How to Install a Mailbox or Repair a Letterbox Post

Mailbox Installation with DaznDi

Installation a mailbox can be easy when you have the right tools and how to go about it. In the video below I show you how I install a mailbox for a client. It is a is a steel letter box that was mounted on a wooden post. The wood post was rotten at ground level and the letter box fell over. The video goes for a little while as I cover all the different step that I under went to remount this mail box and post.

Post Mounted Mailbox Video Transcript:

This is the mail box that needs to be repaired, as the main post is rotten. Before digging to install a new mail box in the ground, check to see where all your utilities are such as water pipes, gas lines, power connections and telecommunications. It is best to check where all these services are before you start digging.Once you know that there are no issues with coming in contact with these services, dig out a hole ready for the mail box post.

Next thing to do is dig the hole to the depth that is required. Start by disassembling the mail box from the old post. The mail box is now ready to be placed onto the new post. This is the timber that will be used to make the new post. In this case I am using treated pine, 3 by inch an 1/2.

Next step is to measure and mark the length of the post for the mail box. Use a square and a pencil tomark where the timber is to be cut. Use a hand saw or power saw to cut the timber on the pencil line. I have cut the main length of timber into two equal lengths to make the post 3 by 3 inch square. Check to make sure that the two lengths are the same.

These are galvanised screws that I will use to join the two timbers for the main post. Now it is time to pPredrill the top timber ready for the galvanised screws. You will see that the drill bit length only passes through the top timber. Keep the two timbers straight and insert the galvanised screws. The two timbers are screwed together into a 3 by 3 inch post.

These are the tools and equipment used for this job. The small piece of timber will be cut into two equal lengths to be attached to the bottom of the post as a footing support. Use a saw to cut into to two pieces. Cross the timbers and mark on one face each. Mark half way down on the sides of each of the small timbers, as I will saw and chisel out these sections of the timbers.

Now clamp the small timber ready to be chiselled out. Saw down only to the half way line, make a few saw cuts to the width of your chisel. I will have to cut out three sections, in these timbers. A hammer and chisel will be used to chisel out the area. Now chisel out the timber to the marked line, chisel out from one side and before you reach the other side, chisel from the opposite side to finish off. This will help to avoid taking a chunk out below the marked line for a clean job.

Here you can see how I have chiselled out both pieces for timber to fit into each other. These timbers will form a cross footing for the post. Predrill through the top piece of timber and then securer with a galvanised screw. Now the footing is ready for the post. Line up the footing on one end of the post. Predrill the footing ready to be securer to the post.

Make sure that the drill bit passes right through the footing timber. Place galvanised screws into the holes ready for secure ring to the end of the post. Line up the footing again ready to be screwed to the post. Attach the footing to the post and check to make sure that the hole depth and position is right for the post. Always check with your local area county or postal authorities on the height and distance to set your mail box at, as it can vary in different towns or countries.

Line up the mail box on the post. Mark the holes with a pencil where the fixing screws will go. The mail box has a bottom bracket which I use a clamp it to the post ready for drilling. Now using a drill bit that is the same size as the inner core of the screw. This will make it easier to go in and avoids splitting the timber.
Predrill the holes ready to fix the mail box. Securer the mail box to the top of the post, and to the side on the post if it has a bracket. The mail box is ready to be placed into the ground.

Place the post into the hole and cover the footing with soil and ram down to pack the soil. Before completely filling the hole with soil, check the side of the post with a level, as well as the back of the post.
Finish filling and packing the soil back into the hole. You could also use premixed concrete with water to firmly securer your post or add cement powder to the soil as you back fill the hole. The mail box in now ready to be used. One last thing is too added, isthis sign to the post.

Mailbox before photo

Mailbox after photo

How to Install Brick Pavers on Grass

Installing Brick Pavers on Dirt

The video on how to install brick pavers shows you how to use old or new concrete pavers to make a stepping stone path. There are lots of ways of installing brick pavers; I show you how to lay pavers on grass and in the dirt. I show the before, during and after of laying pavers in a grass lawn. Also I explain what tools I have use and the different steps along the way.

How to Install Brick Pavers on Grass Transcript: 

This is the area that I will lay down the brick pavers

This is the area that I will lay down the brick pavers. The client uses this area to walk out of the back gate.

These are the bricks or concrete pavers that I will be laying.

The tools I need for laying the pavers are; a string line to line up the pavers, rubber mallet to knock the pavers firm into the ground, a spade to dig out where the pavers will be placed and a wooden stake to attach the string line to.

The first thing is to set up the string line to where you would like the pavers to be placed.

Once the string line is set up, it is time to place the pavers down on the ground.

Starting with the first paver mark out the outside with the spade and dig out the grass pad to the depth of the paver. Drop the paver into the dugout hole and knock in with the rubber mallet until it is level with the ground.

This is what it looks like after placing in six pavers.

This is what it looks like just after I had finished laying all the pavers.

This is the before shot from the back gate

And this is the after shot from the back gate

Before photo on where the pavers are to be layed:

After photo shows the layed pavers:

Laying concrete pavers is fun and can be quite rewarding, there are so many different patterns that you can make with them. Just plan out how you would like them to sit, level out the area (if required) and lay the pavers!

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