Vaults

A burial vault is a protective outer container that the casketed remains are placed in at the grave and sealed closed. They protect the casketed remains, keep the grave intact, and add beauty to the funeral committal setting.

The vault is usually made of two pieces of moulded concrete with a liner bonded to the inside of the top and bottom. Some variations of vaults have been in use throughout the 20th century. Cemeteries started requesting them for functional and economic reasons, primarily to reduce maintenance costs. Other reasons for their use are to reduce the disturbances of existing graves by heavy machinery the cemeteries now use, and to have the use of a grave for double and triple deep burials.

In most areas of the country, state or local law does not require that you buy a container to surround the casket in the grave. However, many cemeteries require that you have such a container so that the grave will not sink in. Either a burial vault or a grave liner will satisfy these requirements.

About Vaults

Advances in vault technology have yielded protective liners that are bonded to the cement and made of asphalt and, more recently, polystyrene plastic. Modern vaults also use much stronger concrete than in the past; tongue and groove designs with butyl sealing compounds to better set and seal the top and bottom pieces of the vault together; and wire mesh or fibers added to the concrete for additional strength. Vaults are so well made that they can carry warranties of up to 200 years, depending on the quality of the vault.

As with the caskets, vaults are made from a variety of materials.  Church and Chapel Funeral Homes has a partnership with Doric Vaults, below is a description of the different types of Doric Vaults:

Olympian/Quad-Wall
The Doric Olympian/Quad Wall vault is the highest quality burial vault manufactured today. Its multi-layer inner liner is reinforced and bonded to an inner shell of uncompromised strength. Premium materials throughout ensure enduring strength and beauty. Not available in some areas.

Premium/Triple Wall
The Doric Premium/Triple Wall vault weighs a quarter of a ton more than basic vaults. Its inner liner is made of a high-grade reinforced plastic bonded to an inner shell of your choice of stainless steel, copper or bronze in both its base and cover. An additional matching carapace cover is added for extra strength and beauty. Known for its enduring properties, the Doric Premium/Triple Wall vault resists corrosion and offers an extended warranty of 125 years for the Athenian (stainless steel), 150 years for the Lydian (copper), and the 200 years for the Bronze (bronze). Not available in some areas.

Standard/Double Wall
The Doric Standard/Double Wall vault has a ribbed ABS Lustra-Tech® lining in both the base and cover. A wide variety of finishes and customization options are available. It seals with the Doric exclusive butyl sealing system and will provide years of service. It carries a 100-year warranty. Not available in some areas.

Basic/Double Wall
The Doric Basic/Double Wall vault has a ribbed Durapreme® lining in both the base and cover. It seals with the Doric exclusive butyl sealing system and will provide years of service. It carries a 70-year warranty. Not available in some areas.

Classic Metal Vaults
Doric's Classic Metal Vaults division produces a line of high quality air-seal vaults. With variations such as Porcelain Enamel Steel, Aluminum, Galvanized Steel, Copper, Bronze and Stainless Steel, the CMV line of products boasts the largest selection of metal vaults available anywhere. These air-seal vaults are also available in a variety of finishes such as powder coating and textured paint. Not available in some areas.

Chruch and Chapel provides a selection of burial vaults to meet your needs or the needs of your family. To learn more about our services and the other merchandise we offer, please do not hesitate to contact us at (414) 476-0052 or (262) 827-0659, or by email:

If you would like to see a listing of the vaults that Church and Chapel Funeral Homes offers to our families, please click on the link to the right to see our Burial Vault Listing.