Choosing a mailbox for your home seems incredibly easy. However, there are some factors that need careful consideration and are easily overlooked if you are unsure of what to look for.
Below are some expert tips on mailbox types, materials and features to help you choose a mailbox that suits your needs.
What type of mailbox should I choose?
The type of mailbox you choose should largely depend on what functions you want it to perform and whether you need something more secure or less intrusive. Nowadays, all types of mailboxes can be easily customized and are available in a wide range of colors and shapes.
mail slot:
- This is the most secure and private option as it mounts right on your front door or on a wall in your home Mail cannot be stolen or looked through.
- However, many people find their own mailbox too messy how every mail sent through them ends up all over the hallway; This problem can be solved by installing a simple box inside to intercept mail.
- Another downside is Larger packages will not fit through a normal letter slotThat means you have to leave them on your porch or return them to the post office if no one is home to receive them.
What material should my mailbox be made of?
Of course, your mailbox needs to be strong and durable enough to withstand any weather. Certain materials are much better suited to certain climates. So keep this in mind when choosing your mailbox – you don’t want to have to replace it every few months!
Here are some key characteristics of the most popular mailbox materials:
steel
- Steel must be treated to be watertight.
- Otherwise, it withstands rust and extreme weather conditions such as high winds and hail.
aluminum
- Aluminum must be treated to be waterproof.
- It can resist rust.
- Compared to other metals, it is a relatively light material.
Brass
- Brass needs to be shiny and polished regularly to avoid patina (green residue from exposure to air and moisture).
plastic
- Plastic is very adaptable and easy to maintain and clean.
- It’s relatively durable, but can be a very bad idea in hotter regions, as the heat can melt or warp the plastic.
Wood
- Wood can be very visually appealing due to its traditional and rustic aesthetic.
- However, it is not very durable and water-resistant, so it is definitely not recommended for rainy regions.
What functions should my mailbox have?
While some of these may seem obvious, it can be very easy to go to the trouble of choosing a nice design or size for your mailbox and forget the most important features.
locking mechanism
- Make sure your mailbox has a secure locking mechanism that only you and/or people you know can unlock.
- As mentioned in this guide, email thieves like to use larger mailboxes because they are more likely to contain packages Particularly important for free-standing mailboxes.
ID
- A house number or surname should be visible in your mailbox.
- This ensures that your The mail will be delivered to the correct addressPostmen can easily make mistakes!
newspaper stick
- This ensures that the space in the mailbox is actually free for letters and parcels and is not occupied by bulky newspapers and magazines.
rear access
- Creates a small rear access door an easy way to check your email without having to completely dismantle the entire mailbox each time.
- In particular important for boxes mounted behind mailboxesnot so much for other guys as they usually catch up in front.
