When faced with the decision of choosing a grave marker for you or your loved one, many factors come into play like size and quality, but longevity may be the most important factor of them all.

The desire to be remembered for generations to come is shared by many of us, so how long does a bronze grave marker last?

The answer depends on a lot of different variables, but in the right conditions, a grave marker will virtually last forever. There are elements in cemeteries that can cause a bronze memorial to degrade quickly, but there are also many ways to combat those elements.

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How Do I Know When Bronze is Beginning to Degrade and Break Down?

The presence of a turquoise or greenish film on the bronze is a clear sign the bronze has begun the corrosion process. This coating is often referred to as patina, which is bronze’s natural reaction to being exposed to elements.

Bronze Memorial Corroding Break Down

What Causes a Bronze Memorial to Corrode and Break Down?

There are three elements that cause bronze to patina:

Oxygen
Chloride (Salt)
Water

Chloride is the main element that creates the chemical reaction with bronze, but when all three of the above elements are combined, the reaction is quickly accelerated. Removing any of the three elements can drastically slow down the corrosion.

All three of these elements are present in any natural environment, so preventing them from contacting the marker is nearly impossible, but there are some ways to prevent or limit this chemical reaction:

Create a Barrier Between Elements and the Raw Bronze

Bronze marker manufacturers take great pride in their clear coat. This protective coating is sprayed onto the marker once it has been finished. This clear coat is the most effective way to prevent raw bronze from being exposed to elements.

Trigard Memorials uses an extremely durable powder clear coat that ensures total coverage while providing a dense barrier. Trigard also warranties their clear coat for 5 years.

Before ordering a bronze grave marker or a bronze urn, be sure to ask about durability, warranties, and guarantees.

Sunset Cemetery Location

Choose your Location Wisely

If you have the option to choose where your grave marker will be placed, be sure to check other markers in the area. If the other markers around your potential grave space have begun to patina or corrode, there is a good chance that there is a high presence of one of the elements listed above in that area.

Sometimes a sprinkler system with harsh water or a nearby natural spring can cause markers in a particular area to weather more quickly.

Limit the Amount of Time Elements are in Contact with your Marker

If water or salt are present on the surface of a grave marker for too long, they will begin breaking down the clear coat and the bronze.

We recommend cleaning your marker every 3-6 months to remove unwanted elements from the surface.

If you’re wondering the best way to clean your marker, please see our blog post here: How to Clean Your Bronze Grave Marker

Please keep in mind that there is only so much you can do to prevent exposing your grave marker to elements that are present in nature. The good thing is, as long as your marker is not too badly corroded, you can have it refinished by a manufacturer, and they will bring it back to life!

Ethan Darby

Ethan is the Director of Consumer Relations for Trigard Memorials and all affiliated companies. He graduated from Illinois State University in 2012 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration before becoming one of three 4th generation Darby family owners and operators. His experience within the company includes memorial manufacturing, cemetery retail, national cemetery and vault sales, along with plant and customer service management. Ethan also enjoys hiking, kayaking, hunting, fishing, and spending time with his wife, Keri, and his daughters, Sawyer and Olivia.

6 responses to “How Long Do Bronze Grave Markers Last?”

Jackie lawrence says:

September 10, 2021 at 3:39 pm

Hi I have a bronze marker and it need to be refinished the letters are fading

Reply
- Ethan Darby says:
  
  September 13, 2021 at 9:11 am
  
  Hi Jackie, someone on our team will reach out to you!
  
  Reply
Al Powers says:

November 25, 2021 at 9:03 pm

I want a small plaque with just a name and birth and death dates on it It would be mounted at the top of a sea wall exposed to salt water. What material would be best??? Or is it wrong to have any material exposed to salt water. ??? A H Powers

Reply
- Ethan Darby says:
  
  November 28, 2021 at 5:01 pm
  
  Hi Al,
  
  There are special clear coats we can use to give a little extra protection to plaques near salt water, although that type of environment will eventually deteriorate any plaque. I will have a representative reach out to you!
  
  Reply
Marsha says:

October 26, 2022 at 8:11 pm

Any suggestions when the clear coat on a marker begins to chip/peel? Our cemetery wants $500 to fix it (we ordered through a different place) but we were hoping for a more affordable option.

Reply
- Becca.B says:
  
  January 16, 2023 at 10:41 am
  
  Hi Marsha,
  Our Trigard bronze memorials’ finish has a five-year warranty, but various bronze memorials have lasted for hundreds of years. The environment it’s in has a lot to do with how well the product looks years after placement. We don’t put a longevity amount on the products.
  
  Reply