Frequently Asked Questions

Fram Monument Company has been working with families to memorialize their loved ones since 1922, all while being family owned and operated from the beginning. Since we are the largest local monument company, our volume discounts allow us to buy the best quality granite at reduced costs and pass these savings to you. Our reputation is superb for our quality, workmanship, and customer care throughout the entire process.

Granite comes in hundreds of different colors and quality. Fram Monument only uses Grade “A” granite which means it is stress tested after it comes out of the quarry for any scratches and defects. We have a wide array of colors to choose from.

Each cemetery has different rules and varying fee structures when it comes to memorials, making it misleading to accurately price our memorials online as general pricing. We would prefer to be able to work based on your specific needs, and provide exact pricing. We take great pride in having a memorial priced for everyone’s budget and will work with you as best as we can to ensure that your memorial is within your means.

Fram Monument has local full memorial display showrooms which are centered throughout Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia. You can visit us at our showroom during business hours or schedule in-person and virtual appointments in advance. See our About Us & Contact pages for more information on making an appointment with one of our specialists.

While some cemeteries may provide monument services, they also have to worry about cutting grass, digging graves, planning funerals, etc. On the other hand, our sole focus is to specialize in memorials. Not only can we provide you with excellent quality materials, but our prices are significantly discounted relative to the cemeteries. Many cemeteries have difficulty keeping up with foreign languages and traditions, custom designs, and religious customs. At Fram Monument however, we are fluent in all of those, not to mention that our prices are substantially lower than what you would pay to purchase from your cemetery.

Unlike most other monument companies, Fram Monument does not charge extra for engraving on new memorials. Our prices include all of your engraving, so additional epitaphs, inscriptions, etc. will not cost extra. On site engraving to an existing memorials carry an additional charge.

Memorials can be purchased in advance of a passing, or any time after a loss of a loved one. Certain religions have customs which dictate specific timelines for installation of a memorial after a funeral, so it is best to consult us and we can guide you as to the specifics. Keep in mind that certain memorials can take up to 5 months to complete from the time of purchase, so it is wise to plan ahead when possible.

Yes, we do make pre-need arrangements. If you are trying to spend down yours or your loved one’s assets to apply for medical assistance, we can set up an irrevocable trust to shelter these funds.

Fram Monument has completed and installed many memorials in less than a week from the time of order, when necessary. While it is better to leave plenty of time for planning, if necessary Fram Monument can expedite the process to accommodate your unveiling needs.

At Fram Monument, we understand the difficulty of making final arrangements. Therefore, we try to make it as easy as possible by keeping your work to a minimum. If you look at our Cemetery Rules and Regulations page you will see what types of memorial stones your cemetery allows. If your cemetery is not listed there, Fram Monument will verify the rules and regulations with the cemetery before your place your order.

The most important information that is engraved on a memorial monument is the name of the deceased. After that, the date of birth and the date of passing should be included. Religious emblems are very common, though emblems of all kinds can be accommodated. Epitaphs are extremely effective, and can add a nice touch to a monument.

Fram Monument has installed in hundreds of cemeteries throughout Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, as well as other states. If you feel that you are outside of that region, feel free to contact us and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

Fram Monument has a team of installers that will gladly survey your cemetery site. Our specialists will take exact measurements of existing monuments, inscriptions, font size, font style, spacing, emblems, granite and bronze colors, vases, and anything else required to match a new stone. Once the information is collected, we can contact you and decide how to proceed in order to match the new monument to the existing ones.

While some websites will let you purchase online and have your monument shipped to the cemetery or to yourself, those companies will not offer installation and unveiling services. You will still have to pay and coordinate delivery and installation with your local cemetery. At Fram Monument, our monument purchases are inclusive of lettering, engraving, installation, and unveiling preparation. Your Fram Monument representative will handle everything up until the unveiling, and you won’t have to deal with the cemetery at all.

Fram Monument has been servicing people of all faiths and religions since 1922. Our granite and bronze memorials can be customized to many shapes and sizes, and can include any emblems, pictures, inscriptions, and languages. Our representatives can work with you to provide quality service and pricing regardless of what you need.

Fram Monument has coordinated plenty of veteran bronze markers and we can assist you to receive yours. We can also provide a matching granite base in accordance with your cemetery’s rules and regulations, and have them installed together prior to your scheduled unveiling.

Yes. A headstone can often be placed before the first anniversary of death, depending on cemetery rules, religious customs, family preference, and production timing.

Some families prefer to wait until an unveiling or anniversary, while others want the grave marked as soon as possible. If there is a specific date that matters to your family, it is best to begin the memorial process early so there is enough time for design approval, cemetery approval, engraving, and installation.

Most cemetery monuments include the person’s name, birth date, date of passing, and sometimes a short inscription, religious symbol, family name, Hebrew name, military emblem, or meaningful design.

Some families prefer a simple and traditional layout, while others include a phrase, image, flower, prayer, or personal symbol. The right inscription should feel clear, respectful, and appropriate for the person being remembered.

Yes. Many Jewish memorials include both English and Hebrew lettering. This may include the Hebrew name, Hebrew date of passing, father’s name, traditional Hebrew abbreviations, or other wording meaningful to the family.

Because Hebrew lettering must be accurate and properly arranged, families should review the proof carefully before approval. Fram Monument Company can help place the Hebrew and English text in a balanced layout that fits the memorial and cemetery requirements.

An epitaph is a short phrase or inscription added to a memorial to express remembrance, love, faith, character, or family connection.

Common epitaphs include phrases such as “Beloved husband, father, and grandfather,” “Forever in our hearts,” or religious wording meaningful to the family. The best epitaph is usually simple, sincere, and timeless. It does not need to be long to be meaningful.

Yes. A nickname can often be included on a headstone if the family wants the memorial to reflect how the person was known and loved.

Some families place the nickname in quotation marks between the first and last name, while others include it in the inscription. Cemetery rules may affect layout or wording, but in most cases a nickname can be incorporated tastefully into the design.

Yes. A memorial should not move into production until the family has reviewed and approved the design proof.

The proof helps confirm the spelling of names, dates, inscriptions, Hebrew lettering, emblems, layout, spacing, and overall appearance. Reviewing the proof carefully is one of the most important steps in the monument process because engraving is permanent once completed.

Yes, many memorials can include a portrait, ceramic photo, laser-etched image, religious symbol, military emblem, floral design, landscape, or other custom artwork.

The best method depends on the material and design. Laser etching works especially well on darker granite, particularly black granite, because it creates strong contrast for detailed images. Bronze markers can also include cast emblems and design elements. Cemetery rules may limit certain images, sizes, or placements, so approval should be confirmed before production.

Many older cemetery memorials can be cleaned, re-leveled, repaired, re-lettered, or restored depending on their condition, material, cemetery rules, and the type of damage.

Common restoration needs include leaning stones, faded lettering, biological growth, chipped granite, loose bases, damaged vases, or inscriptions that have become difficult to read. Some repairs are simple, while others require a cemetery site visit to determine whether restoration is safe and appropriate.

Some changes can be made after installation, but it depends on the type of change, the material, the design, and the cemetery rules.

Adding a final date, additional inscription, emblem, or small design element may be possible. Major layout changes, name corrections, or large design revisions are more difficult once the stone has been engraved. This is why proof approval is such an important step before production begins.

A flat marker is installed level with the ground or slightly raised, while an upright monument stands vertically above the grave site.

Some cemeteries only allow flat granite or bronze markers because they are easier to maintain. Other cemeteries allow upright monuments, companion headstones, family monuments, benches, or ledgers. Fram Monument Company will help confirm which options your cemetery allows before you begin designing the memorial.

Yes. Many headstones and grave markers can include a vase, depending on the cemetery’s rules and the type of memorial being installed.

Vases may be made from granite, bronze, or metal and can be attached to the memorial or installed as part of the base. Some cemeteries limit vase size, placement, material, or whether flowers are allowed during certain seasons. Fram Monument Company will help confirm what is permitted before the memorial is produced.

Yes. Fram Monument Company can help families create infant, child, and stillborn memorials with care, sensitivity, and attention to the cemetery’s requirements.

These memorials are often smaller in size but can still include meaningful details such as names, dates, emblems, flowers, religious symbols, ceramic photos, or short inscriptions. Our team understands how delicate this process is and will help families choose wording and design elements that feel gentle, appropriate, and lasting.