If you are a responsible citizen and often receive mails, you really need a mailbox. Choose the sidewalk of the mailbox after a standard installation and immediately increase its attractiveness on the road, or wall-mounted mailbox that can be mounted on a fence or next to the eye door. But how to install a post mount mailbox? Well, it’s not that hard. Just a simple DIY task to do.
This guide will guide you through the simple process of two installations step by step.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has some specific rules to be followed when installing a mailbox. They are included in this guide, but you can also check the USPS website for more details.
Tip: Although this guide will provide guidance for a typical mailbox installation, there are several mailbox models. Be sure to check the manufacturer’s instructions that come with your mailbox for more specific instructions.
How to install post mounted mailboxes?
This article will guide you through the whole process of installing a post mount letterbox.
1. Dig hole for the post.
Since most streets have road edges, the standard mailbox height is 42 inches above the ground. So, the total height is about 45 inches: 42 inches from the ground, plus a few centimeters from the sidewalk.
USPS requires that the mailbox should be 41 to 45 inches higher than the road surface. Standard mailboxes on the floor are 42 inches tall.
Mark a spot on your lawn from 6 to 8 inches off your sidewalk. If you do not lift the road, contact your local post office manager for guidance.
Digging deep enough, measure if the letterbox is about 42 inches above the ground. Do not dig deeper than 24 inches.
2. Insert the pole into the hole.
Make sure that the mailbox you want to install comply with the recommendations of the Federal Highway Administration: a stable post that can bend or fall to the side if it is hit by a car. Avoid not yielding support such as metal or concrete columns, instead use 4 x 4-inch wooden stand or standard steel or aluminum pipes of 2-inch diameter.
3. Insert the concrete into the hole.
Put support beams on all sides, extending the outside around the hole. Make sure that these are safe and do not move with concrete pouring.
Measure the height of the mailbox above the floor to ensure that the mailbox is approximately 42 inches.
Do not bury the depth of your post beyond 24 inches. Use levels to ensure that mailbox posts are direct.
If the email publication you selected comes with the manufacturer’s instructions, make sure that you followed the instructions carefully when you complete the steps in this guide.
Prepare a bag of concrete for each manufacturer’s instructions, pour into the hole, around the post.
Leave a few inches of space at the top of the hole.
Carefully check your mailbox immediately after pouring concrete. If you have a slightly uneven movement, adjust immediately before the concrete begins to dry.
Tip: A 50lb concrete bag should be enough for this item.
4. Allow concrete to harden up.
Allow the concrete to dry. The time it will take depends on the type of concrete you are using: check the specific details of the concrete label.
Leave the supporting beams around the mailbox until you are sure that the concrete is fully dry.
5. Attach the mailbox according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Use the mounting clamps to connect the mailbox according to the installation instructions that are attached to the device. Each mailbox is different depending on your model, so follow the instructions strictly.
6. Add Street Number.
USPS requires that each mailbox clearly indicate its corresponding house or apartment number.
Add your street address or house number on the side of your mailbox, the number should be at least 1 inch high.
if your mailbox is on a different street than your home, put your entire street address in the mailbox.
Tip: If you are building your own mailbox, contact your local mail manager to review your mailbox plan and confirm that your design is USPS compliant.
7. Final Touch.
If desired, fill a few inches above the hole with soil and grass.
Increase your roadside appeal by turning your mailbox area into a small garden in your front yard.
Once a year, check for loose hinges and rust. If you notice that something is blocking the clear path of the mailbox, or if the house number has been lost or faded, solve the problem immediately.
How to attach a mailbox to an existing post
If the post already exists, installing the mailbox is way easier.
- Measure the depth of the bottom of the mailbox with the tape measurement. This length tells you how deep you need the screw to fit the wood at the bottom and the rod you want to attach to the mailbox.
- Place the mailboxes on the posts as needed. The more central the mailbox, the easier it will be for you to install it.
- Turn on the battery-powered drill and reach the inside of the mailbox. Drill screws of the appropriate length through the bottom of the mailbox and enter the lever to connect the two together.
- Add a red metal logo by drilling on the sides of the box with another screw.
- If you send a message, raise the flag and configure it so that the sender knows that they are ready to receive your mail.
How to install a steel made post mounted mailbox
- Place the mailbox on the post. The closer it is to the center, the easier it will be to install it.
- Configure the included installation screws according to the instructions of the mailbox, where they should go. For example, if the bracket used to connect the mailbox to the rod should be located directly under the lower front edge, and then set it there.
- Open the drill, drill the accompanying screws through the hole of the bracket, enter the post and enter the mailbox, connect the two together.
- If you send mail, raise the red flag and press down if you receive it.