# French Monument Company > Family-owned monument company in Brazil, Indiana. Custom granite headstones, monuments, and memorials, plus a free interactive online monument designer. ## Tagline Creating Monuments of a Lifetime. ## Mission At French Monuments, our heartfelt desire is to assist you in creating a monument as a lasting tribute to your loved one through design and artwork that will help share their story for generations to come. ## What we make - **Upright monuments** — classic vertical headstones, the most traditional and dignified style - **Bevel monuments** — low-profile rectangular stones with a slightly angled top edge - **Slant monuments** — stones with a face angled back for natural reading from a standing position - **Grass markers** — flat ground-level markers, often required by cemetery regulations (including VA-compliant military markers) ## Granite colors We work with premium granite in many colors, including: American Black, Black Ultimate, Galaxy Black, Flash Black, Premium Gray, Barre Gray, Dakota Mahogany, Canadian Mahogany, India Red, China Pink, Mountain Rose, Hedquist Pink, Caprice Blue, Blue Pearl, Bahama Blue, Ocean Wave, Paridiso. ## Services - Free online interactive monument designer (https://frenchmonumentcompany.com/designer) - Browse our monument gallery (https://frenchmonumentcompany.com/monument-gallery) - Free in-person consultation - Custom design and engraving (text, clip art, photo etching, custom shapes) - Installation in cemeteries throughout west-central Indiana ## Location & Contact - 421 E. National Ave., Brazil, Indiana 47834 - Phone: (812) 446-2206 - Email: info@frenchmonumentcompany.com - Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Saturday by appointment; Sunday closed - Service area: Clay County and west-central Indiana ## Owner Nick French, CFSP — funeral director and owner. Lifelong Brazil, Indiana resident; graduate of Northview High School (1995) and Vincennes University (mortuary science, 2003); board member of the Clay County Chamber of Commerce and the Indiana Funeral Directors Association Education Foundation. ## Key pages - Home: https://frenchmonumentcompany.com/ - About: https://frenchmonumentcompany.com/about - Monument Gallery: https://frenchmonumentcompany.com/monument-gallery - Designer: https://frenchmonumentcompany.com/designer - FAQ: https://frenchmonumentcompany.com/faq - Contact: https://frenchmonumentcompany.com/contact - Privacy Policy: https://frenchmonumentcompany.com/privacy - Terms of Service: https://frenchmonumentcompany.com/terms - Accessibility Statement: https://frenchmonumentcompany.com/accessibility ## Frequently asked questions (canonical answers) ### How long does it take to design and install a custom monument? Most monuments are designed, carved, and installed within 8 to 12 weeks from the date the design is approved. Larger or more elaborate pieces can take 14 to 16 weeks. ### How much does a monument cost? Simple flat markers start around $800–$1,500. A traditional single upright headstone in Barre Gray granite typically runs $2,000–$4,000 fully installed. Larger companion monuments and premium granites push the range higher. Pricing always includes the foundation, lettering, and cemetery installation. ### What types of granite do you offer? 17 granite colors sourced from quarries in Vermont, the Dakotas, India, China, and Norway. The most popular Midwestern choices are Barre Gray, American Black, and Dakota Mahogany. ### Can I design my own monument online? Yes. The Monument Designer at frenchmonumentcompany.com/designer lets you choose a shape, granite, and size, then add personalization — text, family symbols, and uploaded photos. Just an email is required to start; no account or password. ### Do you handle the cemetery installation? Yes — installation is included in every monument. We set the foundation, level the stone, handle cemetery permitting, and install across Clay County and most of west-central Indiana. ### What's the difference between a single and a companion monument? A single monument commemorates one person (typically 24 inches wide). A companion monument is wider (36–48 inches) and designed for a couple, with both names typically engraved at the same time and the second date filled in later. ### Can I add a photograph to a monument? Yes — either a ceramic photo plaque mounted to the stone, or a laser-etched portrait directly on dark granite. Both are rated for 100+ years of outdoor exposure. ### Do I have to pay upfront? No. We typically take a 25–50% deposit at design approval, with the balance due at installation. Cash, check, and major credit cards accepted. ### How do I get started? Three options: (1) use the online Monument Designer (10 minutes, no account), (2) call (812) 446-2206 to schedule a free in-person consultation, or (3) email info@frenchmonumentcompany.com. ### Do you ship outside Indiana? Yes — we ship custom monuments anywhere in the continental United States and coordinate installation with the local cemetery. ### Do you do repairs and re-engraving on existing monuments? Yes. Re-engraving second dates, cleaning sandblasted lettering, resetting fallen stones, and repairing chips and cracks are all common services.