In Brookland Cemetery, “yes” you must. In most cemeteries anymore you will need a vault. Most cemeteries require a vault because otherwise as the casket and body return to nature, the grave space continues to settle for years, and makes a maintenance and safety issue for the cemetery. The concrete vault does not deteriorate, and eliminates much of the grave space settlement.

Many people believe the vault is required for water tightness reasons, which is not true. Though some vaults offer various means of water resistance, many, maybe the majority do not. Cemeteries do not specify whether the vault the family chooses is water resistant or not, because the only reason the cemetery requires a vault to mitigate ground settlement after burial.

The single exception to the above is in our lawn crypt section of the cemetery. Lawn crypts act as their own vaults and therefore, the family does not need to buy another vault. A lawn crypt is essentially a pre-installed vault. In Brookland Cemetery our lawn crypts are either single or double depth vaults, providing for one or two casket burials. Lawn crypts act as the vault, as they are made of concrete like most vaults, and preclude much of the ground settlement after burial. Lawn crypts appeal to families that like the idea of a companion (husband and wife) burial in the same space. In Brookland Cemetery a double lawn crypt provides more value by reason of taking less land and sharing the cost of the vault between two users.