Your monument is 5’4” high and weighs 850 lbs.

There are a few things you ought to know before you start moving it around and ripping the crate off of it.

1. If you are not aware, you might be surprised to know the monument is not a solid block of marble or granite. If it were it would weigh well over 20,000 lbs. Not too easy to move. At this time it is best to move the monument as close to where you want it. This can be done using a pallet jack if the distance is greater than a few feet away. If moving over lawn it is advised to lay down 4’x 8’ plywood to provide a smooth surface for the pallet to roll on. See page 4 #8 for instructions when constructing a pad for installations on lawn or dirt.

2. The monument will arrive wrapped in plastic, sitting on a pallet, and incased in a rather flimsy wooden crate.
 

Figure #1	Figure #2	Figure #3

3. It pays to be careful when removing the wooden crate. Do not exert pressure on the marble using a pry bar or a hammer. Marble is a softer stone than granite and even granite might chip or crack.

4. The wood you are removing from the crate, Figure #2, can be used to lower the monument to the pad or concrete patio assuming you have removed the nails.

5. Once the crating material is removed, as in Figure #3, the monument will still be resting on a wooden pallet. NOTICE THE MONUMENT IS NOT NOW ATTACHED TO THE PALLET. At this point it is easy to reposition the monument with a pallet jack a few feet over smooth surfaces.

6. The following figures #4, #5, #6, & #7 show the best method to be used in lowering the monument from the pallet. Do not attempt to use an “A” frame with a block and tackle as this could injure the workers or damage the monument.
 

Figure #4	Figure #5
Figure #6	Figure #7

7. Notice in the above Figures #4, #5, #6, & #7 the monument is being lowered approximately ½” to ¾” at a time. This takes less than 15 minutes so don’t rush. Once the pallet and the wood used as slides is removed the monument can be easily repositioned by sliding the monument on the smooth surface.


Installing on Lawn or Dirt Surfaces

8. These are additional instructions for building a Pad when installing the monument on uneven surfaces such as a lawn or dirt base. A Pad built of concrete or brick/stone must have a minimum dimension of 44”w x 28”d x 4” thick with several pieces of rebar inserted to accommodate 850 lbs. The concrete should be left to cure for a week or two prior to placing the monument on it.

You may also want to consider making the pad similar to the one shown in the picture on the left below. This monument was raised due to the slope of the lawn, but also provides a nice base.

9. Now is the time to enjoy your work and contributions to your parish. Seeing the expressions on the faces of your fellow parishioners is worth a thousand times more than all your efforts expended in this project.
 

Figure #8	Figure #9

The Commandments of God
1032 Seneca Court - Walnut Creek, CA 94598-4337
Phone: 925-947-0597
E-mail: info@commandmentsofgod.com

[ Back to top ]