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Mailbox Makeover
![Rob & Courtney M, Hometalk Team](https://cdn-fastly.hometalk.com/media/profile/2020/02/28/5663023_4.jpg?size=91x91)
by
Rob & Courtney M, Hometalk Team
(IC: paid contributor)
11 Materials
$35
2 Hours
Medium
Mailboxes generally have the same look around where we live: a plain mailbox on a plain post which is so not my personality or style. After nearly 5 years of looking at our ratty mailbox and post, I decided to vamp it a little and I'm so pleased with how this fairly easy project came out!
BEFORE:
This is the mailbox that came with the house when we bought it almost 5 years ago and clearly it needed some TLC!
SUPPLIES:
-4 (1x4x8) pine boards *Note: We purchased 6 but returned 2.
-1 (2x4x8) board
-measuring tape
-Behr exterior semi gloss paint (Color: Cherry Cola)
-vinyl black/silver numbers
-2 (2.5" wood screws)
-DeWalt reciprocating saw
-2" paint brush
-18 gauge brad nails
-nail gun
-DeWalt chop saw
STEP 1: Measure and cut 1x4x8 boards
First, Rob measured how wide we wanted our planks to be which turned out to be 16". Then, he cut the planks to size using a chop saw. If you don't have power tools, you can do this with a manual saw or see if the hardware store where you purchase your wood will do this for you.
STEP 2: Measure, fit and secure post
Next, I measured from the ground to the end of our existing mailbox post. This would determine how much I needed to dig into the ground in order to fit in our support post.
STEP 2: Measure, fit and secure post
Next, I measured from the ground to the end of our existing mailbox post. This would determine how much I needed to dig into the ground in order to fit in our support post.
Once I had a measurement, I dug a small hole with a shovel...
Once I had a measurement, I dug a small hole with a shovel...
...then, wedge in the support post underneath our existing mailbox post.
Finally, I used 2.5" screws (one on either side) to secure the support post to our existing post.
Optional: I didn't want the little piece of our existing post sticking out the back any longer so I used a reciprocating saw to cut it off in order to make the tall part of the existing post flat.
STEP 3: Install planks
After my support post was secure, I started installing the 16" planks Rob had cut for me. I used 2 nails for each end of the planks.
In order to ensure the planks were evenly spaced apart, I lined one end of the plank to the front of the existing post, secured the plank with nails, then used 2 scrap pieces of wood as wedges to space the plank above to the next plank.
Then, to ensure that the planks were even with each other, I used an extra plank to line then up from the back.
STEP 4: Paint
Hindsight, I would have painted my planks before installation but at the time, I was clueless as to the look I was going for so I decided to install the planks first in hopes inspiration would come to me. I decided to use the same paint I used on our front door (and the sliding barn door inside) to tie in the mailbox with the house. I used Behr exterior semi gloss paint in a deep red color called "Cherry Cola".
Optional: Because the numbers on our mailbox looked a hot mess and they were basically baked onto our mailbox, I simply grabbed new numbers (the same kind we originally had) and applied them over the original numbers. Our mailbox was in decent shape and I liked how the white popped against the red so I decided not to get a whole new mailbox. The sky's the limit with the numbers though! If you want a plain mailbox, you can get nice numbers to install on the planks but I felt that look was too modern for the whole look of our house/style.
I'm so in love with our "new" mailbox! It was so simple to give it a unique facelift without breaking the bank and it ties together with our house now instead of sticking out like a sore thumb. ![icon](http://cdn-fastly.hometalk.com/resources/design/emojis/1f44d.png)
![icon](http://cdn-fastly.hometalk.com/resources/design/emojis/1f44d.png)
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Published June 26th, 2017 9:27 AM
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2 of 69 comments
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Talitha Hudek on Apr 09, 2022
Possibly use pallets and cut to size? Think I will try that. Your idea is fabulous!
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Frequently asked questions
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Were you thinking of using the little car I seen in the video next to the post? If so You could plant a vine maybe some clematis vine in a nice red color or white .You could chain it to the bottom of the post so no one takes it and hide the chain with the vine . IN winter you can bring it in so the plow doesn't destroy it .
In hindsight, wouldn't it have been better to use galvanized screws? That way they would not rust from weather or come loose over time.![](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/emojione/assets/3.1/png/32/1f60e.png)
Did you use treated wood? Wouldn’t untreated wood tend to fail fairly quickly when exposed to the elements? I really like the idea and wish I could do it but we are also in Minnesota and need to deal with snow plows!