The idea of fitting a letterbox can be a daunting task, but the fact is that it can be a relatively simple DIY job. The key to making this job as simple as possible, is to ensure that you have all the right materials available and follow the instructions for installation.
Today, let’s look at the typical installation of a fence letterbox:
Tools For Installing a Letterbox
Here is a list of the tools which you are going to need:
- Stainless steel letterbox
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Power drill and drill bit
- Medium or hard coarse sandpaper
- Safety goggles
- Ruler
- Spirit level
- Jigsaw
- Electric sander
Once you have all of your materials and tools, we can get started.
Step by Step
- The first step is to ascertain where you will be putting the letterbox. If you have a solid wood fence then you can place it wherever suits you best. If however your fence is made of rock or brick then it is recommended to speak to a professional concerning installation.
- Now that you have decided, make a mark with the pencil so you know what height the hole will be. Measure the width of the letterbox so that you can ensure you get the cut perfect space for the letterbox. Then draw a straight line through this pencil mark, and make it as level as possible using the spirit level.
- Now we need to ensure that the mark we have on the fence fits the letterbox perfectly before any holes are cut out. Make sure that the height of the letterbox opening is also measured out so that a perfect rectangular shape can be outlined on the fence.
- One this is all done the hole can begin to be made. Start by taking the drill and make a hole at the corner of this inner rectangle, large enough for the jigsaw to pass through.
- Use the jigsaw to cut out the rectangle, look to stay on or just inside the line which you have drawn.
- Sand the edges of the hole which you have cut out, using sandpaper or the electric sander.
- Place the letterbox over the hole to ensure it fits, sand any areas which need to be larger. Using the pencil mark out the holes where the lug nuts of the letterbox will go, and then drill small holes over the pencil mark.
- Connect the stainless steel letterbox making sure that all bolts and nuts are as tight as possible.
Why time consuming all the steps are necessary to ensure that the letterbox is perfectly placed inside the fence. However if DIY jobs is not your speciality there are also a host of other letter box options that could be installed separately from your fence and with professional help.
If you have a wood letterbox to add to the outside of your fence, then the installation is simple but the placement is where you must be careful. Make sure that you consider how easy it will be to access your mail and how secure the letterbox is. This will help to avoid any potential future problems down the track and will provide peace of mind for all your mail deliveries.
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