Exploring the Waterproof Nature of Caskets and Their Impact on Decomposition | Waterproofing Contractor Singapore | LE FONG BUILDING SERVICES (2024)

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In the realm of modern funeral practices, the type of casket chosen can influence how quickly a body decomposes after burial. While the decomposition process begins immediately upon death, the speed at which a body breaks down can vary significantly. Embalmed bodies placed within caskets and protected by grave liners or burial vaults typically take up to a decade or more to decompose fully to the skeletal stage.

The Myth of Waterproof Caskets

A common inquiry concerns the waterproof characteristics of caskets and the effectiveness of their seals. The reality is that no casket is completely waterproof or airtight. Sealed caskets might initially hinder moisture and bacteria from penetrating the enclosure, but over time, the sealing gasket deteriorates. This holds true irrespective of the casket material—be it metal (stainless or standard steel), various woods (hardwood, softwood), fiberboard, or wood veneer. All these materials will eventually succumb to environmental conditions, allowing moisture ingress and facilitating decomposition.

Lifespan of Metal and Wood Caskets

Metal caskets generally offer a longer lifespan compared to their wooden counterparts. Some metal caskets come with warranties extending up to 50 years, although such warranties are more symbolic than practical. Typically, metal caskets start to corrode and rust due to moisture after about 20 years, largely due to the breakdown of their gaskets.

Conversely, wood caskets, inherently porous, are less resistant to water. Water penetrates wooden caskets almost immediately upon burial, although complete decomposition takes longer. Factors like the type of wood, any treatments (such as pressure treating, painting, or varnishing), and environmental conditions like soil moisture and temperature significantly affect the rate of decay. Usually, wood caskets face considerable decomposition and rotting within a decade, particularly in consistently moist soil environments.

The Role of Sealed Caskets

Despite their popularity, sealed or gasketed caskets, typically made of metal and equipped with a rubber seal, do not provide long-term protection against decomposition. These seals offer a temporary barrier against elements like water, air, and fungi, thus delaying—but not preventing—the inevitable breakdown process. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces regulations preventing funeral directors from claiming that such products significantly delay decomposition.

Practical Applications of Sealed Caskets

The primary practical use of sealed caskets is not to prevent decomposition but to facilitate safer and more sanitary transportation of bodies over long distances or by air. Airlines, for instance, often require a sealed casket to minimize the risk of contamination and control odors during transit. This necessity becomes crucial when transporting a deceased person back to their hometown for burial.

The Role of Funeral Parlours and Funeral Directors

Funeral parlours and funeral directors are essential in guiding families through the decision-making process regarding casket selection. They provide vital information on the benefits and limitations of different casket types, including insights into the materials and construction methods used. It’s important for funeral directors to communicate transparently about the capabilities of caskets, particularly regarding claims about waterproof and airtight features. By adhering to ethical standards and regulations, such as the FTC Funeral Rule, funeral directors ensure that families make informed decisions without being misled by unrealistic expectations about long-term preservation.

Conclusion

While sealed caskets might offer some short-term benefits in terms of delaying decomposition and facilitating transportation, they do not provide a waterproof or indefinite solution against the natural processes that reclaim our bodies after death. Funeral directors and parlours play a crucial role in managing expectations and helping families choose the most appropriate casket for their needs, balancing comfort, style, and practicality.

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 Le Fong Building Services Pte Ltd
 
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 Daniel Lee 
 
2024-04-13
 
 
 
Engaged Le Fong to do waterproofing works on our roof. Justin was the main coordinator and the job was done professionally, thoroughly and efficiently. Great service all around
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Andrew Teik Hong Chen 
 
2024-04-01
 
 
 
Justin was the main coordinator for our roofing works and he was fantastic. Prompt, thorough and very willing to get down to solving the actual problems. Justin would look for several solutions, give the various pros and cons whilst being realistic of issues that he would need to escalate. What I appreciate was how Justin would go the extra mile in settling all the leaking issues for my place.The workmanship was of a very high standard and I will recommend for others to use Le Fong.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Amanda Chong 
 
2024-03-12
 
 
 
I did grouting for my living room. Very happy with the result.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Quek Julia 
 
2024-03-01
 
 
 
Good job done. Very clean and professional.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 James Loh 
 
2024-02-19
 
 
 
I am very happy with Janine for her ownership to ensure the team come on time and flexibility to ensure that my payment schedule is met. BIG thank you to the site team for doing the work “peace and quiet” and fully trustable
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Yuin Fong Ling 
 
2024-01-22
 
 
 
I had contacted Le Fong after observing their workers work on my neighbour's roof. One of the workers came over to take a look and took some photos. With that, he could communicate with the head office and a quotation was worked out very quickly. While I was initially skeptical about how quickly the inspection and quotation was done just through a few photographs and whatever the worker told the boss over the phone, I realised that this was most impressive because the person repairing the leak will be the worker himself - not the boss. So if the worker sees exactly what the problem is, he is likely to know what is wrong and how to fix it. So why shouldn't I trust his judgement. Secondly, for the boss to just listen to the worker over the phone and be able to then provide a quote tells me the amount of trust the boss has in his workers' abilities. It also made it very convenient for me as anything I raised was communicated back quickly and I would get a response back fairly quickly. Typically, the boss of such contracting company is too busy and you wait many days for them to show up and when they do, they are in a hurry and very reluctant to explain the technicalities of the solution because they tend to assume the customer won't understand. Then the instructions to the workers are brief and unfortunately not complete. With Le Fong, I thought the company was responsive to my needs.Special thanks to Arif , Ragen and Kumar who spent hours analysing the issue both on sunny days and on wet days and they finally fixed the leak well. Even though the contract was for a targetted area, they expanded the coverage beyond that just to make sure the leak issue was really addressed.One of the workers Rajen, also noticed how the wall on the opposite side of the room had bubbling on the paint. Having worked on my neighbour’s roof, he knew where the fault lines were and assured me he will get the issue fixed, which he did. So while his job was to fix leaks, he ended up-selling the company’s services by sporting additional sales opportunities. I was reluctant to spend more money initially but am glad I did.All these happened in October and I held my breath with each shower and thunderstorm the past month with the relentless December rains. I am most relieved and happy that this was the driest my room has experienced. The leak is gone and the wall has stayed dry. The pails to catch the drips and the towels on the floor are also gone. Both issues were resolved to my satisfaction. Credit goes to their workers who knows what they are doing and did their job well.Behind all these is the liaison person Joi whom I have been corresponding with. She is super efficient in dealing with anything I needed to know. Whether it was an issue I rasied, the invoicing, fees … etc she was on top of it. She is also polite and very patient with my demands and requests. I thought Joi represented Le Fong very well as the voice behind the face of the company.Come to think of it, not once had I spoken with the bosses of thecompany. I do know the workers and Joi consult their bosses for key decisions. This is how a company should be run, thru trusting your employees.Through my engagement of Le Fong, I dealt only with the workers and Joi, and yet everything I raised got addressed. Joi would patiently explain what she can or cannot do thru consultation with the bosses and the workers will explain to me the technicality of what they were doing whenever I asked. Yet, the bosses seem to be on top of things even though I haven't seen them. To me, this is most impressive – for trusting their workers and staff and enabling them to serve the company well with their expertise.Thanks again Arif, Rajen and Kumar and also to you Joi.