Urn Towers FAQ
CREMATION VS FUNERAL COSTS
When deciding on cremation some of the costs that you may not have are those associated with interment of the coffin, headstone, and upkeep of the grave. Keeping the cremated remains in an urn at home or scattering can also reduce the total costs of a funeral. The Urn Tower Memorial Vault can also help reduce costs by being placed on your own home ground. In the event you move then you can take the vault with you, thus keeping the memories local and near to you.
How do I obtain an Urn tower?
Urn towers are available directly from us or through your undertaker. In cases where they are already installed in the cemetery of choice you should contact the cemetery manager. If in doubt you should contact the ground owners to discuss your requirements prior to installing the memorial.
What if my local cemetery does not provide Urn Towers as an option, what can I do then?
Many graveyard managers are willing to consider providing new options if they are contacted. Urn Towers Ltd are working on raising the awareness with graveyard managers of the Urn Tower as an option for keeping Urns. However if you would like to enquire about having an Urn Tower for private family use outside of a graveyard please contact us to discuss what options are available.
Who has access to place an urn in an Urn Tower?
For urn towers installed in cemeteries then the cemetery manager has the only access to place an urn inside the urn tower. In the instance where you have placed an urn tower at home then you will have that access.
What options do I have regarding the inscription on the outside of the Urn Tower?
Inscription on the Urn Tower is done on a removable Plaque using a Co2 Laser engraver. The Laser engraver has the ability to engrave using any fonts which are normally available on most document publishing software. The engraving will result in a black colour engraving. Once the engraving is complete it is attached to the Urn Tower using the same security locking bolts.
CAN I PUT MORE THAN ONE URN INSIDE AN URN TOWER MEMORIAL VAULT ?
Yes. Depending on the size of your urn(s) more than one urn can fit in a single urn tower size. Total internal height of a single urn tower is 50cm.
What happens if I need to increase the holding capacity of my family Urn Tower?
One of the great advantages of using an Urn Tower is that in the event you wish to increase the holding capacity of your Urn Tower you can easily do so. The Urn Tower can be extended by the addition of an additional chamber which is attached to your existing tower. You should contact your cemetery manager to arrange this. Or we can supply you with an extension niche directly with required engraving.
Are there any restrictions on the size of urn that can be placed in an Urn Tower?
The Urn Tower is designed to hold a cylindrical urn of 8 inches wide x 10 inches high (20 cm x 25cm). This will facilitate the vast majority of urns readily available from your undertaker / crematorium. we also supply individual cremation urns through our sister website www.celticurns.com
What If I want to relocate my Urn Tower?
From time to time people move location due to a variety of reasons. With the Urn Tower it is possible to take the Urn Tower with you to a new location. The Urn Tower can be released from its current location and reinstalled in a new location.
What happens if I want to use an Urn Tower outside of a cemetery?
The Urn Tower is designed to allow for placement on suitable level ground. You should contact the owner of the ground space for permission to place/install the urn tower. The Urn Tower Memorial Vault is supplied with internal holding bolts for securing to a suitable foundation if needed.
DO WE SUPPLY URNS AS PART OF OUR SERVICE?
Yes. Urn towers ltd have a sister company www.celticurns.com who provide individual cremation urns suitable for use with the urn tower memorial vault. We provide both human and pet urns.
WHAT UPKEEP IS REQUIRED FOR AN URN TOWER?
The urn tower is fabricated from marine grade 316 stainless steel. The expected life span of this material is many hundreds of years. From time to time, depending on where the memorial is installed it may need to be cleaned of falling debris. Please see here our recommended approach to cleaning your memorial.
Cleaners that should NOT be used on stainless steels include:
• Chloride-containing cleansers, especially those containing hydrochloric acid,
• Hypochlorite bleaches should not be used on stainless steels; if applied accidentally or spilt on stainless steel surfaces, should be rinsed off immediately with liberal amounts of fresh water,
• Silver-cleaners must not be used on stainless steel.
Avoid using cleaning pads which could scratch the surface such as wire brush or pads.
WHAT COLOUR OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE?
The urn tower comes as an either polished steel or as electric powder coated Black. The plaques are polished stainless silver with black engraving. Please contact us if you would like to have a different colour urn tower.
IS DUTY PAYABLE ON ORDERS FROM OUTSIDE THE EU?
VAT @ 23% is due on all orders received from residents with delivery addresses inside the EU. For non-EU delivery orders there may be duty payable in the destination country. The product BTI code – used for classification purposes – is 830629000. Where duty is payable then you may be asked to pay this when you receive delivery of the urn tower. Apart from VAT we do not collect or charge for other duties where applicable. Duty is not currently due on the urn tower orders to USA.
DO YOU SHIP WORLDWIDE?
Yes. We ship worldwide. We use DHL as our shipping partner. Once your order is ready for dispatch, we will notify you of the shipping details. Shipping normally takes 3-6 days for international orders. We manufacture the Urn Tower in Ireland and ship from here.
HOW LONG FROM ORDER TO DELIVERY?
If the item is in stock, then once engraving details are confirmed it normally takes between 10 and 15 days to arrive with you. This time is needed to perform engraving and shipping.
WHAT FONT CAN I USE FOR THE ENGRAVING?
If you can print it, we can engrave it. Send us a document , pdf or .doc with what you would like engraved. We will return to you what the layout will look like prior to engraving for your approval. Include any emblems you would like included.
CAN I HAVE A FAMILY PICTURE ENGRAVED?
Generally, no. The reason is that a photograph is normally in 3d. When printing it resolution may be lost as the printing process is in black only and not in shades of grey.
HOW BIG AND HEAVY IS THE MEMORIAL?
Each memorial is made from 316 marine grade stainless steel. The wall thickness is 3.5mm with a 5mm lid and base plate. The urn tower is polished or electrostatically powder coated on the outside. The external dimensions are 220mm/8.6 inch diameter and 512mm/20.1inch tall for the single urn tower. Each additional niche adds 25cm/9.8inch to the overall height of the urn tower. A single empty urn tower weighs approximately 18kg/ 39lbs.
What can be done with the cremated remains?
With cremation, your options are numerous. The cremains can be interred in a cemetery plot, i.e., earth burial, retained by a family member, usually in an urn, scattered on private property, or at a place that was significant to the deceased. (It would always be advisable to check for local regulations regarding scattering in a public place.) Cremation is just one step in the commemorative process—the preparation of the human remains for memorialization. Today, there are many different types of memorial options from which to choose. Memorialization is a time-honored tradition that has been practiced for centuries. A memorial serves as a tribute to a life lived and provides a focal point for remembrance, as well as a record for future generations. The type of memorial you choose is a personal decision. The limit is set only by your imagination.
Why is having a place to visit so important?
Because it provides a focal point for memorializing the deceased. To remember, and be remembered, are natural human needs. Throughout human history, memorialization of the dead has been a key component of almost every culture. The Washington Monument, Tomb of the Unknowns and Vietnam “Wall” in Washington, D.C are examples of memorialization which demonstrate that, throughout our history, we have always honoured our dead. Psychologists say that remembrance practices, from the funeral or memorial service to permanent memorialization, serve an important emotional function for survivors by helping to bring closure and allowing the healing process to begin. Providing a permanent resting place for the deceased is a dignified treatment for a loved one's mortal remains, which fulfills the natural human desire for memorialization.
If I'm going to be cremated, why would I want my remains to be placed in a columbarium, or interred or scattered at the cemetery? Why shouldn't I just have them scattered in the sea or in some other place of my choosing?
As long as it is permitted by local regulations, the cremated remains can be scattered in a place that is meaningful to you. This can, however, present difficulties for your survivors. Some people may find it hard to simply pour the mortal remains of a loved one out onto the ground or into the sea. If you wish to be scattered somewhere, it is therefore important to discuss your wishes ahead of time with the person or persons who will actually have to do the scattering. Another difficulty with scattering can occur when the remains are disposed of in an anonymous, unmarked or public place. Access to the area may be restricted for some reason in the future, undeveloped land may be developed, or any of a host of other conditions may arise that could make it difficult for your survivors to visit the site to remember you. Even if your cremated remains are scattered in your backyard, what happens if your survivors relocate sometime in the future? Once scattered, cremated remains cannot easily be collected back up. Having your remains placed, interred or scattered on a cemetery’s grounds ensures that future generations will have a place to go to remember. If remains are scattered somewhere outside the cemetery, many cemeteries will allow you to place a memorial of some type on the cemetery grounds, so survivors have a place to visit that will always be maintained and preserved.