The survey found significant evidence that family tombs had been expanded and "updated" as the need for space grew, and as styles and fashions changed.

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Tomb Additions

As families grew larger, and as the almost yearly outbreaks of yellow fever caused many deaths, the family tomb was often not large enough, or available. Space could be rented in the surrounding wall vaults until a family vault was free. However, there is also abundant physical evidence that families expanded their tombs over time. As need for space grew, more vaults could be added and the tomb could expand upward, and sometimes outward, on the same plot.

Additions were defined in the survey as "clear evidence of construction changes and major modifications made to the tomb/marker, intentionally changing or expanding the form or orientation." These additions tend to be historical, such as in the case of a step tomb changed into a pediment tomb, or the children's addition to a large society tomb. The evidence of these additions is based on visible irregularities of form or construction. Many tombs with added vaults have cracks in their stucco that coincide with the top of the original structure. These added vaults may also show evidence of different color campaigns or different weathering patterns from the original vaults. Evidence includes: irregular tier rhythm, mismatched brick, unusual mortar joints, different colored stuccos, mismatched closure tablets, variations on tomb typology. Evidence may also be reinforced by typology of adjacent tombs.