Add a Name or Date to an Existing Headstone

Once your proof is approved, we cut a rubber blasting stencil in our Surrey shop that positions every character exactly as shown. At the cemetery, the stencil is applied to the stone and the lettering is sandblasted using our truck-mounted compressor — the same method used to engrave the monument originally, which is why the new lettering holds the same depth and character as the old. The work area is shrouded to contain dust, the inscription is hand-finished and paint-filled where needed, and the site is left spotless. Most inscriptions take one to two hours at the grave. Because stencil adhesion and blasting need dry stone, scheduling is weather-dependent — we'll give you a window and confirm the day before.

A second inscription should look like it was always meant to be there. From your photos we identify the original typeface, letter height, and cut style — V-sunk, frosted panel, or polished — and match the finish, including lithochrome or paint fill colour-matched to the existing letters. Most companion monuments were designed with space reserved for the second inscription, and we lay the new lettering out to mirror the first. On older or weathered stones, freshly cut letters can read slightly brighter than lettering that has aged for decades; where that's a factor we'll show you finish options in the proof so the addition blends as closely as possible, and tell you honestly what to expect.

Nearly every cemetery in Metro Vancouver requires an inscription or marker permit before any engraving work, and most review the wording against their bylaws. We prepare and submit the permit for you and make sure the inscription complies before it goes in. If you want to read your cemetery's rules yourself, our cemetery bylaw guides cover Mountain View, Ocean View, Forest Lawn, Victory Memorial Park, Valley View, Surrey Centre, Maple Ridge, and Hatzic — and we keep every guide current. Permit fees vary by cemetery and are billed at cost, with no markup.

Monument companies almost never publish inscription prices; we do, because you shouldn't have to book a phone call to learn what a date costs. Our pricing is one formula: a $399 base fee plus $10 per engraved character. Every letter, number, and Chinese character counts as one character; spaces and standard punctuation are free. The base fee covers your layout proof, the stencil, permit paperwork, and the on-site visit — with no travel charge anywhere from Chilliwack to North Vancouver. Outside that zone we charge travel at cost, and cemetery permit fees are billed at cost with no markup.

Worked examples: adding a final year ("2026") is 4 characters — $439 total. A full date ("June 4, 2026") is 9 characters — $489. A complete second inscription ("Mary Elizabeth Smith, 1934 – 2026") is 26 characters — $659. You pay the $399 base fee to book; once you approve your proof, we invoice the exact character count. Emblems, portraits, and corrections are quoted from your photo — email us a photo and we'll quote it exactly.

We engrave on-site at cemeteries throughout Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, including Mountain View (Vancouver), Ocean View (Burnaby), Forest Lawn (Burnaby), Victory Memorial Park (Surrey), Valley View (Surrey), Surrey Centre, Maple Ridge Cemetery, Hatzic (Mission), and every municipal and private cemetery in between. Flat and pillow markers — the only style permitted at some cemeteries — are engraved on-site the same way as uprights. If your cemetery isn't listed, it's almost certainly still covered: anywhere from Chilliwack to North Vancouver at no travel charge.

Typical timeline: layout proof within one to two business days of receiving your photo, cemetery permit approval in one to two weeks depending on the cemetery, and engraving scheduled within days of the permit clearing, weather permitting. If you need an inscription completed before an upcoming memorial or interment service, call us at 604-833-9193 — we prioritize these and can often complete the work in time.

Yes. We engrave directly at the graveside using a mobile sandblasting unit, so the monument is never moved, lifted, or transported. This works on nearly all granite upright monuments, flat markers, and pillow markers.

Yes — nearly every cemetery in Metro Vancouver requires an inscription or marker permit before engraving, and most review the wording against their bylaws. We prepare and submit the permit for you as part of every job.

Yes. We identify the original typeface, letter height, and cut style from photos, and match the finish — V-sunk, frosted, or painted — so the new inscription blends with the original. You approve a layout proof before anything is cut.

Most jobs are complete in one to three weeks: a proof within two business days, one to two weeks for the cemetery permit, then the engraving itself — one to two hours at the grave. Rush service is available when an inscription is needed before a memorial service.

Our pricing is one published formula: a $399 base fee plus $10 per engraved character — letters, numbers, and Chinese characters each count as one; spaces and punctuation don't. Adding "2026" is $439; a typical full second inscription runs around $659. You pay $399 to book, and the character total is invoiced once you approve your proof. Cemetery permit fees are billed at cost.

Every letter, number, and Chinese character in your inscription counts as one character; spaces and standard punctuation are free. Your layout proof shows the exact count and total before anything is cut. Emblems and portraits are quoted separately from your photo.

Yes — traditional or simplified, at the same $10 per character, matched to the existing layout. Our team proofs every inscription bilingually, and every character is confirmed with your family in writing before cutting.

We assess older and softer stones from photos first. Most can be engraved on-site with an adjusted technique; if a stone's condition makes new engraving unwise, we'll tell you and recommend the right restoration approach instead.

No. Most families aren't present. We confirm the scheduled date with you, complete the work, and send photos of the finished inscription the same day.