Funeral Planning Guide - Caskets

A funeral planning guide will inform you about caskets. Caskets come in a variety of styles. The two most common are wood and metal caskets. Everyone has a preference. Metal has more of a modern theme or feel. Wood offers a warm feel that most people like. Most American funeral homes carry a wide variety of caskets from reputable manufacturers. Be aware of cheap caskets!

You need not resort to a cheap casket to bury a loved one. We’ve all heard a loved one tell us, “bury me as cheap as possible.” Most of us however will not do that unless we’re destitute. The marketplace has become very competitive in the death care industry. New vendors are popping up all over the place offering the public wholesale prices on caskets. You don’t have to buy a cheap casket for your loved one!

Much to the chagrin of funeral homes and directors across the country, it has forced them to compete on price. According to the Federal Trade Commission funeral homes cannot raise their professional services fees to make up what they may be losing on having to lower casket prices to compete in the marketplace. By law funeral homes must give you an itemized price list for all their services. That way the consumer can pick and chose merchandise and services as they see fit. Most people are not aware of this since we go out of our way to ignore the subject.

Metal Caskets

The quality is determined by the thickness or “gauge” of the metal. The thicker the metal the better the quality. Gauges range from 16, 18 and 20 gauge metal. The higher quality caskets are usually “sealer” caskets. Some metal caskets can be very expensive. Some are made of stainless steel or are gold plated! Many people think that somehow human remains are preserved in a “sealer” casket. Funeral homes are required by law the issue the following disclaimer in writing. There is no scientific evidence that sealer caskets. preserve human remains.

Wood Caskets

Wood casket span the gamut from pine to mahogany. The quality of wood caskets is determined by the type of wood and if the casket is made from “hard” or “soft” wood. Hard woods come from trees with leaves such as maple or oak. Caskets made from “soft” woods come from trees with needles such as pine. Often time’s cremation caskets are made from particle board or pine since the remains will be consumed by fire.

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