Our Mission: Honoring Those Who Came Before Us
At Dailey Maintenance, we believe that a final resting place should be a reflection of the love and respect we hold for our family members. This service didn’t start as a business plan—it started with a personal visit.
Recently, I went to visit my grandparent’s gravesites. Like many older cemeteries in the Pacific Northwest, the grounds were mown, but the flat headstones had been completely reclaimed by the earth. The grass had grown so far over the markers that they were impossible to find. I had to physically clear the sod just to see their names.
I spoke with the director of the cemetery and he told me that they clear the markers once per year. It hit me then: “Perpetual Care” doesn’t always mean “Personal Care.”
As a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and a local business owner with 20 years of experience in exterior maintenance, I realized I had the tools, the pure-water technology, and the professional discipline to fix this. We launched our Gravescaping service to ensure that no family has to “hunt” for their loved ones’ markers and that every headstone stands clean, clear, and respected.
We treat every plot with the same level of detail and “Honor Guard” discipline we would expect for our own family. Whether it’s removing decades of lichen, edging back encroaching turf, or providing seasonal floral placements, we are here to bridge the gap between basic cemetery mowing and the high-standard care your ancestors deserve.
Transparent Memorial Care Pricing
We believe in straightforward pricing that respects your budget while ensuring the highest standard of care. Our rates are based on a “Base Visit” plus the specific needs of each marker.
- The “Honor Guard” Base Visit: $125
- This covers our travel to any cemetery in the Portland/Vancouver metro area, location of the plot, site assessment, and debris removal (fallen branches, old withered flowers, etc.).
- Standard Flat Marker Restoration: $75 per stone
- Includes manual sod edging to “frame” the stone, deep cleaning with deionized water and biological solution, and a final polished rinse.
- Upright Monument Cleaning: $125+ per stone
- Pricing varies based on height and the amount of biological growth (lichen/moss). Includes a 360-degree deep clean and base inspection.
The “Legacy Bundle” (Family Plot Discount)
We know that families are often laid to rest together. To make it easier to maintain an entire family plot, we offer a Legacy Discount:
- 2-4 Markers: 10% off the total service.
- 5+ Markers: 20% off the total service.
- This applies to markers located within the same cemetery during the same visit.
Seasonal & Recurring Care
- Annual Honor Plan: Two visits per year (Spring/Fall). Includes cleaning, edging, and a seasonal floral or flag placement. info@daileymaintenance.com
Veteran’s Discount: 10% Gold Star Family Courtesy: 10% discount & free grave flag
How to Request a Gravescaping Quote
Getting your loved one’s memorial back to a place of honor is simple. To provide you with an accurate quote and ensure we locate the correct site, please have the following information ready:
1. Locate the Plot Details
Check your family records or contact the cemetery office for the following:
- Cemetery Name & City
- Deceased Person’s Full Name
- Section, Block, and Lot Number (If you don’t have this, we can often assist in finding it through cemetery records).
2. Tell Us About the Marker
Is it a flat “grass marker” (flush with the ground) or an upright monument? Knowing the material (Granite, Marble, Bronze) and the approximate size helps us bring the right specialized cleaning agents.
3. Choose Your Service Level
Decide if you need a one-time “Restoration Cleaning” to handle years of overgrowth, or if you’d like to be placed on our “Recurring Honor Plan” for seasonal maintenance.
4. Contact Us for a Free Estimate
Once you have the details, call us at 503-984-7161 or fill out our online request form. We will perform a site assessment (often via cemetery records or a quick visit) and send you a detailed proposal.
k visit) and send you a detailed proposal.
The “Marine Standard” Guarantee:
“As a Marine-owned business, we don’t just ‘mow and go.’ We provide a digital Before & After Photo Report with every service. If you aren’t in the area to see the results yourself, you’ll have high-resolution proof that the job was done to our exacting standards.”
info@daileymaintenance.com / 503-984-7161
Gravescaping FAQs:
Generally, yes. Most cemeteries allow families to hire private contractors for the upkeep of their specific plots. We always recommend notifying the cemetery office, and as a professional LLC, we follow all local regulations and respect the sacred nature of the grounds.
“Perpetual Care” generally only covers the “big picture”—mowing the large grass areas, road maintenance, and tree trimming. It rarely includes the detailed work of hand-trimming the grass away from flat markers, scrubbing headstones, or removing the lichen and moss that thrive in our PNW climate. We provide the personal care that ensures your loved one’s specific site is never forgotten or overgrown.
We never use bleach or pressure washers, which can crack or “burn” stone. We use a specialized, pH-neutral biological solution (D/2) and ultra-pure deionized or distilled water. This safely kills moss, algae, and lichen from the inside out, continuing to clean the stone for months after we leave without any risk of damage.
Never. We use the “Do No Harm” approach. We use ultra-pure deionized water and a pH-neutral, biological cleaner (D/2) that is specifically approved by the National Park Service for historic monuments. We use only soft-bristle brushes and manual agitation. We never use pressure washers, bleach, or wire brushes, which can cause permanent “spalling” or cracking in marble, granite, and limestone.
For the best results, we recommend twice a year. A spring visit clears away winter moss and debris, while a fall visit ensures the site is clean and “winterized.” However, we also offer one-time deep cleanings for anniversaries, Memorial Day, or before a family gathering.
Absolutely. Many of our clients live far away and can’t visit as often as they’d like. After every service, we provide high-resolution Before & After photos. We can send these via email or text so you have the peace of mind of seeing exactly how the site looks.
Yes. In addition to cleaning and edging, we can place fresh flowers, seasonal wreaths, or American flags (with proper military etiquette). We can coordinate these placements for specific dates like birthdays, holidays, or Veterans Day to ensure your loved one is honored even when you can’t be there.
Yes. Dailey Maintenance is a fully licensed, and insured LLC. We operate with the highest level of respect for cemetery rules and regulations. We treat the cemetery grounds as a sacred space, ensuring our work is quiet, professional, and doesn’t interfere with other visitors or ongoing services. Ever.
Special attention is given to our fallen brothers and sisters. If you are requesting service for a Veteran’s grave, please let us know so we can ensure proper military honors (flag placement/cleaning) are performed according to protocol.
This is a common problem with flat “grass markers” in older cemeteries. If you provide us with the cemetery name and the name of the deceased, we can work with the cemetery sexton or office to locate the exact plot. We specialize in “reclaiming” markers that have been completely buried by years of encroaching sod and thatch.