How to Plan & Install a Columbarium
Cemetery Planning
Prepared planning reduces anxiety. Our process is designed to ensure predictable budgeting, structural integrity, and smooth installation from start to finish.
Cemetery cremation planning should focus on:
- Data & Demand Planning
- Site Evaluation
- Crane Logistics
- Foundation Engineering
- Installation
- Long-Term Confidence
1. Start with Data & Phase Planning
Planning Your Columbarium
Successful cremation niche planning can be achieved by following a few key considerations.
Best Practice:
- Build in Phases: Sell out your columbarium within 3–5 years.
- Columbarium ROI (Return on Investment) Calculator: Choose the right type and number of niches.
- Landscape Architect: Ensure long-term design consistency.
2. Understanding Your Site
Site Evaluation
Site Access Is Critical to Cost & Efficiency
Before scheduling installation, it’s important to evaluate whether both the shipping truck and crane can safely access the installation area. Thoughtful columbarium site planning will help you prepare.
Key questions to consider:
- Can the crane park close enough to the foundation and shipping truck’s road to achieve the required reach?
- Is there adequate road width and turning radius for the shipping truck?
- Are there slopes, soft ground, irrigation systems, or underground utilities?
- Are there overhead obstructions such as power lines, trees, or flagpoles?
- Are there gates, walls, or existing structures that limit equipment movement?
- Are there existing graves obstructing access?
Even small obstacles can affect crane size requirements and overall installation cost.
Above photo: is an example of understanding your site layout.
Understanding your site before hand saves on extra costs.
Understanding Crane Size, Reach & Weight
Proper crane selection depends on three critical factors: crane capacity, lifting reach, and columbarium weight.
- Typical Installation: A 40 Ton crane can lift approximately 8,000 lbs at a reach of 10–40 ft.
- Standard Practice: Our initial quotes are generally based on the use of a 40 Ton crane, as this is typically the most cost-effective option.
- Distance Matters: The required crane capacity increases as reach increases.
- Critical Measurement: The true distance must be measured from the center of the crane to the furthest point of the foundation.
- The Shipping Truck: Will need to be positioned close to the crane or within the same distance as the furthest point of the foundation
Above photo: is an example of understanding your site layout.
Understanding your site before hand saves on extra costs.
Contract & Planning Considerations
- Signed contracts should clearly define the crane reach and site access conditions.
- Any changes in reach or site conditions after quoting may affect crane requirements.
- Free crane site inspections are available and highly recommended prior to signing a contract to avoid unexpected adjustments.
Special Situations
Larger cranes may be required for:
- Extended reach beyond 40 ft
- Steep slopes or elevation changes
- Oversized or custom columbaria
- Obstructions such as existing graves, landscaping, or structures
3. Crane Logistics- Crane vs Telehandler Considerations
Columbarium Crane Installation
Choosing the Right Equipment
Our experienced Project Management Team makes the final decision on installation equipment after a full site access review. In the meantime, it’s useful to understand when a crane or a telehandler might be the best option for your project.
Proper crane and telehandler selection depends on:
- Columbarium weight
- Required reach distance
- Site access for shipping truck
- Site access for crane or telehandler
A 40 Ton crane typically lifts ~8,000 lbs at 10–40 ft reach and is generally the most cost-effective option included in initial quotes.
ColumbariumTelehandler Installation
Columbarium installation: Critical Measurement
Distance must be measured from the center of the crane’s position to the furthest point of the foundation.
Additionally, the transport truck must be able to position itself at least as close to the crane as the crane’s reach to the foundation.
For example: If the lift to the foundation is 40 feet, we like to get the transport truck to within that distance (perhaps on the opposite side of the crane).
Free crane site inspections are recommended prior to signing contracts to prevent unexpected reach adjustments. In some cases, the sites requiring a custom columbarium installation approach will need to be arranged in advance of delivery.
Columbarium Crane Installation
When Alternative Equipment Is Required
While most installations are straightforward, some sites require specialized equipment:
- Large-Capacity Cranes (Up to 350 Ton):
Used when long reach is required or when lifting over existing graves, structures, or elevation changes. - Telehandlers:
Ideal for sites with restricted access where a crane cannot reach directly. A telehandler can offload the columbarium and carefully transport it to the final location.
Careful choreography between the delivery truck, crane, and installation crew ensures the most cost-effective and seamless installation possible.
Telehandler unload
Real-World Installation Examples
These examples demonstrate why accurate site evaluation is essential during the planning phase.
- Long Reach Over Existing Graves: A crane reached over 200 ft to complete a columbarium garden installation without disturbing surrounding graves.
- Steep Hillside Placement: A high-capacity crane was required to lift multiple custom columbaria up a significant slope.
- Restricted Access Across Turf: A telehandler transported columbaria across sensitive ground conditions.
- Limited Gate Entry: Specialized equipment navigated through existing cemetery gates for precise columbarium placement.
Crane reach from unlevelled ground to foundation.
4. Design & Artistic Value- Cemetery Landscape Design
Creating Spaces That People Choose — and Revisit
A columbarium is not just a structure — it is a place of remembrance, reflection, and ongoing visitation. The difference between a columbarium that sells steadily and one that struggles is almost always rooted in columbarium garden design and landscaping.
Well-designed columbarium gardens feel intentional, peaceful, and connected to their surroundings. Poorly designed spaces feel cold, or overlooked. Families notice immediately.
Cemetery memorial planning is where art, landscape, and planning come together.
Creating Spaces That People Choose — and Revisit
A columbarium is not just a structure — it is a place of remembrance, reflection, and ongoing visitation. The difference between a columbarium that sells steadily and one that struggles is almost always rooted in columbarium garden design and landscaping.
Well-designed columbarium gardens feel intentional, peaceful, and connected to their surroundings. Poorly designed spaces feel cold, or overlooked. Families notice immediately.
Cemetery memorial planning is where art, landscape, and planning come together.
Creating Spaces That People Choose — and Revisit
A columbarium is not just a structure — it is a place of remembrance, reflection, and ongoing visitation. The difference between a columbarium that sells steadily and one that struggles is almost always rooted in columbarium garden design and landscaping.
Well-designed columbarium gardens feel intentional, peaceful, and connected to their surroundings. Poorly designed spaces feel cold, or overlooked. Families notice immediately.
Cemetery memorial planning is where art, landscape, and planning come together.
Creating Spaces That People Choose — and Revisit
A columbarium is not just a structure — it is a place of remembrance, reflection, and ongoing visitation. The difference between a columbarium that sells steadily and one that struggles is almost always rooted in columbarium garden design and landscaping.
Well-designed columbarium gardens feel intentional, peaceful, and connected to their surroundings. Poorly designed spaces feel cold, or overlooked. Families notice immediately.
Cemetery memorial planning is where art, landscape, and planning come together.
Creating Spaces That People Choose — and Revisit
A columbarium is not just a structure — it is a place of remembrance, reflection, and ongoing visitation. The difference between a columbarium that sells steadily and one that struggles is almost always rooted in columbarium garden design and landscaping.
Well-designed columbarium gardens feel intentional, peaceful, and connected to their surroundings. Poorly designed spaces feel cold, or overlooked. Families notice immediately.
Cemetery memorial planning is where art, landscape, and planning come together.
Creating Spaces That People Choose — and Revisit
A columbarium is not just a structure — it is a place of remembrance, reflection, and ongoing visitation. The difference between a columbarium that sells steadily and one that struggles is almost always rooted in columbarium garden design and landscaping.
Well-designed columbarium gardens feel intentional, peaceful, and connected to their surroundings. Poorly designed spaces feel cold, or overlooked. Families notice immediately.
Cemetery memorial planning is where art, landscape, and planning come together.
Creating Spaces That People Choose — and Revisit
A columbarium is not just a structure — it is a place of remembrance, reflection, and ongoing visitation. The difference between a columbarium that sells steadily and one that struggles is almost always rooted in columbarium garden design and landscaping.
Well-designed columbarium gardens feel intentional, peaceful, and connected to their surroundings. Poorly designed spaces feel cold, or overlooked. Families notice immediately.
Cemetery memorial planning is where art, landscape, and planning come together.
Creating Spaces That People Choose — and Revisit
A columbarium is not just a structure — it is a place of remembrance, reflection, and ongoing visitation. The difference between a columbarium that sells steadily and one that struggles is almost always rooted in columbarium garden design and landscaping.
Well-designed columbarium gardens feel intentional, peaceful, and connected to their surroundings. Poorly designed spaces feel cold, or overlooked. Families notice immediately.
Cemetery memorial planning is where art, landscape, and planning come together.
Creating Spaces That People Choose — and Revisit
A columbarium is not just a structure — it is a place of remembrance, reflection, and ongoing visitation. The difference between a columbarium that sells steadily and one that struggles is almost always rooted in columbarium garden design and landscaping.
Well-designed columbarium gardens feel intentional, peaceful, and connected to their surroundings. Poorly designed spaces feel cold, or overlooked. Families notice immediately.
Cemetery memorial planning is where art, landscape, and planning come together.
Creating Spaces That People Choose — and Revisit
A columbarium is not just a structure — it is a place of remembrance, reflection, and ongoing visitation. The difference between a columbarium that sells steadily and one that struggles is almost always rooted in columbarium garden design and landscaping.
Well-designed columbarium gardens feel intentional, peaceful, and connected to their surroundings. Poorly designed spaces feel cold, or overlooked. Families notice immediately.
Cemetery memorial planning is where art, landscape, and planning come together.
Creating Spaces That People Choose — and Revisit
A columbarium is not just a structure — it is a place of remembrance, reflection, and ongoing visitation. The difference between a columbarium that sells steadily and one that struggles is almost always rooted in columbarium garden design and landscaping.
Well-designed columbarium gardens feel intentional, peaceful, and connected to their surroundings. Poorly designed spaces feel cold, or overlooked. Families notice immediately.
Cemetery memorial planning is where art, landscape, and planning come together.
Creating Spaces That People Choose — and Revisit
A columbarium is not just a structure — it is a place of remembrance, reflection, and ongoing visitation. The difference between a columbarium that sells steadily and one that struggles is almost always rooted in columbarium garden design and landscaping.
Well-designed columbarium gardens feel intentional, peaceful, and connected to their surroundings. Poorly designed spaces feel cold, or overlooked. Families notice immediately.
Cemetery memorial planning is where art, landscape, and planning come together.