families living abroad take the seasonal package — four visits a year from ₽12,000, which includes wiping the monument down — and order a full clean every few years when the photos show it is needed.