Mailboxes 101: Your "How To" Guide

Whether you're seeking mailbox refurbishment in Tampa Bay after a storm, or simply looking to spruce up the family front lawn, installing a post mounted mailbox on your own can offer plenty of difficulty. Often, the job requires some concrete work and the use of specific tools that aren't always found in the common garage. If you insist on handling the task on your own, this article should offer plenty of tips of how to get it done properly.

Keep in mind that your mailbox should have the following specs if you want to ensure the best setup possible: a body made of cast aluminum with accompanying stainless steel hardware, an attractive design with a powder coated finish, a sturdy aluminum post, matching signs that alert deliveries to your specific house number and address, and locking door options to keep your mail safely intact.

As for the setup of your mailbox, follow these four easy steps:

Step 1- Creating a hole for your post: Find your desired location, and dig a new hole using a post-hole digger. Keep standard postal service codes in mind, as usually a mailbox should not sit any higher than 45 inches from street level.

Step 2- Securing your post: After you place the post in the hole, be sure to level it and attach two support beams at the center to keep the post standing up straight; place one at the side of the post, and then add another to the back for proper support. This will ensure that the post does not move while you are pouring the concrete. Additionally, this will help keep everything level while the concrete is drying.

Step 3- Adding concrete for support: Pour dry concrete straight into the hole leaving 3 to 4 inches of space from the top open. Typically, a 50-pound bag of quick-dry concrete should do the trick here just fine. Next, you will have to saturate the concrete, and experts recommend using about a gallon of water per 50-pound bag used. Remember to leave your support beams in place for 4 to 6 hours or until you are certain the concrete is dry.

Step 4- Attaching and finalizing your mailbox: Typically, most mailbox installation kits come with a wood anchor to attach to the post. After screwing the anchor to the post, slide the mailbox over this anchor and secure it with galvanized screws. You're done!

When it comes to the refurbishing of existing mailboxes, typically, expert assistance is recommended. If there is a pre-existing cement base on your property, you are going to have to fully remove it prior to preparing your new post set up. Typically, homeowners don't have the necessary equipment (such as a jackhammer) to properly remove excess concrete, damaged posts, dinged up boxes, etc. It is also extremely important to install a temporary box in place of the one being refurbished, so that your mail service is not interrupted in any way.

Whether you are adding a custom mailbox to your new home or are in need of mailbox refurbishment inTampa Bay, following this quick guide on how to install a new postal box on your property can make things much easier. Remember to always consider using expert help for the tasks that require concrete work, and to utilize the ideal specs mentioned above, which your new mailbox should feature.