Engraved lettering on headstone

[Mrspattypaws]

The painted lettering on my Dads engraved headstone is flaking off, any suggestions on what type of paint I should use to tidy it up, please

[RATTER15]

Well this actually used to be my profession many years ago lol

You say engraved, we just need to clarify that the lettering is incised (cut into the stone) and the type of stone. If it is white marble and the lettering is actually incised/ engraved, what we used to do was to just very roughly paint the lettering after first cleaning the gravestone, then rub over the whole inscription with a large piece of pumice stone to remove the excess. We used just a basic metallic paint with an undercoat.

[Mrspattypaws]

Thank you for your helpful answer. I was hoping to find someone like you!!
It is incised, we think marble but it's grey in colour. The pumice doesn't scratch the stone then? I guess marble is pretty hard!

[RATTER15]

The pumice wont scratch the stone as long as you use plenty of water and the stone has a flat side. You say the stone is grey, that sounds more like granite or maybe Portland stone! if it is grey granite, it will usually have sparkly bits in it and maybe some flecks of black, depending on the granite. I cant really help a lot with that.
I don't suppose you have a photo?

[Dollychris]

Hello Mrspattypaws and Ratteris,

I have exactly the same problem with my mum in law's gravestone. Ratteris would you be kind enough to tell me how to clean the White Marble gravestone please before we start on replacing the black lettering that has perishes and gone very dull?
Thank you both so much for the question and the much appreciated answer.
Chris

[chez1964]

Thanks for this useful info, I need to repaint my babies headstones, they are white marble and incised with gold writing.I have cleaned the flaking gold from it, when I repaint it will I need to put a varnish over it???

[cat26]

I have been reading this post with interest as I wish to clean a family headstone where the lettering is dirty/fading but it is not inscribed into the granite but fixed on - is there a specialist paint I can use?

[GraveArt]

Lithichrome Stone Paint works the best, it lasts for up to 10 years and you can purchase it from this website
http://www.granitecitytool.com/stonepaint
Hope that helps!