When you think about making DIY upgrades to your home, the mailbox is not often one of the things that will spring to mind. There are always projects that sound a lot more fun when making home improvements, especially when the weather gets nice in the spring and you want to work outside, but the mailbox is one of the most important features of your home exterior.
Your mailbox holds all of your important mail and packages, keeping everything clean and out of the elements. So, if your mailbox is outdated or starting to fall apart, you might want to start updating it before it is too late. Even if it is not damaged, it can help transform your home’s curb appeal, making it easier for you to sell your home or improve your property value.
Here, we will look at some signs that it is time to upgrade your mailbox and why faux stone is a great choice to make that happen.
Why Upgrade Your Mailbox?
Before we look at why faux stone is a great choice for a mailbox, let’s take a look at some of the signs that you need to upgrade it.
Parts Are Missing or Broken
Does the mailbox open and close properly? Does it still have the mail flag? If it has a lock to it, does the key come in easily, or do you have to wiggle it to wrestle it out of the lock?
You want to ensure that your mailbox is opening and closing right, so your mail is not exposed to the elements and it is not tempting people who would tamper with it or steal it.
Your Mailbox is an Eyesore
You may spend a lot of time ensuring your yard and garden look gorgeous, but you have overlooked that old, rusty mailbox. If it is old and rusty and becoming an eyesore, it is time to replace it. Make your mailbox look as great as the rest of your yard, and get rid of the old eyesore.
Photo by Bill Fry Construction – Wm. H. Fry Const. Co.
It Has Been Hit Too Many Times
A couple of dents are one thing, but if your mailbox has been hit a few too many times and is becoming unrecognizable, it is definitely time to get an upgrade. A damaged mailbox can potentially leak, getting your mail wet, or it can have sharp edges that damage your packages. Since you likely have your house number painted on the side of the mailbox, damage can also make them harder to read, which can make it difficult for someone who is looking for your address.
There is Not Room for All Your Mail
Most older mailboxes are not very big and cannot hold the many packages you order online. If your mailbox is too small to fit many of your packages, upgrading to a bigger mailbox that fits more is a good idea. It is also a good idea to get a mailbox that locks so your packages can be kept more secure.
Photo by Boyd’s Custom Masonry LLC
The Wooden Post is Getting Old
If your mailbox is on a wooden post, as many mailboxes tend to be, the wood might be starting to look like it has seen better days or it is so old that it is gross to look at. If that is the case, it is definitely time to replace it and upgrade your mailbox.
Photo by Boyd’s Custom Masonry LLC
Updating Your Mailbox with Faux Stone
Upgrading your mailbox post this spring is easy to do with faux stone. Getting a new wooden post for the mailbox is the first step. Once you set the post into the ground, you can fill the hole with some easy DIY concrete from a hardware store in your area. Make sure your post is level, then let the concrete harden and dry.
After your concrete has dried, making your new mailbox post steady and secure, you can install stone veneer to the post. It is easy to install, and you only need to screw the panels onto the existing post.
Once the stone veneer is installed, which only takes a few hours, you can install your new mailbox to the post. Find a new mailbox that stands out and grabs attention, giving it something that will help people find you easily and that you enjoy looking at every day when you check your mail. Consider finding a mailbox that locks, so you can keep your mail and packages safe when they are dropped off for you.
About the Author
Auz Burger is a freelance writer and an expert in faux stone and brick veneer and home DIY projects. She has a BA from Washington State University and has been writing and editing professionally for over a decade.
