Grave railings - painted metal, wrought iron and granite, made to measure and installed

Railing styles

Painted metal railing

The most common and affordable option: a frame welded from square or round tube with vertical bars, coated with anti-corrosion primer and two layers of paint. The traditional colours are black, dark green and silver. A railing like this is light, quick to make and, looked after properly, lasts more than twenty years.

Wrought-iron railing

Hand-forged elements: flowers, leaves, crosses, grapevines and scrolls. Wrought iron gives a grave a solemn, classical look and is often made following old Georgian ornamental patterns. The blacksmith draws the design together with the family, sometimes from an old family photograph or from the railing of a historic grave nearby.

Granite posts and balustrade

The strongest and most durable option: granite posts at the corners with granite or metal rails between them, or a stone balustrade. It forms a single ensemble with the headstone, needs no painting and lasts more than fifty years. It is often chosen for a double or family grave.

A low frame instead of a railing

In some cemetery sections tall railings are restricted, or the family simply prefers an open, modern look. In that case we suggest a low granite curb or a frame thirty centimetres high, which marks the boundary without blocking the view.

Prices

For a double or family plot the price rises with the length of the perimeter. We draw up an exact estimate after a free measuring visit, together with the sketch.

Making and fitting a railing, step by step

1. Measuring: the craftsman records the exact boundaries and corners of the plot, because in old cemeteries a plot is rarely a perfect rectangle. He also checks the height of neighbouring railings so the new one fits in harmoniously.
2. Sketch: the family receives a drawing or 3D image showing the ornament, height, colour and position of the gate.
3. Workshop production: a metal railing takes one to two weeks, a wrought-iron one three to four. All welds are ground smooth, and the railing is painted in the workshop rather than at the cemetery, so the paint goes on evenly.
4. Foundation: every supporting post is set in concrete fifty centimetres deep so the railing does not lean when the ground moves.
5. Installation: the sections are bolted or welded to the posts, the gate is adjusted, and finally the joints are touched up with fresh paint.

Railings and cemetery rules

Many cemeteries regulate the height and shape of railings and whether they may extend beyond the plot. In some sections railings are not allowed at all; elsewhere the height is limited so that paths are not narrowed. That is why the craftsman checks the rules of the section during the measuring visit, and where approval from the cemetery administration is needed, we obtain it ourselves. A railing is always installed within the official boundaries of the plot: even a centimetre of a neighbour's space later leads to a dispute and a demand that it be taken down.

Height and proportions

A railing should be in proportion to the grave and the headstone. One that is too tall hides the headstone and turns the grave into a cage, while one that is too low fails to work as a boundary. For a single grave we usually suggest a height of fifty to seventy centimetres, and on a wide family plot with a tall headstone up to eighty. On the visualisation the family sees the railing together with the headstone and can change the height straight away.

Metal quality: what to look for

A cheap railing is often made from thin tube with a wall of just one millimetre, the welds are left rough and the paint goes straight onto rusty metal. Within two or three years such a railing rusts and bends. We use thick-walled tube, clean up every weld, coat the surface with anti-corrosion primer and only then apply two coats of paint. The bottom of each post, the part that goes into the concrete, receives extra treatment, because that is where rust most often begins.

Ornaments and symbols

For wrought-iron railings, families often choose Georgian motifs: the grapevine, the Bolnisi cross, the borjgali (an ancient Georgian sun symbol) or the cross of Queen Tamar. Some add the initials of the deceased to the gate, or a symbol connected with their profession or character. The blacksmith makes these details by hand, and they make each railing one of a kind.

Railing colour and the headstone

The colour of a railing is always seen together with the headstone, so we choose it to suit the stone. Black or dark bronze is the classic match for black granite, silver or white for white marble, and dark brown for red granite. On wrought-iron ornament, individual elements such as a cross or a flower are sometimes picked out in gold, which gives the railing a festive, ceremonial look.

Railings for double and family plots

On a wide plot the railing has more work to do: it brings several graves together into one family space, often with a bench, a table and a flower bed inside. In that case we design the railing with a gate on the path side and leave enough room inside for several family members to stand comfortably. A long railing needs intermediate posts every metre and a half so it does not sag. If another burial is expected on the plot in future, we make one section removable so that the gravediggers can work without damaging it.

A railing or a living hedge

Some families choose a low evergreen hedge of box, cypress or another shrub instead of metal and stone. A boundary like this looks natural and peaceful, but it needs regular watering and trimming, especially in the first few years. If the family cannot visit often, a hedge quickly loses its shape. In that case we suggest a combination: a low granite curb with a few shrubs inside, which our crew looks after season by season.

Care and restoration of old railings

The main enemy of a metal railing is rust, which usually starts at the welds and along the bottom, where water and leaves collect. If the first rust spots are cleaned off and touched up in time, a railing will last for decades. We recommend checking the paint every two or three years and renewing it where needed. Old family graves, some of them a century old, often have wrought-iron railings that are works of art in their own right. We do not replace such a railing but restore it: we remove the rust and old paint, make copies of lost elements based on the originals, straighten the posts and repaint.

Frequently asked questions