Outside post boxes- secure and weatherproof, Is There Such a Thing?
One of the things that we are often asked by customers is whether the outdoor post boxes we have for sale will protect and essentially be a perfect product for their home.
The external post boxes we provide are the best solution for an outside mail collecting solution. It’s quite difficult to make anything waterproof because of the deliberate access point (you know, like a hole for the post!).
You certainly could not take one of our many post box for home models for sale and dunk it fully in the bath and expect all to be well with your bills and circulars inside.
But, this isn’t the end of the story. After all, who really wants to submerge a post box for home underwater? Especially in the bath. It’s a bit of an odd hobby if you ask us and we are slightly letterbox obsessed.
What people really want to know is if their outside post box will be weatherproof. The answer to is, “well yes, of course, they are, they are designed to be used outside!”. Our internal use boxes are obviously the exception but if you want to know if your rear access or your through the wall mailbox is going to keep your post dry, it is. Totally dry and safe from the weather. So not a waterproof outside post box, but very much weatherproof post box for home. Our external use mailboxes are built totally with the weather in mind. (The British weather mind, not somewhere lovely and dry!)
We think what people want is an outdoor post box for home that is going to survive the weather. One that is going to keep post dry reliably. And a mailbox that is going to be long lasting without rusting for many years. The majority of our external post boxes are treated with a thermal powder coating. This means that they are able to stand up to rain, snow and hail without any issues, lasting for many years without rusting. All post boxes come with a one-year warranty as well.
In addition, our post boxes are cleverly designed. Many of them have little ridges built in to funnel the majority of any rain water well away from the access point and thus away from your precious post.
If you need any further proof, have a look at this video we made. In it, Dominic makes a right mess of our office by pouring buckets of water over a SD5 mailbox. We did ask him to go outside but he doesn’t like the rain… But when we test weatherproof, we really test weatherproof!
Dom may not like the rain but the SD5 took whatever was thrown at it. I think you’ll agree, even the great British weather couldn’t match that much water on a letterbox even in a year. And as you see, the envelope comes out totally dry despite the good drenching the letterbox gets.
So you’ll have to excuse us for being pernickety on the terminology. When we see the request for a “waterproof post box for home”, we all say “ah, what you need is weatherproof post box for home. Otherwise, you can’t actually get the post in”.
This picture shows the sole external post box mounted next to a modern front door
This picture shows a Serenissima Stainless Steel Wall Mounted External Post Box installed next to a blue front door
This picture shows the W3-2 Gate Mounted External Post Box installed onto a wooden gate
This picture shows the SMN Through The Wall External Post Box mounted in a brick wall
This picture shows a W2N Wall Mounted Stainless Steel External Post Box installed on a brick wall
This picture shows the SM Copper Through The Wall External Post Box installed in a brick wall
This picture shows the WA1 Wall Mounted External Post Box installed on a brick wall next to a red front door
This picture shows the front of a W3-3 Gate Mounted External Post Box installed in a wooden fence below a customer name plate
Rolle Through The Wall External Post Box
This picture shows a W3 Gate Mounted External Post Box mounted onto metal railings
What is the Best Size Outdoor Post Box?
An external post box can enhance the security and kerb appeal of your home, but with so many options on the market, what is the best sized outdoor letterbox?
The answer depends on several factors:
The type of mail you typically receive – letters or parcels?
How often do you retrieve the mail – daily or less frequently?
The space you have available for a wall mounted or free standing post box
So, let’s answer some other questions to help you make an informed decision.
How Big are Post Boxes?
A compact wall mounted letterbox for your home typically complies with the EU requirement to hold A4 letters without them bending or being exposed to the weather. The smallest dimensions we sell at Letterbox4you is the Moda Italiana Gioiosa at 375 x 258 mm, with a depth of 85cm. It is neat, stylish and available in the traditional post box red!
If your budget is tight, we have great value small post boxes for sale including the SDG2 Quick Fix. We never compromise on quality, so this model is still made from quality materials, designed to be weather resistant and easy to install.
At the other end of the scale, we sell the Allux 800L, a large post box designed to receive and securely hold multiple packages. This post box for house or office use is rising in popularity as e-commerce sales boom.
What Size Fits in a Letterbox?
The opening on most outdoor post boxes, including the Allux 200, is big enough to take a Royal Mail large letter; classified as up to 353x250x25mm in dimension.
The letter plate opening is restricted to prevent unintended recipients from reaching in and grabbing your mail. For this reason, the same restrictions are found on our through the wall letterboxes and apartment letterboxes. The difference is that some through the wall letterboxes, including the LFD 042 have a large letterbox hold for storing mail. This is useful if you don’t access your mail every day.
In some models, the opening is slightly wider and the design includes a baffle plate or angled detail that makes it awkward to fit a hand or tool through the gap. Look out for these features if security is a concern.
Can you Buy a Large Post Box for House Installation?
If you regularly receive packages, you might be looking for the large letterbox opening that is a feature of our parcel box range. We offer through the wall, wall mounted and free standing parcel boxes in a range of sizes.
So, we mentioned restricting access, so how does this work with a large post box opening? The solution is in the clever design. Through the wall options often include an angle and drop, which make it incredibly difficult to reach in. In wall mounted and free standing models, you find internal shelves that lower to drop the parcel into the hold but rise when the letter plate is opened. This blocks unwanted entry.
Installing Outdoor Post Boxes
The best sized post box is determined by the available space. You might install the outdoor post box to a boundary wall, fence or gate to prevent the postie from needing to come up to the door. You may prefer to install it next to the front entrance. Consider the options and get the tape measure out!
There should be a suitable space to fit a standard-sized wall mounted letterbox outside most properties. If space is limited, but you want a parcel box, consider a model such as the Allux 500, which offers a good capacity to size ratio.
Letterbox4you supplies every gate or wall mounted letterbox with a standard fitting kit. Many of our through the wall options include a trim that adds the finishing touch.
Selecting your Ideal Letterbox
Our advice is to:
Take note of the type of mail you usually receive, to decide whether a standard letter plate opening is sufficient or if you need a parcel box.
Think about whether you can empty the letterbox daily or if you would benefit from a larger hold.
Consider the ideal place to install a post box and if that restricts the model size in any way.
This should narrow the options to the point when you can pick a style based on what suits your property, your personal preference and your budget. If you have any questions about any post boxes for sale on our website, please get in touch on 01296 839401 or enquiries@letterbox4you.co.uk.