Your New Mailbox?

Your mailbox is both a functional and an aesthetic item at the curb of your home. Homeowners can dress them up to match a theme that is important to them. They can be very basic, a metal box on a wooden post, and they can be quite ornate, made of wrought iron, brick, or stone.

It is fine that your mailbox makes a statement, but it must be functional. According to the USPS, the ‘door’ of your mailbox should be between 41” and 45” in height. That door should be set back 6” to 8” from the curb. With this height and setback, the postal driver can easily pull up to your mailbox, deliver your mail and drive away.

Once set, the mailbox or post should have a reflector so that it is clearly visible to oncoming traffic at night. This will reduce the chances of it getting hit. Last, the mailbox should clearly display the address numbers of your home.

If you need or simply want a new mailbox, please remember that your homeowner’s association may have a say in this matter. They may have style guidelines, or they may simply tell you to purchase product XXX from vendor YYY. If every home on your street has the exact same curbside mailbox, this could be the case.

The most common reason we replace mailboxes is due to automobile damage. When your neighbor across the street, or a new driver in the home, backs out of the driveway their car is perpendicular to the road. If your mailbox is directly across from their driveway, it may pay the price. While stone and brick will not rot as wood does, they are no match for a car. Once damaged they are far more expensive to repair or replace.

If you have a simple box on a wooden post, that post will rot and need to be replaced periodically. While this is a simple task, going with a metal post will keep your cost down, as compared to brick, but last significantly longer than wood. It is often recommended that metal posts be set in cement. That cement will need to be dug out when the post is replaced in the future, so do not go overboard.

When selecting a site, consider the height and setback requirements, and do consider traffic patterns. Directly across from your neighbor’s driveway is not a good idea, nor is being right next to your driveway. If somebody backing out starts their turn a bit early, your mailbox may pay the price.

Now, personalize your new mailbox if you so desire, and wait for the mail.

If all this sounds like hard work, it can be. Sometimes the ‘last guy’ to install your mailbox used a lot of cement. And, depending on the time of year, it can be hot out when doing this work. If this is something you want to take on yourself, then this information should supply everything you need to get started.

If you would rather have somebody do this for you, then know that Mr. Handyman serving Greater Jacksonville can install your new mailbox. Understand if your HOA has any requirements, get the product they recommend or that you want (if they have no requirements), and then call Mr. Handyman to get it installed. We can also tackle anything on your ‘to-do’ list while onsite, getting all your projects completed in one easy visit.