Grandson is doing an Eagle Scout project restoring/repairing a Revolutionary war grave site in Northern VA. It has a 2 ft high granite wall surrounding the site, about 10X20 ft. Vandals have knocked some stones off, and they have to be replaced.
I am going to reproduce in gray Georgia granite the circa 1830 sandstone headstone that was there, but destroyed by vandals, also. At least I have a photo of the only surviving section of the headstone that gives me the exact shape of the letters. Someone made a drawing of the entire headstone while it was intact, so I know all the text & its spacing and relative sizes.
Question – what mortar mix ratios do you use for doing stones? Any one have an idea of the mix used in the early 1800’s? I know it appeared to be a bit coarser & sandier.
Any suggestions as to how to reinstall a granite headstone to minimize potential damage by vandals? (I have some, but I cannot stay awake the rest of my life to protect the site w/ a shotgun.) How long will it take before the mortar sets up well enough that vandals will have to WORK at it to remove any stones we replace?
Don