Made here, set here, and looked after here.
Family owned and operated, serving Central Florida for over forty years. We design, build and install every monument ourselves, from our own showroom and workshop on South Collins Street.
We are here to help, and to make this a little easier.
Most people have never ordered a monument before, and there is no reason you should know how it works. Come in, or call, and we will take it a step at a time. Nothing is rushed at this end.
We do the whole thing
Designed, built and installed by us, in our own Plant City showroom and manufacturing facility. That lets us oversee the entire process rather than handing it to somebody else halfway through.
You approve it before it is cut
A stencil approval comes with every monument order, so you see exactly what the finished stone will look like. It is also how we catch a misspelled name or a wrong date before it is permanent.
It is built not to lean
Leaning and tilting is the problem you can see in every cemetery. We set each monument on a sacrete foundation and take the time to build a strong, deep base.
Photographs taken over the years, in the cemeteries where they stand.
We have thousands of designs and options, so treat these as a starting point rather than a catalogue. If you have an idea, we can almost certainly build it.
In writing, and without conditions.
Our family believes that caring about people and helping them with a loved one's memorial matters, and that families help families in times of need. So the guarantee is put plainly rather than buried.
“Any monument purchased from Master Craft Memorials is unconditionally guaranteed against cracking, crumbling, or deterioration except in the case of vandalism. Should the monument be defective in any way, or should the lettering or design be different than the description on the signed contract, it will be repaired or replaced at no cost to the purchaser.”
Our granite, marble and bronze are the finest money can buy, and the craftsmen who design, letter and engrave take real pride in the work.
What the different kinds actually are.
Cemeteries differ in what they allow, and the words get used loosely. Here is what each one means, plainly.
Flat marker
Lays flat on the ground, and is what some cemeteries require. A vase that sits flat when it is not in use can be added.
Bevel marker
Very similar to a flat marker but sloped slightly from back to front, so it sits slightly raised rather than flush.
Bronze marker
Cast in metal and typically set flat on a granite marker. Some cemeteries require bronze. It will oxidise and take on a patina after a few years. Some families love that aged look, others prefer to keep the original finish, and we have a bronze service for cleaning and maintenance either way.
Slant marker
Thin at the top edge, slanting down to a thick base. Made in various sizes including doubles, and set either directly on the ground or on a base.
Upright monument
The most common headstone, made of a base and a die. Singles, doubles, and even triples and quads. An upright gives the most room for pictures, vases and engraving.
Wings
Individual uprights set together on one base, as singles, doubles or more. Wings usually leave room to add a granite vase.
Finish
We finish the stone to suit you. The standard finishes are polished and rock pitched, which is a rough, natural edge.
Vases and accessories
Granite vases can be carved to match the monument, and bronze markers can be ordered with a vase built in.
Our standard colours, and anything else you can think of.
These are the stones we keep as standard. If there is something else you are looking for, tell us. We buy from all over the world.
Four simple steps.
The cemetery details
Bring the name of the cemetery and the section of the gravesite. Sites are not all the same size, and the size of the site decides the size of monument you are allowed to place. If you are not sure, we can help you work it out.
The wording
The correct spellings and the dates, exactly as you want them cut. For a double marker, tell us who goes on the left and who goes on the right.
Photos and artwork
Anything you would like on the stone is helpful, and photographs are welcome. We have a great deal of artwork and design available, and we are used to helping people put it together.
We build and set it
You approve the stencil, we build it here, and our crew installs it on a sacrete foundation. Afterwards we can come back for final dates and cleaning.
The work does not end when the stone goes in.
Final passing dates. A date can be added to a monument that is already in the cemetery, and we have years of experience engraving them. You do not need to have bought the original stone from us. Unless something happens beyond our control, this work is completed within 90 days.
Cleaning. With the weather and the mould buildup in Florida, stones need attention. We have a cleaning service to keep a monument looking the way it did when it was set.
Gravesite refurbishment. Coping, gravel, borders and general tidying up of a site that has been neglected for a while.
Bronze maintenance. Bronze patinas over time. If you would rather it kept its original look, we can clean and maintain it.
Advice we would give a friend.
None of this makes us money. It is just what we have learned from setting stones in Florida cemeteries for a long time.
Ask for stainless steel
If you want a saddle, the flower holder that clamps onto the top of the stone, your local florist will have them. Ask specifically for stainless steel. Plastic coated clamps can crack, which lets the metal underneath rust, and that stains the stone permanently.
Think about mould
If the stone will stand under trees, or somewhere the nearby stones already show mould, consider an all polished stone. A full polish gives the mould nothing to attach to, which matters a great deal in this climate.
Do not skimp on the base
On an upright, many companies allow only six inches of base on each side. That leaves little room to add a vase later, and adding one can make the monument less stable. A wider, longer base is also less likely to settle or sink.
In their own words.
“Thank you so much for sending the pictures. The monument is beautiful and a fitting tribute to my parents. Please tell your engraver that I am very pleased. He did a wonderful job.”
D. D. Collins“Thank you for the job you did in coordinating with me the putting together of our parents memorial. I would also like to thank the crew that did the install for a job well done.”
Curtis Duncan“Creating a special memorial needs to be entrusted to an individual such as you. You have been very patient and caring. Thank you so much.”
RuthThe things nobody tells you.
What does a monument cost?
It depends on the size the cemetery allows, the stone you choose, and how much engraving, artwork and detail goes on it. A flat marker and a double upright are not close to each other in price, so a single figure would be misleading.
Tell us roughly what you have in mind and we will give you a real number, with no obligation.
How do I know it will be right before it is made?
A stencil approval is provided with every monument order, so you can see exactly what the finished monument will look like before anything is cut. It also catches spelling and date mistakes, which is the thing people worry about most.
On a final date order we ask for a signature approving the date as given, for the same reason. Please do check spellings and dates carefully, because once the stone is cut it cannot be undone.
Why do so many monuments end up leaning?
Because of what is underneath them. Leaning and tilting is the serious problem you can see in every cemetery, and it is nearly always the foundation.
We install each monument on a sacrete foundation, and we take our time building a strong, deep base. We have fewer problems with leaning and tilting as a result.
Can you add a final date to a stone that is already there?
Yes. Cemetery inscriptions and final dates can be added to monuments already placed, and we have years of experience engraving them. Call or stop by, or fill in a date form with the cemetery, the county and directions inside the cemetery so our crew can find the stone.
Unless circumstances are beyond our control, this work is completed within 90 days.
How can I clean the stone myself?
First work out whether it is marble or granite. For granite, granulated Tide laundry detergent mixed with water, applied with a stiff bristle brush, will scrub the mould off. Rinse the stone well afterwards.
For marble, use Clorox diluted with water and scrub with a brush instead.
If you would rather not, we have a cleaning service. In this climate most stones need it eventually.
Some cemeteries told me what I can and cannot have. Is that normal?
Yes, and it varies a great deal. Some require flat markers, some require bronze, and the size of the gravesite decides the size of monument permitted. That is why the cemetery name and the section matter so much at the start.
Bring what you know and we will work within their rules.
Will bronze stay looking like that?
No. Bronze oxidises and takes on a patina after a few years. A lot of families love the aged look and leave it alone. Others prefer the original finish, and for them we have a bronze cleaning and maintenance service.
Can I pay by card?
Yes, card payments are accepted. On final date and inscription work, the job is scheduled once it is paid in full.
Come and stand in front of them.
Photographs never quite show what a stone looks like in daylight. The showroom and the workshop are the same building, so you can see finished monuments, look at the granite properly, and talk to the people who will make yours.
Master Craft Memorials
504 South Collins Street
Plant City, Florida 33563
Office 813.754.2113
Toll free 888.754.2113
Cell 727.453.9554
Fax 813.754.7373
Email mcmemorials@gmail.com
Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm
Saturday 10am to 2pm
and by appointment