How I Reset My Grandmother's Leaning Headstone Without Cracking It

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My grandmother, Elsie, was a stubborn woman. She once kept a pet raccoon named Barnaby for three years, despite the entire neighborhood complaining about him stealing their garden tomatoes. So when I walked through the old Greenwood Cemetary last spring and saw her headstone tilting at a sad, lopsided angle — like a drunk man trying to tip his hat — I knew she'd be furious. That stone was solid Vermont granite, heavy as a small car, and it was leaning about 15 degrees off true. I couldn't just leave it.

I've been volunteering at this cemetery for 15 years now, ever since I retired from teaching third grade. I've seen plenty of leaning stones, cracked stones, stones that look like they've been through a war. But this was my grandmother's. I was terrified I'd break it. Took me three tries to get the method right. Worth it. Here's exactly how I did it, step by messy step, so you can reset a leaning headstone safely without cracking it — or losing your mind.

First, Figure Out What You're Dealing With

Before you even think about lifting, get down on your knees and look at the base. Is the whole stone tilting, or just the top part? My grandmother's stone was a single-piece granite slab, about 4 feet tall and 2 feet wide. No seperate base. The bottom had shifted because the ground underneath had settled over 60 years. I poked around with a screwdriver to see how deep the stone went. Big mistake if I'd hit something — but I was careful. Most old headstones are set in a concrete base underground. If yours is cracked at the base, stop. Call a pro. But if it's just leaning because the soil gave way, you can fix it.

Gather Your Tools — Nothing Fancy

You don't need a backhoe. Here's what I used: a long, flat pry bar (the kind you can get at any hardware store, about 4 feet long), a 2x4 block of wood, a bucket of water, a pH-neutral cleaner (I swear by D/2 Biological Solution — it's non-ionic and safe for all stone), soft nylon brushes, and alot of old towels. Oh, and a helper. My neighbor Frank came over. He's 72 and grumpy but strong. You cannot do this alone. One person pries, one person slides wood blocks underneath to keep the stone from dropping. We also had a rubber mallet, but I barely used it.

The Actual Resetting: Slow and Steady Wins

First, we cleared the dirt away from the base with a trowel. I dug down about 8 inches all around the stone. Then we wet the soil to soften it — just with a hose, no pressure. We positioned the pry bar under the bottom edge of the stone, with the 2x4 as a fulcrum. Then Frank and I slowly, inch by inch, lifted the stone back to vertical. We didn't yank. We used a level to check every few seconds. As we lifted, Frank slid flat stones and pieces of wood under the base to hold it. Took us about 45 minutes to get it straight. Then we packed the dirt back in, tamping it down with a hand tamper. I left the wood supports in place for a week to let the ground settle. Patience is everything.

Cleaning After the Reset — A Gentle Touch

Once the stone was stable, I cleaned it. Never use harsh household chemicals or abrasive tools on granite or marble. They eat the surface. I mixed D/2 with water according to the label, sprayed it on with a garden sprayer, let it sit for 10 minutes, then scrubbed with a soft nylon brush. Rinsed with plain water. The lichen and grime came off like magic. If you have sandstone or limestone, be even gentler — skip the scrub brush and just use a soft cloth. I also checked the back of the stone for any hairline cracks. Found none. Thank goodness.

A Few Things I Learned the Hard Way

First, don't try to reset a stone in wet wheather. The ground gets slippery and you lose grip. Second, never use a metal pry bar directly on the stone face — wrap it in a towel or use a wood block to distribute pressure. I chipped a tiny corner on a different stone once. Never again. Third, if the stone is over 300 pounds, call a monument company. I can lift a lot, but there's no shame in getting help. And finally, check your local cemetery rules. Some require you to hire a bonded professional. Greenwood lets volunteers do it, but not all places do.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use a car jack to lift a leaning headstone?

A: I don't recommend it. A car jack applies too much pressure in one small spot and can crack the stone, especially on older marble or sandstone. A pry bar with a wide fulcrum spreads the force out. Stick with manual tools.

Q: How do I know if the stone is too heavy for me to reset?

A: A good rule: if you can't tip it slightly by hand with a helper, it's too heavy. Most granite headstones weigh 200 to 500 pounds. If it's bigger than a coffee table, hire a pro. I've seen folks throw their backs out for life.

Q: What if the ground is too hard to dig around the base?

A: Water it thoroughly the day before. Soak the soil for an hour. That softens clay and packed dirt. If it's still rock-hard, you might need a pickaxe — but go slow so you don't hit the stone itself.

Q: Should I use cement to set the stone back in place?

A: No. Cement traps moisture and can cause the stone to crack when it freezes. Use tamped soil or gravel instead. If you want extra stability, add a layer of crushed stone around the base — it drains well.

Q: How long do I of to wait before cleaning after resetting?

A: At least a week. Let the stone settle and the ground compact. If you clean it right away, you might disturb the alignment. I waited two weeks, just to be safe. Patience pays off.