18 gauge, 20 gauge, Bronze, Copper, Stainless Steel, Ash, Cherry, Mahogany,Maple, Oak, Poplar, Walnut Greer Funeral Home offers a complete line of caskets with multiple selections of colors, interiors, hardware and gauges. A casket often is the single most expensive item you'll buy if you plan a "traditional," full-service funeral. Caskets vary widely in style and price and are sold primarily for their visual appeal. Typically, they're constructed of metal, wood, fiberboard, fiberglass, or plastic. Although an average casket costs slightly more than $2,000, some mahogany, bronze, or copper caskets sell for as much as $20,000. No matter what casket you choose, it's important to remember that its purpose is to provide a dignified way to move the body before burial or cremation. No casket, regardless of its qualities or cost, will preserve a body forever. Metal caskets frequently are described as "gasketed," "protective," or "sealer" caskets. These terms mean that the casket has a rubber gasket or some other feature that is designed to delay the penetration of water into the casket and prevent rust. Most metal caskets are made from rolled steel of varying gauges - the lower the gauge, the thicker the steel. Some metal caskets come with a warranty for longevity. Wooden caskets generally are not gasketed and don't have a warranty for longevity. They can be hardwood like mahogany, walnut, cherry, or oak, or softwood like pine. Pine caskets are a less expensive option, but seldom are the least expensive option.. Manufacturers of both wooden and metal caskets usually warrant workmanship and materials. There are many different types of metal caskets, and each type has its unique features and advantages. Bronze, copper, and stainless steel are considered semi-precious metals. Bronze and copper are listed in weight per square foot, such as 32-ounce copper. Steel caskets are categorized based on the thickness of the material used (e.g., 16-gauge steel, 18-gauge steel, and 20-gauge steel. Features of Metal Caskets (from Aurora Casket Company) The bottoms and sides of stainless and carbon steel caskets are electronically fused together with 19 feet of continuous seam weld. This type of weld adds to the strength of the product and enhances the protective qualities of caskets. The brushing process features hand craftsmanship which results in the finest finish available in casket manufacturing. Aurora's high gloss paint finish is achieved by implementing a wet sanding process, which is similar to that used in the manufacturing of luxury automobiles. Aurora caskets offer various grades of both velvet and crepe material which complement the quality and overall appearance of every Aurora casket. Reversible interiors offer a variety of appearances, which provides families with more personalized choices. The locking mechanism, located in the center of the casket, provides a very simple but effective closing system without compromising the exterior appearance of the casket. Most caskets have a Memorial Record tube so the vital statistics of the deceased are permanently kept with each unit. The oldest material known to man makes it a natural and environmentally sound choice when selecting a casket. Hardwood is also strong, beautiful, and shock-resistant. And just as no two pieces of hardwood are exactly the same, each Aurora casket handcrafted of hardwood has its own, warming identity. Choosing a hardwood casket also leaves a legacy for the next generation because wood is a renewable resource. Accurately defined, hardwood is any wood derived from a leaf-bearing tree commonly referred to as deciduous. The term "hardwood" shouldn't be confused with the reference to the hardness of a wood's surface. The Origin of Hardwood The eastern seaboard of the United States has historically been a rich source of premium hardwood timber. A renewable natural resource, American forests are closely managed to ensure future availability and environmental safety. Prime stands of hardwood forests are common to several states in the eastern United States, including Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Pennsylvania. Species Ninety thousand species of hardwoods exist around the globe. As many as 4,000 species are adaptable for manufacturing purposes. Hardwood species are divided into two distinct categories-open grain and close grain. Examples of open grain wood species include oak and ash, while close grain species include maple and poplar. Popular Hardwood Choices for Caskets Premium Hardwoods Cherry Mahogany Walnut  Standard Hardwoods Oak Ash Maple Common Hardwoods Poplar In Aurora Casket Company hardwood caskets, moldings are sculpted by hand and the entire piece is hand-rubbed between multiple coats of lacquer. Hardwood caskets are completed with a full-polished, hand-rubbed high gloss or satin finish. Professional woodworkers, skilled in the art of cabinetry, follow many steps to ensure that the quality of the final product is comparable to that of the finest furniture. These craftsmen apply a wide variety of exterior finishes that accent the graining pattern that is unique to each species of wood. Aurora caskets offer various grades of both velvet and crepe material which complement the quality and overall appearance of every Aurora casket. Reversible interiors offer a variety of appearances, which provides families with more personalized choices. Most caskets have a Memorial Record tube so the vital statistics of the deceased are permanently kept with each unit. Aurora offers a wide variety of species and shell styles, which include a complete line of orthodox products. All Aurora hardwood caskets are suitable for cremation. A few specific features include metal hardware that is easily removable from the outside and beds that are fully combustible. Aurora is conscious of both environmental concerns and overall cost saving programs. Therefore we have instituted many recycling programs throughout our manufacturing facilities and offices to reduce waste in any of our processes.

Caskets