Grave landscaping: the work involved
Grave landscaping covers all the work that begins a few months after the funeral and turns a temporary mound into a permanent, well-kept place of remembrance. It includes the foundation, the plinth, the headstone itself, stone paving, a railing, a bench and small table for memorial days, a flower bed and planting. All of these elements depend on one another: a headstone without a proper foundation starts to lean within a few years, and paving laid without a plinth sinks along with the soil.
Our workshop handles the full cycle in one place, with no middlemen, which lets us keep control of both price and timing. The service includes:
- a free visit to the cemetery to measure the grave and assess the ground;
- a sketch and 3D rendering, so the family can see the headstone before it is made;
- choosing the stone at our yard, where you can see and touch the actual slabs;
- making the headstone: cutting, polishing, shaping, lettering and ornament;
- an engraved portrait from a photograph, or a ceramic photo plaque;
- pouring the foundation, assembling the plinth and installing the headstone at the cemetery;
- stone paving, a railing, a bench, a table, a flower bed and a vigil lamp;
- restoring old headstones: renewing inscriptions, cleaning and straightening.
Materials: which stone suits which purpose
The choice of stone shapes the look of the headstone, how long it lasts and what it costs. In Tbilisi's climate, where winter frosts give way to summer heat, dense granite is the most resilient. Marble is softer and lighter in tone, but needs more care.
| Material | Properties | Best used for |
|---|---|---|
| Black granite (gabbro) | The densest stone; keeps its polish for more than 50 years and does not crack in frost | A classic headstone and engraved portraits, which show up best against a black background |
| Red and grey granite | Dense, with a grainy texture and warm tones | Plinths, paving, railings, and headstones combined with black granite |
| White marble | A light, soft stone that is easy to sculpt; needs a protective sealant | Cross-shaped headstones, sculpture, children's graves, a light-coloured memorial |
| Basalt | A Georgian stone, dark grey with a matt surface, extremely durable | Headstones in the traditional Georgian style, family plots, mountain regions |
| Concrete with marble chips | The budget option; lasts 10 to 15 years and changes colour over time | A temporary headstone or railing when the family plans a permanent one later |
In terms of shape, we make upright steles, horizontal ledger stones, cross-shaped headstones, double and family headstones carrying several names, bespoke sculptural designs and small headstones for children's graves. Every size is matched to the area of the grave.
From measuring to installation: the stages
- Measuring at the cemetery: our craftsman visits the grave, with the family or on his own, measures the plot, assesses the ground and the position of neighbouring graves, and takes photographs. This visit is free and places you under no obligation.
- Sketch and 3D rendering: following the family's wishes, the designer prepares a sketch showing the dimensions, stone, inscription and portrait. The rendering arrives within three days, and you can request changes until everything is exactly as you want it.
- Contract and choice of stone: the family picks a specific slab at the yard, signs to approve the wording of the inscription and pays 50 percent. The production time starts from that moment.
- Production in the workshop: the stone is cut and polished, and the portrait and inscription are engraved. If you wish, you can come to the workshop and inspect the finished headstone before installation, so that no mistake is discovered at the graveside.
- Foundation and installation: a reinforced concrete foundation is poured at the cemetery and left to cure for at least seven days; then the plinth is assembled, the headstone set in place, the paving laid and the railing fixed. Installation takes one to three days.
- Handover and guarantee: the family inspects the work on site, receives a ten-year guarantee certificate and care instructions, and pays the remaining 50 percent. We also send a photo report to relatives who live abroad.
Headstone and grave landscaping prices
A headstone's price is driven by the stone's size, the material and the complexity of the work; landscaping is priced by the square metre. The estimate is drawn up after measuring and fixed in the contract. Installation, the foundation and delivery to Tbilisi cemeteries are included in the price of every headstone.
| Work | Price | What is included |
|---|---|---|
| Granite headstone, standard 100 x 50 x 8 cm | from 900 GEL | Black granite, plinth, inscription up to 60 characters, foundation, installation, guarantee |
| Marble headstone | from 1,200 GEL | White marble, sealant, inscription, foundation, installation |
| Double or family headstone | from 2,500 GEL | A wide stele with two or more names, a double plinth, space for portraits |
| Bespoke sculptural design | from 4,000 GEL | A unique shape, hand finishing, 3D model, supervision by the designer |
| Engraved portrait | from 250 GEL | Photo retouching, engraving on stone up to 30 x 40 cm, guaranteed not to fade |
| Inscription beyond 60 characters, and epitaphs | 3 GEL per character | Engraving with gold or silver leaf, choice of typeface |
| Stone paving | 180 GEL per square metre | 2 cm granite tiles, concrete bed, finished joints |
| Metal or granite railing | from 400 or from 1,500 GEL | Painted wrought iron, or granite posts with a balustrade, installation included |
| Granite bench and table | from 450 GEL | A set for memorial days, fixed to the paving |
| Restoration and cleaning | from 150 GEL | Washing and polishing the stone, renewing the inscription, straightening a leaning headstone |
What changes the price most is the size and thickness of the stone, since the material is priced by the cubic metre. The second factor is the complexity of the work: a straight stele and a rounded or sculpted form cut from the same stone take very different amounts of time. The third is conditions at the cemetery, when the stone has to be carried by hand along a narrow path or taken out to a region. Payment is made in two stages, and instalments over up to six months are available.
Documents you will need
Installing a headstone is construction work, and cemetery administrations allow it only with a permit. The relationship between the family and the workshop is set out in a contract, so that both sides understand the size, stone, inscription and deadline in exactly the same way. The single most important document is the approved wording of the inscription: a mistake carved into stone cannot be corrected.
- the burial card or extract from the cemetery register confirming that the grave belongs to the family;
- permission from the cemetery administration for landscaping, which our craftsman obtains before installation;
- a contract stating the dimensions, material, price, deadline and guarantee, with the sketch attached;
- the inscription text signed by the family: first name, surname, dates of birth and death, and epitaph, all of which we check twice;
- a high-quality photograph for the portrait, ideally an original print or a scan rather than a compressed copy from a messaging app;
- the guarantee certificate and care instructions, handed over on completion and valid for ten years.
Advice for families: timing, epitaphs and care
Choosing the right moment to install a headstone
Traditionally the headstone is put up for the first anniversary, because by then the earth over the grave has settled naturally and the foundation will no longer tilt. If the family wants it sooner, it can be done after three months using a strengthened, reinforced foundation designed to allow for settlement. We do not install between November and March, because concrete does not cure properly in frost; during those months we carve the stone indoors and set it in place in the first mild week of spring.
Epitaph and inscription
Georgian headstones most often carry the first name, surname, dates and a short epitaph such as "May your soul rest in light", "Forever in our hearts", "May the Lord grant you a place of light" or a line from a favourite poem. We offer a collection of epitaphs and typefaces in Georgian, Russian and other languages, including asomtavruli, the old Georgian capital script. Before production, we print the text full-size on paper and give it to the family to sign.
Looking after the headstone
Granite should be washed with warm water and a soft brush, without acidic or abrasive cleaners. Marble needs a fresh coat of sealant once a year to keep out water and moss. On memorial days, avoid placing candles directly on the stone, as wax and heat leave marks. Every two years we offer a maintenance visit to clean the stone and check the joints.
Reasons to choose our workshop
- Our own workshop: we cut, polish and engrave the stone ourselves, so we - not a middleman - control the timing and the quality. You can visit the workshop and see the finished headstone before it is installed.
- Experience: we install headstones in every cemetery in Tbilisi and across the regions. We know which section needs which kind of foundation, and where stone has to be carried by hand so that neighbouring graves are not damaged.
- Transparency: the price is fixed in the contract after measuring and does not change during production. Foundation, installation and delivery are included, and every extra is shown on the sketch and agreed in advance.
- Ten-year guarantee: cracking, discoloration, a fading portrait, a shifting foundation or an installation defect within ten years is put right free of charge, as confirmed by a written guarantee certificate.
- An accurate inscription: the text is checked twice and approved with the family's signature, and a full-size paper proof rules out mistakes. An error in stone cannot be fixed, and we take that very seriously.
Frequently asked questions
What is the usual production time for a headstone?
A standard granite headstone takes two to three weeks, a bespoke or sculptural design four to six weeks. Installation adds seven days for the foundation to cure, so the whole process takes one to two months.
Can a headstone be installed before the first anniversary?
Yes, after three months, with a strengthened reinforced foundation that allows for the soil settling. However, there are no installations from November to March because of frost; during that period the headstone waits in the workshop for spring.
What kind of photograph is needed for the portrait?
A sharp, well-lit photo with the face looking straight at the camera, ideally an original or a high-resolution scan. A compressed image from a messaging app often will not do. Our designer retouches and restores old photographs.
Can you restore an old headstone or add a new name?
Yes. We clean and polish old stone, renew inscriptions, straighten headstones that have tilted, and add a new name and dates to a family headstone in the same typeface so the difference cannot be seen.
Do you install in the regions and in villages?
Yes, throughout Georgia, including mountain villages where the stone is carried in by hand or with small machinery. Transport costs are added according to distance and shown in the contract in advance.
What does the ten-year guarantee cover?
Cracking or discoloration of the stone, fading of the portrait and inscription, deformation of the foundation and installation defects. It does not cover mechanical damage caused by outside impact, but even then we carry out restoration at a reduced price.
A headstone is set once and stays for decades, so it matters that it is made properly, to a high standard and the way the family wants. To book a free measuring visit and design, ring the workshop directly, +995 568 33 03 18; a craftsman comes to the cemetery within a week, the designer sends a rendering three days later, and the finished headstone is handed over with its ten-year guarantee.