Casket Types and the Key to Choosing the Right One

Arranging a funeral is always a difficult task for families, even if the loss of an elderly or chronically ill loved one was an expected reality. One of the key elements of any funeral planning is the purchase of the casket. The price of caskets in Troy varies depending on the raw material used for manufacturing them and the types of accessories selected by the family. For example, some caskets are supplied with brass handles for pall bearers to carry the deceased to the final resting places, while others will have a religious symbol (usually a cross) made of metal placed on top of the lid.

Two Main Categories of Materials Used by Caskets Troy Manufacturers

Irrespective of the various accessories and general appearance, caskets can be made of two types of materials: wood and metal. These two materials guarantee the manufacturing of a solid casket, able to contain the dead body in a safe, secure and hygienic manner.

Choosing the right type of casket depends on more than available funds and personal preferences. Here are the detailed characteristics of each type of caskets.

Metallic Caskets

The most frequent situation when metallic caskets are required is when the person dies away from home, usually abroad, and the body needs to be repatriated by plane. The metallic casket features a gasket installed along all four sides. Thus, when the lid is placed and secured, the casket becomes airtight, compliant with the health and safety specifications for the long distance transport of dead bodies.

The gasket installed on the casket will not prevent the normal process of decay of the body inside. However, it makes it possible to hold a funeral service for the person at a later date after death, as late as a few weeks.

Metallic caskets are usually made of:

• Bronze;
• Copper;
• Stainless steel;
• Standard steel.

The first two types of caskets are preferred for their special design and color, while steel coffins are recommend for their resistance to rust and mechanical shocks.

Wooden Caskets

Wooden caskets are more affordable than metallic caskets and are recommended if the deceased’s place of final disposition is close to their place of death and there are no complications that could delay the funeral service. In terms of wood essences, the following options are widely available on the market:

• Mahogany;
• Walnut;
• Maple;
• Oak;
• Cherry;
• Pine;
• Poplar.

The best sold casket models are those made of poplar, as they can be painted and finished in a wide variety of colors and sheens, and have the most affordable prices on the market. Mahogany and walnut caskets are high-end models featuring superior look and resistance to shocks. Cherry and pine wood have a medium resistance, but compensate by the specific color of the wood essence, giving the casket a muted elegant look.

Most manufacturers of caskets Troy offer families the possibility to choose from readymade models or create a customized casket according to their budget and preferences.