Understanding Burial Vault Requirements at Cemeteries No burial vault should be understood as a guarantee that a casket will remain unchanged. A vault can provide an outer enclosure and help support soil above the grave, but materials, seals, groundwater and time affect conditions underground. Ask the supplier to explain the product's stated function without treating "sealed" as a promise of permanent preservation. What affects the cost of burial vaults in the United States? The cost of burial vaults depends on material, construction, finish, delivery, and installation, as well as the cemetery's rules. Concrete, metal, and other products differ in design and price; quoted totals may also separate the container from cemetery opening-and-closing charges or the lowering device. A useful comparison checks the same features across each written quote: construction, closure method, stated warranty, delivery, installation, and responsibility if a unit is damaged during handling. Families reviewing a Funeral Channel articles can use those points to frame questions, then compare the answers with the cemetery's policy rather than assuming similarly named products offer identical construction or service. Can a vault keep a casket completely dry? No vault should be assumed to provide permanent, absolute protection from water. Groundwater levels change, rainwater can collect in a grave, and joints may be affected by pressure, shifting soil, or the passage of time; "water-resistant" and "waterproof" claims may also describe different performance standards. A vault is designed to support the ground above the grave and can help reduce surface settling, but it cannot guarantee that settling will never occur. Soil, weather, grave maintenance, and the product's construction can all affect conditions over time. A grave liner is generally a simpler outer container, often open at the bottom, that supports the sides and top of the grave without fully enclosing the casket.