Metal Overlays

Metal gravestone overlays are stainless steel plates mounted on the existing plaque of a gravestone – a new inscription without replacing the granite, made to order in the size you need.

The overlay covers the stone plaque and takes over as the carrier of the entire inscription: names, dates, verses and symbol. The stone remains untouched, and the gravestone gains a coherent, legible inscription – without dismantling or transporting a heavy slab.

When an overlay is the right choice

• Adding another person – instead of chiseling an extra inscription into the granite, we design the whole plaque anew, as a single composition.
• A faded or flaking inscription – steel needs no repainting or regilding.
• A new gravestone, columbarium or urn grave – the overlay is an alternative to a sandblasted inscription and to individually mounted letters.

Designs, size and finish

Each design combines an edge shape – for example a wave, a rocky edge, a zigzag or a stepped line – with a motif: a cross (Latin, trefoil, Gothic or Orthodox), a rosary, a dove, ivy, lily of the valley, a rose, a chrysanthemum, an IHS monogram, a chalice with a host, or an image of the Virgin Mary. On the product page you enter the height and width of the overlay (the minimum height is 60 cm), and the price is calculated immediately; you can also preview the overlay against a gravestone slab. You choose from the available finishes on the design page.

Mounting

As standard, the overlay arrives with factory-fitted pins, which are set into drilled holes with chemical adhesive or epoxy resin, and the overlay is positioned at a small distance from the stone – the gap creates a shadow that gives a three-dimensional effect and lets water run off freely. Smaller formats can be glued on without drilling, for example when cemetery regulations restrict intervention in the stone. Installation is usually carried out by a stonemasonry workshop.

Design and production

Before production, we prepare a visualization of the inscription layout and wait for your confirmation. You can also plan the inscription yourself in the letter printing program. We confirm the production time when you place the order – if you have questions about size or installation, contact us. Stonemasonry workshops are welcome to visit the Stonemason Zone.

Overlay, openwork plaque or small plaque?

An overlay is a full plate that covers the stone plaque and carries the entire inscription. An openwork plaque has cut-outs all the way through, through which the stone shows, and serves mainly as decoration. Engraved plaque is a smaller supplementary element, mounted next to the main inscription.