You have a couple of options when installing your wall mounted box. Metal offers a lot of benefits including security and durability. With metal, the biggest advantage you have is security. Typically these boxes require a key to access your mail, unlike wooden ones. Also with metal comes a long lasting product. They’re resistant to weather a lot more than their wooden counterparts and require no maintenance.

Wooden wall mounted mailboxes, like metal, are pretty long lasting. However, every once in a while they will require you to re-stain them in order to keep them protected. If you slip up maintaining it, you may have to sand it down before painting it again. However, the biggest advantage they have is looks. Wooden products by nature look amazing. The natural designs and patterns in the wood can be brought out further by stains. Wood can even be custom built to match your house and even the style of your house.

Many people like to spruce up their mailbox by hand painting it. Flower designs, your favorite cartoon character, or even your favorite sport are common things to paint on. These designs are easy to make and don’t cost too much compared to other custom boxes.

Metal workers can get very creative and elaborate with their designs. Forging large pieces of abstract art are common with people who have this expertise. Sometimes they even form people like statues. I’ve seen many creative works such as a cowboy sitting on a fence, a hand, a car, and even a Yoda figure – the sky is the limit when you know what you’re doing.

These are less common than metal statues, but there are also ones that are sculpted out of clay or similar items. Typically you buy pre-fabricated when choosing this material, so your choices are pretty limited. I’ve seen dolphins, manatees, dragons, and religious figures. Since you can purchase them in stores rather than build them, you typically see things stereotypical of the area you’re on. Florida might have dolphins and manatees, while the south might have a cowboy statue.

No matter how to choose to customize your mailbox, make sure you choose something you’re good at. Painters and other artistic people have a huge advantage when you’re custom designing your box, as do crafty people.

Brick

There are many advantages to owning a brick mailbox. Along with wood, they’re some of the nicest looking mailboxes you can own, especially if you have a brick house. You can attach a nice built in flower pot and a high quality plaque to complete the look. Additionally, they’re the most durable kind of mailbox. They will hold up to vandalism, rain and weather; it will be there as long as your house.

However, with the pros come the cons: cost. They’re much more expensive than any other mailbox type. They also require a lot more effort to build. Laying the foundation, mortaring it together, and keeping it level can be a challenge for most people.

Wood

A wooden mailbox is perfect for those who want a perfect balance between cost and looks. Wooden mailboxes, depending on which type you build can look much nicer than their metal counterparts. Given the right stain, the wood will last ages and greatly improve the outward appearance of your home. Planning, designing, and making a wooden mailbox is moderately easy if you have woodworking experience. However, even a novice can take on this task. Additionally, since the mailbox doesn’t use up much wood it’s pretty cost effective. The only costs are for the tools, which many people already have. The only downside is maintenance. You will be required to re-stain the mailbox every couple years in order to keep it safe from the elements.

Metal

This is the solution to people who aren’t too concerned about their mailbox. A metal mailbox will last pretty much forever, as paint will keep it from rusting. It requires no maintenance and can be purchased at any hardware store for a low price. Many people consider these boring or plain, however, they can be just the opposite. Many people have chosen to paint their boxes in very complex ways. Some people with an artistic touch can really make these types of boxes look incredibly beautiful.

Summary

So remember, if you plan on building your own mailbox, take these points into consideration. In my opinion the cheapest and best looking mailbox is made out of wood. An elaborate luxury box is made out of brick, but is also expensive. It all depends what you’re looking for.

The definition of a pedestal mailbox is pretty broad. It means any box that mounts to a flat surface. This can include apartment mailboxes, residential, or businesses. However typically they are heavy duty boxes that are for residential areas that take up a classic look.

Typically a pedestal mailbox is fabricated out of metal, cast iron, or other long lasting materials. They’re more secure because rather than have a keyless door on a hinge, they require a key to open. This is ideal for people seeking peace of mind in knowing their mail isn’t tampered with.

A pedestal mailbox will look good near the curb or even on your porch. Installing one is simple; all you need is four bolts to secure it to your base. A base is simply a flat surface that it can be mounted to. Your base is typically concrete, but can be mounted to wood or even brick.

I like these mailboxes because they often come in classic looks. Some take on the appearance of aged copper, while having an antique look. They look nice on houses that have a rustic or aged look.

For this guide we’ll be using concrete to anchor in the post as it’s the longest lasting method. Before you start head to your local host office and pick up the specifications for how you have to mount the box. Typically mailboxes are 42” from street level to the bottom of the box. They should also be 6-8” back from the front face of the curb. Failure to follow USPS specifications may result in undelivered mail.

Installation

Start by marking the spot with an X that you want to dig. Next use a shovel to pick out a chunk of sod so you can patch the hole when you’re done. Next use a post hole digger to dig a 9” hole all around and 20” deep. Pour approximately 6” of gravel into your hole to help with drainage.

The next step is to place the pole into the hole. Double check your box is 41-46” off the ground, and 6-8” from the curb before continuing. If it’s too high or low, add or remove gravel to get the correct height.

Use either wooden braces or a helpful hand to hold the pole straight up in the hole. Use a level to make sure it’s perfectly even. Pour the concrete mix into the hole until it’s a few inches from the top of the hole. Add water to the concrete mix that’s in the hole in accordance to the instructions on the bag.

After about 30 minutes of drying time, it’s time to fill in the rest of the hole. Use the leftover dirt from the hole you dug to fill in the hole. Replace the top layer of sod if you successfully extracted it in step one.

Choosing the brick layout is a major way you can improve how a brick mailbox looks. For instance, the bricks you lay don’t only have to be horizontal. You can mortar them in place vertically to break up the pattern and make it look nicer. I recommend doing this at the base of the mailbox or towards the center.

A novice brick layer will typically build their brick mailbox the same width all the way up. However, advanced brick layers can have a curved structure. My favorite design is creating a wider base. You can then taper the width of the base off for five layers and do the same with the top. The result is a wide top and bottom and then it will taper in the middle.

Different shades of brick are also important factors in your mailbox. Deep reds, lighter reds, or even greyish colors can all be used. Choose colors that match your house the best. Faded reds combined with certain mortaring techniques can create a rustic appearance.

Incorporating a small flower box next to the mailbox is also a good idea. A small 2’x’2 enclosure can really spruce things up nicely.

Lastly, a high quality plaque is a great way to compliment your mailbox.  Since the construction costs so much, this is not an area you want to spare money.  Get a copper, metal, or even wooden plaque instead of generic plastic.  You can choose from one that mounts to the mailbox itself or just hangs down.

Usually a mailbox cluster will have one outgoing mail slot for all residents. It along with all of the boxes are mounted on the wall or built into the wall itself. Rarely do you see these boxes on a post or pedestal. Sometimes you can have a cluster of 30 or more mailboxes depending on the amount of tenants that live in the apartment.

An apartment mailbox is typically not something you build yourself. Unlike their residential counterparts, these mailboxes have to be USPS approved. Since they are in charge of the safety of everyone’s mail in the complex, these mailboxes are designed with security in mind. Unlike residential mailboxes, apartment boxes have keys to open them. There is also a master key that the post master has so they can insert the mail. While each slot may have its own door, that slot is part of one single door. When the “master door” is opened, it opens every slot at once eliminating the need for a postmaster to carry around multiple keys.

The amount of doors or slots a cluster has can range from just a couple to dozens. Larger apartment complexes have an entire wall filled with slots utilizing dozens at a time. The amount of users is the reason that the security of your apartment mailbox is so important.

Build plans

Take your sheet metal and cut a 23” x 23” piece out of it. Use a file to take the sharp edges and burs off. This is going to be the top arch and sides of your mailbox.

Next we’re going to make the bottom. The dimensions should measure 9” by 21”. Next we’re going to bend the top piece so that it forms the arch you’re familiar with. Use a perfectly round object to create an even curve. You can use a large pipe or something similar. It’s also possible to form it by hand, but it’s much harder to create a smooth curve by hand.

Now we’re going to attach the top to the bottom. Make a ¾” bend on the bottom two sides of your top piece at a 90 degree angle. Take your bottom piece and place it inside the arch so it’s resting on the sides that you just bent. Spot weld the bottom piece to the top using as many welds as you can. You may not be able to reach the spot welder all the way to the center of the mailbox depending on the type of machine you have.

Now it’s time to make the backside of the box. Trace the backside of the mailbox onto a piece of paper with a pencil. Add ¾” extra all the way around so you can bend it like you did on the sides. Spot weld the bended ends to the backside similar to the top and bottom.

The front side of the box is almost the same as the back. However, with the front you of course need a hinge so you open and close it.

Lastly, trace a flag style you want. It can be a traditional flag or you can get creative with it. Sometimes it helps to have a mailbox theme picked out so it can match the flag. For instance, if your mailbox is designed like a lighthouse, the flag can be a lit light bulb.

In order to prevent the metal from rusting, you’ll need to paint it. Spray paint the inside because those areas are harder to get to. The outside can either be sprayed or hand painted to create an artistic theme.

Build plans

The first and most important step is to lay your foundation. Start by digging out an area that is 24” by 24” square. The edge of the area you’re digging should be touching the curb. Dig the area out to 3”-6” deep and line the area with two by fours.

Fill the area in with concrete until it’s level with the frame. Wait until it dries to a pasty consistency. You want it so it’s wet enough to put a cinder block firmly in place, but not too wet to so it doesn’t sink.

Place two cinder blocks in a square at the exact center of your concrete foundation. Make sure that they perfectly level. If they are not level and square to the curb, your structure will end up being crooked.

After you have your first cinder blocks in place, you’ll want to stagger them all the way up. If your first set had the ends facing the street, your second should have the sides facing. This adds strength to the overall structure.

Now it’s time to actually add the bricks. This is where you can get creative in how you place them. You can start by either placing them horizontally or vertically. The first layer vertical can break up the pattern on your mailbox, this is called a soldier course and should only be attempted by experienced brick layers. The cinderblocks should have been the right size in order for you to lay the bricks in a 2-3-2 fashion. This means two bricks on one side, three bricks on the next, and two bricks after that. This will allow you to stagger the brick structure all the way up creating a nice looking structure, but also a strong one.

When you get up to 42” it’s time to set in the mailbox. Put a layer of mason cement on the cinder blocks enough to hold your box in place. Make sure it’s perfectly level and even on both sides. Add more cement to one side as needed. You might need to break some bricks into different lengths to complete your sides this time. Lightly tap them in strategic places with a hammer.

Once you’ve put a full layer on top of the mailbox, it’s time to add your final layer. Put a layer of cement on the entire top layer and lay your final bricks.

Typical mailboxes are 42” off the ground and are set a minimum of 1’ into the ground. If you’re not going to cement the post in the ground, it should be more than 1’, closer to 3’.

The simplest design is in the shape of a T. This design involves having the post being slightly taller than the board that the box is resting on. There should also be an approximate one foot board that goes the opposite direct of the board that the mailbox is resting on to improve appearance. Make sure to paint the lumber before you assemble the boards together and attach the box.

How deep you dig the hole for the post depends if you’re cementing it in place. A typical uncemented hole should be at least 2’ deep, but optimally 3’. If you’re anchoring it in place with cement, a depth of 1’ is more than enough. Make sure to use a level to even it out before the cement dries.

You can add decorations to your post by cutting out different shapes on a band saw. You can screw them to where the post meets the board the box is resting on at a 90 degree angle to break up the overall plain appearance. You can also add a knob on the top of it for added looks.

A mailbox post is not always made from wood. Other common materials include metal or even granite. However, these are typically more expensive and harder to install. A high quality wood such as cedar looks great and matches its surroundings.

Once you’ve built the post, the next step is installing it.  Don’t worry, it requires very little time and materials.