Overview:
This project will show you how to install a curbside mailbox. A curbside mailbox can add style to your front lawn and make life a little easier for your mail carrier.
Materials:
40lb. bag of quick-drying cement
Tools You'll Need:
power-lite cordless drill or 6-in-1 interchangeable screwdriver, 4-in-1 level
Before You Begin:
If you are installing a mailbox in a new location, call your local utility companies before you begin to dig. They will come out and mark your property with the location of underground cables and pipes.
Barbara's Tips:
When using quick-drying cement to backfill a hole in the ground, you do not need to mix the cement with water. Dry cement will harden and cure by absorbing the natural moisture from the soil.
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Step 1: Location, Location, Location
Select the right placement for your mailbox. Make sure you choose a site at least 40" away from your driveway to allow for sufficient clearance for vehicles. Your local postmaster can tell you the proper height of the box and the distance it should be from the street. City requirements can vary, so it's worth checking. Generally, the bottom of the mailbox should be between 42" and 48" from the ground (not the curb). The front of the mailbox should be about 6" to 8" away from the edge of the street.
Step 2: Dig Deep
Using the shovel cut away a 12" square of ground, saving the dirt and sod. Dig down at least 6", then use your post hole digger to make the hole about 28" to 30" deep. This is the hard part. Wear your gloves and flex those muscles! Place the post in the hole and measure from the ground to the top of the post. It should be between 36" to 42" high.
Step 3: Fill and Level
With the post in the hole, begin adding the cement. Use a hard instrument, like the handle of your shovel, to tamp the cement firmly into the hole. You do not have to mix or wet the cement. It will harden and cure from the natural moisture of the soil around it. If your area is extremely dry, you may have to prepare a wet cement mixture according to the instructions on the bag. Fill the hole 1/4 to 1/2 full, and then check the post on all sides with your level, to make sure it is not leaning in any one direction.
Step 4: Finishing Touches
Finish adding cement to the within 4" of the top of the hole, making sure to tamp the cement down and checking at least one more time with the level to make sure the post isn't leaning. Replace the dirt and sod around the base of the mailbox. You do not want any cement to be showing. Attach the mailbox to the pole using screws. Make sure the pole is clean and free of cement residue, and paint or stain to match your house.
Step 5: Ready For a Special Delivery
Write yourself a letter of recommendation. You did it yourself!
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