Resetting a Toppled Granite Monument: What I Learned the Hard Way About Leverage

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I'll never forget the day I found old Mrs. Henderson's granite obelisk lying flat on it's back, like a felled tree in a silent forest. It was a crisp October morning, and I had my usual bucket of D/2 and a soft brush, ready to give the family plot its seasonal scrub. But there it was—tipped clean over, the base still bolted to the concrete footer but the monument snapped clean off at the pin. I stood there with my mouth open, coffee cooling in my hand. That stone weighed at least 400 pounds, maybe more. I thought, 'Margaret, you're seventy-two. What in the world are you going to do?'

Took me three tries to get it upright. First try, I used a car jack and a piece of plywood. Big mistake. The jack slid, the stone wobbled, and I nearly lost a toe. Second try, I called my nephew Dave, who brought a come-along and some ratchet straps. We managed to lift it halfway before the strap snapped. Never again. Third try, I did it right—and that's what I want to share with you. If you're staring at a toppled granite headstone right now, take a deep breath. You can do this. But you have to do it smart. Here's what I learned about use, patience, and knowing when to ask for help.

First Things First: Assess the Damage and Gather Your Tools

Don't just start yanking on the stone. Walk around it. Look at the base—is it still anchored to the concrete footer? Check the pin holes: are they rusted, cracked, or still clean? Granite is tough, but the bronze or stainless steel pins that hold it in place can shear. If the pin is broken inside the stone, you'll need to drill it out later. But for now, focus on lifting.

Here's what you'll need: a long, heavy-duty pry bar (at least 4 feet), two or three wooden wedges (cut from a 2x4), a car jack or bottle jack rated for 2 tons minimum, a thick plywood pad (2 feet square, ¾-inch thick), ratchet straps (2-inch wide, rated for 1,000 pounds), and a helper. One helper. Not a crowd. Too many people get in each other's way. I used my neighbor Bill, who's a retired mechanic. He kept his mouth shut and followed my directions. Perfect.

Also, wear steel-toed boots. Granite doesn't care about your toes. I wore my old gardening sneakers the first time and still wince thinking about it.

The Right Way to Lift: Leverage and Shimming

Here's the trick: you're not lifting the whole monument at once. You're tipping it up in stages, using use and small lifts. Start by placing the plywood pad flat on the ground next to the fallen stone, as close to the base of the monument as you can. Position the bottle jack on the pad, centered under the edge of the stone. Crank it up just enough to take the weight off the stone—maybe an inch of lift. Then slide a wooden wedge under the raised edge. Release the jack. Repeat on the other side. Go slow. I'm serious. This part took me an hour the first time. You're basically building a ramp of wedges.

Once the stone is tilted at a 30-degree angle, switch to the pry bar. Insert the tip under the stone's edge and push down on the handle. Use your leg, not your back. Push down, lift the stone another inch or two, and slide a thicker wedge underneath. Keep doing this until the monument is almost vertical. At that point, you and your helper can gently rock it upright, guiding the pin holes onto the base pins. It will settle with a thud. That's the sound of success.

A Word on Safety: When to Call a Pro

Look, I'm a stubborn old woman. I like doing things myself. But granite monuments over 600 pounds? That's not a DIY job. If the stone is taller than your waist or you can't budge it with a pry bar alone, call a profesional monument company. They have straps, dollies, and a gantry crane. It'll cost a few hundred dollars, but it's cheaper than a hernia surgery or a broken foot.

Also, never work on wet grass or loose dirt. The jack will sink. The stone will shift. I learned that the hard way when my jack tipped sideways and the monument came crashing down—luckily away from me. I sat on the grass for ten minutes, heart pounding, and then I went home and called a pro for the next one. No shame in that.

After It's Upright: Cleaning and Securing the Monument

Once the monument is standing again, you'll want to clean it. Skip harsh household chemicals. Use a pH-neutral, non-ionic cleaner like D/2 Biological Solution. Spray it on, let it sit for 10 minutes, then scrub with a soft nylon brush and rinse with plain water. That will remove any dirt, lichen, or moss that got ground into the surface when it fell. Don't use a pressure washer—it can blast away the patina and even chip the granite.

Now, check the base. If the concrete footer is cracked, you'll need to patch it with a quick-set concrete mix. If the pin holes are loose, you can fill them with a two-part epoxy made for stone, then re-insert the pins. I use Simpson Strong-Tie epoxy, but any brand rated for outdoor masonry will work. Let it cure for 24 hours before you touch the monument again. And if you want to prevent future toppling, consider adding a stainless steel anchor strap that connects the monument to the base. I did that for all the Hendersons. Mrs. Henderson would have approved.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

A: You can, but only if it's a bottle jack rated for at least 2 tons, and you MUST use a wide plywood pad underneath to keep it from sinking or tipping. A scissor jack is too unstable. I tried one, and it buckled under the weight. Stick with a bottle jack.

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

A: Use the 'push test.' If you can't tilt it at least 15 degrees with just your body weight pushing on the top edge, it's too heavy. Also, if the monument is taller than 4 feet or wider than 2 feet, assume it's over 500 pounds. Get help or hire a pro.

Q: What should I do if the bronze pins are rusted or broken inside the stone?

A: Don't try to hammer them out. You'll crack the granite. Instead, drill a small pilot hole into the broken pin using a carbide-tipped masonry bit, then use a screw extractor to back it out. If you're not comfortable with that, a monument company can do it in minutes. I broke two bits before I learned to go slow and use cutting oil.

Q: Is it safe to use epoxy to reattach a broken granite piece?

A: Yes, but only for non-structural cracks or chips. For a full break at the pin joint, epoxy alone won't hold the weight. You need to reset the monument on new pins set in fresh concrete. Epoxy is for filling gaps, not for load-bearing repairs. I learned that when a glued piece fell off after one winter freeze.

Q: How often should I check my headstones for instability?

A: I walk the cemetery every spring and fall. After heavy rains or freeze-thaw cycles, the ground shifts. Push gently on each monument. If it wobbles more than a quarter inch, mark it with a flag and plan to reset it. A little maintenance now saves alot of backache later.