How to Build a Vinyl Mailbox in a Weekend

You can build an attractive, low maintenance mailbox in a weekend. Plus you can do this without using a hammer and nails. All it takes is a little planning, the right materials, and the weekend.

When you think of low maintenance today concerning your house, what's the first material that jumps to mind? It's vinyl, of course. So, what better choice for building a mailbox than vinyl? You won't have to paint it or stain it. And you can clean it with soap and water. Sounds like the perfect choice, doesn't it? Yet you're probably wondering how on earth you can build a mailbox out of vinyl siding. Well, you won't be building it out of vinyl siding; you will be building it out of vinyl fencing. Now, if you really want to do it the easy way, simply purchase your vinyl mailbox post kit and cement it into the ground. These kits range in price from about sixty dollars up to two hundred dollars depending on how elaborate you want. But you can create your own design for far less money and just a little more work by using vinyl fencing.

Vinyl fencing comes in various colors, just like vinyl siding. However, my personal favorite is white. White seems to stand out more. But the color of your mailbox will depend on you and the selection of colors available.

So, are you ready to make a trip to your local home improvement center? You will need one end fence post. This post will have the openings already cut on one side only to allow the railing to fit into the post. The outside will be smooth. You will also only need one rail. These rails are general used for what is known as the horse fence. A horse fence is usually three horizontal rails between two posts. The rails are approximately two inches thick and six inches wide. You will only need one each of the posts and rails because you will be cutting them in half. In addition to the post and rail, purchase four end caps. These caps fit into the open ends of the rail. You will also need a vinyl mailbox. A simple white one will cost you around ten dollars. Colors are higher.

The exact height and length of your mailbox is up to you. The normal height for a mailbox is around forty-two inches. This includes the height of the actual mailbox plus the post it rests on. The length of the mailbox is entirely up to you. You could leave room for a flower box or planter beneath it if you like.

Find the correct distance from the street the box needs to be placed. You can do this by calling your local post office. It is best if it is close enough to the street so that the carrier's vehicle remains on the blacktop at all times. Then you will need to determine the length of your mailbox. And by that I mean the length it will extend from the street side back toward your yard or home. You must know this before you continue. The rail has to fit between the two posts.

Cut your end post in half with a hacksaw or jigsaw. Next, cut your vinyl rail. The rail doesn't necessary have to be cut in half. It depends on how long your mailbox will be. Keep in mind that you will need the top rail to be approximately eight inches longer that the middle rail. It will run from one post to the other, resting on top. The front end of the rail needs to extend out toward the street six inches or so in order to support the actual mailbox. Draw the outline of the posts on the underside of the top rail. You will need to cut this out. It will allow the top rail to fit down snugly over the posts, securing it to the posts.

Hopefully, by now you have an idea of what you are doing. Now you will need to dig the holes for your posts. Unless you get a lot of extremely heavy mail, the posts don't have to be more than six to eight inches in the ground. Make sure the tops are level before you cement them in. One word of caution, before you cement your posts in, make sure you can get the middle rail through the slots. As long as the middle rail fits into the slots approximately two inches on either side, it will do fine. After the cement dries, fasten your mailbox to the top rail using small screws. Fit the top rail down over the posts. Fit the end caps over the ends of the top rail. If you have any leftover openings in your posts, simply fit one of the end caps into it, like a plug.

You can now add the decorative touches such as your name and address, a flower pot or planter beneath it, and maybe a solar light. You can either purchase the name and address kits and attach your personal information to either side of the side rail or make your own address and name plaque. You could hang a plaque with your name on it from the underside of the middle rail or hang a welcome sign.

If you add a flower box or planter to your mailbox design, try cutting the bottom out of the box or planter. This will allow it to drain and in some regions, certain types of perennials can be planted.

Keep your mailbox looking fresh and clean by spraying it down occasionally with your water hose. Purchase some bright seasonal mailbox covers and change the flowers as the seasons change for a different look during the year.