1) Do you use a sealer on the stones?
2) What kind of maintenance does the stone require?
5) I live in the bay area, can I pick up my stone?
6) What is your return policy?
7) How do you package and ship the art? Is shipping and handling very expensive?
If you don’t see your questions here e-mail them to me at Jeremy@thesignsofnature.com
Answers
1) Do you use a sealer on the stones?
Answer: Some people choose to seal their stone walkways or other stone projects. There are certain sealers which give the stones a “wet” look to them which some people like.
I don’t recommend sealing your Signs of Nature stone. The way that sealers work is they put a thin residue over the whole rock. That residue keeps water out but also keeps water in, not allowing the stone to breathe. It could start looking blotchy or grayed over time, and when you seal it once it will require re-sealing forever.
I personally love the way the stones look naturally. I love how the colors seem to come alive when I spray them with my hose or when it rains. If you seal them you lose that natural appeal. However, having said all that, if you still want to seal your stone; I highly recommend spending extra at a stone specialty store and not use the products from your local hardware store.
2) What kind of maintenance does the stone require?
Answer: That is one of the beauties of having a sign made of stone, there is virtually no maintenance required. There are Egyptian stones with hieroglyphics engraved into them from well over 2 thousand years ago. The stone etchings have held up nicely all these years even the ones exposed to the elements. They even find some with paint still intact. In other places in the middle east there are rock carvings from over ten thousand years ago!!
Now I’m not guaranteeing that your stone will last 2 thousand years or more but I don’t see why it wouldn’t. The engravings would take either physical harm or thousands of years of erosion to fade away. The paints I use are specially designed for use on stone. They are used on tombstones all over the world and last over 25 years. I haven’t been in business that long yet but the first stone I ever made over 15 years ago looks even better today than the day I made it and only needs to have the dust sprayed off every now and then.
If your stone gets dirty and spraying it doesn’t wash it off you can buy a stone detergent from your local stone specialty store, (not a hardware store), and with a soft bristle brush scrub your stone. Test it in a small area first to make sure it won’t change the color. Don’t scrub too hard or you could scratch your stone. Rinse well.
Answer: It depends on the size and what you are using it for. For pet memorial stones people often dig an inch or two in the shape of their stone and lay the stone flat in the ground. Others lay the stone against their pets favorite tree or stand it up in the ground with a couple inches buried.
For smaller stones and address stones I try to flatten the bottom so they can stand on your porch or a shelf however they are unstable and I recommend putting them against a wall or leaning them slightly. For extra large stones I highly suggest cementing them into the ground. I will leave a few extra inches on the bottom of large stones and even smaller ones if you request it to allow for burying it in some concrete.
Answer: If you live in California you will be charged sales tax. If you live in any other state there is no sales tax charge, although you should look into your own states use tax requirements.
5) I live in the bay area, can I pick up my stone?
Answer: Yes!!! If you live anywhere near the San Francisco Bay Area or surrounding cities you can pick up your stone for free!! E-mail if this is your intention.
6) What is your return policy?
Answer: Because every stone is custom made there are no returns or refunds. The only exception is if your stone gets broken during shipping. In this instance I will make you a new stone after receiving the broken pieces. In all my years I haven’t had a customer unsatisfied or wanting to return their stone for any reason.
7) How do you package and ship the art? Is shipping and handling very expensive?
Answer: The amount of time and love I put into each and every piece of art I create is far too valuable to skimp on the packaging. Every stone is different and so every package needs to be custom fitted to your art. The extra time and packaging cost a little more but gives you and me the assurance that the art will arrive in perfect condition.
As for shipping I use USPS Priority Mail. Considering the weight and size of the stones and the art you are receiving I think the shipping and handling costs are pretty reasonable. I don’t make any money in shipping and handling. What I can get it done for is what you get charged, NO more!! I know some companies like to put huge upcharges on shipping, I don’t do that here.
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