FAQ
What is a burial vault? Why do I need it?
While you probably understand the need of a casket, you may not know the important role of a burial vault. A burial vault is a lined and sealed outer container that houses and protects the casket from elements such as water and soil. Trigard lined vaults are designed to hold the weight of the earth, and more importantly, to protect your loved one after burial.
Burial vaults are made of concrete with a plastic liner and includes a watertight gasket lid. Metals or additional layers of plastic may be used to add extra layers of protection. These options are outlined in the individual vault descriptions.
What is the purpose of a burial vault?
The main purpose of a burial vault is to protect the casket from natural elements such as dirt and water.
In addition, burial vaults support the soil above and around the casket so it will not collapse over time and from the downward pressure caused by cemetery equipment used to operate and maintain the grounds. Babylon Vault Company manufactures Trigard vaults that features their patented cover design that adds strength and protection to the the vault and casket from the weight continuous downward force of the soil.
How is a burial vault used?
A burial vault is first placed into the grave and the casket is lowered into the vault. A cover is then placed onto the top of the vault to vault before the grave is covered.
How are burial vaults made?
Concrete burial vaults are manufactured using the pre-cast process. The main ingredients are cement, stone, sand, and water. Babylon Vault Company uses a computer-operated mixer for consistent quality regardless of weather conditions. Our concrete mixture formula exceeds the National Concrete Burial Vault Associations standard of 5,000 PSI after 28 days of curing.
Once the concrete mixture is ready, it is poured into special vault forms that contain reinforced wire mesh and re-bar for added support. Depending on the type of vault, liners are placed into the forms prior to the addition of the concrete. The liner provides an additional level of protection to the casket. Once the concrete has set (usually within 24 hours), it is removed and placed in our storage facility to continue the curing process.
Where can I purchase a burial vault?
Babylon Vault Company is the manufacturer and does not sell burial products directly to the public (except for pet vaults). You
can purchase a burial vault through your local funeral home or funeral service provider. View a list of funeral homes that we work with.
What is the difference between a concrete liner and a burial vault?
A concrete liner simply prevents the earth from collapsing but does not provide a clean and dry casket space. A liner is constructed of exposed concrete. It features holes in the bottom that allows for drainage but may break down over time due to stresses applied to the container.
A lined burial vault, unlike a concrete liner, provides additional layers of protection to the casket and to keep from breakage. The more layers of protection, the stronger the vault. Prices vary depending on the number of layers.
Considering cremation?
Few things are as important to commemorate a person’s lifetime than protecting the legacy they leave behind. They have entrusted you to make decisions on their behalf to honor and protect their memory once they are gone.
During the time of grieving major decisions need to be made, such as choosing between cremation and traditional burial. If cremation is chosen, the next consideration is whether or not to bury. Many families do not realize they have options beyond scattering ashes (remains), or bringing them home in a special container or urn. A third option to consider is burying the remains in a special urn vault in a cemetery.
By burying one’s ashes in a cemetery, a dedicated permanent resting place is established and an everlasting legacy begins. Services can be held am memorials or religious rites can be conducted on-site. And since cremation vaults require much less space than a traditional burial vault, lifelong companions, family members, or even best friends could be buried next to each other.
Scattering ashes at a special location can provide a sense of peace at first, but it may not be the best long-term decision. Adverse weather conditions and unforeseen changes to the location can impact your loved one’s final resting place. A setting that was once a wonderful memory can change drastically over time. Lakes can dry up and forests can be ravaged by fire, logging, or even deforestation. Open spaces that were once peaceful and calm could eventually be transformed into bustling shopping centers, concrete parking lots, or landfills.
In addition, exact locations of where ashes have been scattered are not usually recorded. Often, there is no ceremony, and there are no memorials or signs to indicate to others that they may be disturbing human ashes.
An alternative is to bring the ashes home. While an urn resting on a shelf or fireplace mantle might provide initial comfort, issues may arise later that are not in the best interest of your loved one. All too often, urns full of ashes end up in garage sales or as part of an estate or home purchase, leaving it up to the buyer to decide what to do with them. In many cases, these ashes are simply tossed away.
As this final and loving tribute for friends or family is planned, it is important to protect their memory in a thoughtful and meaningful way. Providing a permanent placement in a cemetery honors and memorializes your loved one for eternity.
It’s interesting to note that this modern custom is derived from an older practice of spreading the ashes of particularly heinous criminals after they were hanged, denying them a grave and memorial as a final insult.
We had our loved one cremated and are going to bury them. What products do you offer to protect the remains?
Many cemeteries require an urn vault when burying an urn. An urn vault, just as a burial vault, comes in many different styles. The outer receptacle that houses the cremation urn offers the same protective qualities as a traditional burial vault.
Can a cremation vault be personalized with an appliqué?
Absolutely! Personalizing a burial vault of any kind is a wonderful tribute to your loved one. Below is an example of a personalized cremation urn vault. View our personalization page for the image gallery.
How do you choose a grave marker?
Grave markers are a lasting tribute to the life of a loved one.
Originally, a marble headstone was the only option for identifying gravesites. With the advancement of technology, more options are now available. Trigard’s bronze grave markers offer unprecedented details in the images that are reproduced. Select from full-color portrait medallions, emblems, and accents on a granite base. Your finished product will be unique, memorable and last as an everlasting tribute.
Choose from a wide selection of designs, sizes, borders, accents, emblems, images, backgrounds, full color, and vases or supply your own photos/words of endearment to create a lasting memorial that is personalized to your loved one. Grave markers are truly a beautiful reflection of memories and preserves for generations to come.
Trigard’s bronze grave markers are crafted from bronze and custom engraved using the most innovative techniques for shaping, coloring and finishing. The manufacturing process makes these bronze markers the finest crafted, most beautiful and longest lasting memorials on the market.
Contact our list of funeral homes for questions or to create a unique and personalized bronze marker. Your funeral director is an excellent point of contact for information as they have an established relationship with local cemeteries and they can work with you on the cemetery’s regulations for type allowed and installation.