Intro to Caskets
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- What is the difference between a casket and a coffin? A coffin has a tapered appearance starting at the shoulder down to the feet, and it is made of wood. The coffin is what you always see in the old western movies.
- Caskets are normally constructed of 16ga., 18ga., and 20ga., metals and a variety of hard and soft woods.
- Caskets are built to be sealing and non-sealing. Non-sealing caskets are less expensive than sealing caskets. Non-sealing caskets are preferred for mausoleums; thus if you purchase a sealing casket for a mausoleum, they will not seal the lid.
- Wooden caskets look great, but if your family is more concerned with protecting your loved one then metal is the way to go. Also, most wooden caskets cost much more than steel caskets.
- It is illegal and incorrect to state that a casket will last forever. They normally come with warranties for 50 to 100 years.
- An outer container or vault is what the casket is placed in and then lowered into the ground. They are designed to last for 50 to 100 years as well. It is illegal and incorrect to state that an outer container will protect and last forever.
- Vaults or outer containers are used to prevent the collapse of the casket, which makes for an unappealing cemetery and liability concerns. They also allow for ease in cemetery maintenance as heavy equipment is used to cut the grass, dig graves, and remove leaves.