Monument Terms

-	Upright Monument, Tablet or Die - Upright monument that is lettered and/or carved.  The top piece of a traditional two piece memorial.
-	Base - The bottom piece of a memorial upon which a die is placed.
-	Marker, Grass or Flush Marker - Flat stone placed in front of a family memorial or individually to mark a grave.  A Granite Marker is lettered and/or carved.
-	Bevel Marker or Hickey Marker - Similar to Grave Marker except it has a slight slope from back to front.  Most Bevel Markers drop approximately 2" from back to front.
-	Slant - Similar to an Upright Monument with the face cut at a steep angle.
-	Bench - comprised of Seat and Supports (2-Leg Supports or a Single Die Support).
-	Vase - Vases are tapered with finishes matching those of the Granite Monument Die or Round turned vases, usually polished.
-	Ledger - A flat granite memorial, covering most or all of the grave space.

Monument Profiles

-	Serp - Serpentine Top, top of Tablet is raised slightly (1 or 2 inches) in the center.
-	Flat - Flat Top, top of Tablet is flat.
-	Oval - Oval Top, top of Tablet is rounded.
-	Gable or Roof Top - Top of Tablet is high in the center and drops approximately 2" towards the ends.
-	Apex  - Apex Top, top of Tablet is high in the center and all four sides come up to a single point as a pyramid.

Finishes

-	Polished - The surface of the stone is ground with finer and finer abrasives until it reaches a high gloss.
-	Steeled - The surface of the stone is blasted or ground with Steel Shot until it reaches a flat textured surface.
-	Honed - The surface of the stone is ground with abrasives until it reaches a smooth surface but has not gloss.
-	Rock Pitch - This is a very rough surface, it is the natural fracture of the stone.

Finished Surfaces

-	P2 - Polished two sides: front and back.
-	P3 - Polished three sides: front, back and top.
-	P4 - Polished four sides: front, back and both ends.  Example: bench legs.
-	P5 or All Polished - Polished five sides: front, back, top and both ends.
	** Note: The same numerical designation is used for other finishes. Example : S2 - Steeled two sides: front and back.

Other Finishes

-	BRP - Balance Rock Pitch
-	BS - Balance sawn.
-	SS - Sawn Sides
-	PFT - Polished Flat Top
-	SFT - Steeled Fat Top
-	PBT - Polished Bevel Top
-	PSF - Polished Slant Face
-	FN - Front Nosing; the finished portion on the bottom front of a Standard Slant
-	NFN - No Front Nosing; the polished slant face continues to the bottom, referred to as Western Slant
-	Margin - Polished or Sawn border around the top of a Base or Bevel Marker, usually one to two inches in height
-	Pencil Round - A slight radius either polished or honed around the top of a marker

Private Family Estates

-	Private Estate Mausoleum - Structure designed for above ground interment.  Can arrange from one to as many crypts as desired.
-	Family Estate Columbarium - Structure designed with interior space to house cremation urns holding cremated remains

Community Products

-	Mausoleum
-	Cremation Niches
-	Scattering Gardens

Carving

-	Shape Carving - Technique used to create a three-dimensional appearance making the floral carving appear life like.
-	Flat Carving - Outlines are sandblasted around the floral carving while the surfaces of the blooms and leaves are left flat.
-	Stencil - Lettering and Designs are cut into rubber stencil that is designed to resist the sandblast.  Exposed stone is etched by the sand resulting in the transfer of the lettering and design to the surface of the stone.
-	Full-size Layout - An actual size line drawing of the memorial showing the lettering and designs.
-	Laserjet - A scaled line drawing of the memorial showing the lettering and designs.

Panels

-	No Panel - Lettering is cut directly into the polished or steeled surface of the stone.
-	Frosted Panel - The area within the border of the panel is lightly sandblasted.  This process generally lightens the color of the stone creating a contrast between the panel and the surrounding surface.
-	Polished Panel - The area within the border of the panel remains polished.
-	Single V-Line Panel - Two V-lines are etched into the stone creating a double border around a Family Name or Inscription panel.
-	Double V-Line Panel - Two V-Lines are etched into the stone creating a double border around a Family Name or Inscription panel.

Lettering

-	Sandblast V-Sunk - Deep sandblasted letter; sandblasted until back of the letter forms a "V".
-	Skin Cut -  Shallow sandblasted letter: the sandblast just breaks the surface of the stone.
-	Frosted Outline - The surface of the letter is lightly sandblasted and a deep outline is etched around it.
-	Raised Letters - The area around the letters is sandblasted away leaving the letters raised above the background.
-	Font - Lettering Style.  The mostly widely used is Modified Roman V-Sunk.

Lettering

-	Litho - A coloring material sprayed into the lettering and carving to create an artificial shadow.  Litho is available in a variety of colors, however Black is the most widely used.  It is not permanent!
-	No Litho - Term used to indicate that no artificial coloring is to be sprayed in the lettering or carving, usually in deep carved markers.  Note: On lighter colored granites lettering cut in the polish with no panel will not be legible without some litho for contrast.

Lettering

-	Rubbing - Method by which the lettering and carving on an existing stone are transferred to paper.  Special rubbing transfer paper is available.  Rubbings are used to duplicate all or part of an existing stone.
-	Sketches - Line drawing used to communicate a monument style or design to the layout artist.
-	Photos - Photographs are necessary when duplicating color, styles and/or carvings.