Why Do You Need a Vault for a Cremation Urn?

Someone you love has passed away and is going to be cremated. The decision has been made to bury their remains at the local cemetery where your family owns spaces. As expected, everything went smoothly during the arrangements at the funeral home.

All the necessary paperwork was completed, a beautiful urn was selected, and a one-of-a-kind final sendoff was planned. There weren’t any surprises – until you found out that a vault was needed to bury the urn.

As a leading supplier of funeral products to the industry, Trigard realizes that families aren’t always aware that they should purchase an urn vault. We find this unfortunate and want to do our part in educating those who have suffered a loss or are planning ahead for their own final wishes.

Below you will find the 5 reasons why you need a vault for a cremation urn.

1. Protection

An urn vault’s primary function is to protect the urn and the cremated remains it houses.

These sturdy vessels can be made from several different materials and are designed to withstand the downward soil pressure caused by backhoes and other heavy cemetery equipment used at burial sites.

The vault’s cover plays a critical role in terms of overall protection by distributing the weight of the soil to the unit’s perimeter so that a tight seal can be formed.

Trigard’s cover is the thickest in the industry and has a “down and out” design that helps ensure air doesn’t enter or escape the vault space.

While all urn vaults are intended to safeguard the cremated remains against water, soil, and other gravesite elements, those that are lined and sealed are the most effective.

2. Safety

Burying an urn without a vault can cause the soil above it to over-settle, making the grave susceptible to collapsing.

This most often occurs when an urn has naturally broken-down overtime. The subsequent uneven land can become hazardous to cemetery visitors and maintenance crews.

Even though most states do not require urn vaults, the majority of cemeteries will minimally require some type of outer burial container as a safety and liability precaution.

3. Beautification and Visibility

Cemeteries and memorial parks are meant to offer a peaceful setting with attractive aesthetics for family and friends attending graveside services or paying respects to a loved one.

Rough ground that has resulted from an unprotected urn can be an eyesore as well as an unwelcome distraction to guests.

Additionally, such terrain can make it difficult to access a burial site and can also be a deterrent to anyone thinking about where they would like to be laid to rest.

4. Preservation of Grave Memorials

Soil that has not settled evenly (due to lack of an urn vault) can negatively affect the appearance and integrity of a grave memorial. For example, granite, concrete, and marble markers are prone to cracking and chipping.

Markers made from all materials, regardless of their size or style, will be subject to sinking. Arriving at a loved one’s grave and finding the memorial in a subpar condition can be disappointing and upsetting, especially to a person who is grieving.

It should also be pointed out that grave markers vary considerably in price and can become expensive depending on your choices. An urn vault is the best way to protect this very important investment.

5. Peace of Mind

Circumstances sometimes present themselves that necessitate an urn be relocated after it has been buried. The urn vault acts as a structural barrier and protects the urn throughout each part of this process.

An urn vault also gives families the peace of mind that their loved one’s urn will be intact upon disinterment and free of any outside components. From a cemeterian’s standpoint, they have an easier time locating the urn and won’t have to concern themselves with inadvertently damaging it.

Final Thoughts

Now that we have taken a close look at the various benefits an urn vault provides, our hope is that you agree one should always be used.

Providing such a thorough explanation to a family making cremation burial arrangements for a loved one would be unrealistic, not to mention overwhelming to them.

The simplest and most relatable explanation could possibly be that an urn vault protects a cremation urn much in the same way a traditional burial vault protects a casket, just on a smaller scale.

Having said that, the advantages of using an urn vault go well beyond the realm of protection and we hope you now understand its true value.