Our front doors are more than just the gateway into our homes; they are also the easiest way to get deliveries posted through to us. If you are busy or out of the house, and you have a delivery arriving, having a door letterbox allows the delivery driver to pop the delivery through to you. Or, at the very least, it gives them a way to leave you a note to let you know you missed your delivery. While most UK doors have a front door letterbox, not every letterbox looks good or provides robust protection.
Looking around the web, we found plenty of comments and requests from people about how to best install a new letterbox at their doorways. With that in mind, we got in touch with Locksandhardware.co.uk, who provide advice and access to a wide-reaching array of home improvement solutions, including new locks, handles and, of course, door letterboxes.
Generally, replacing a letterbox already installed is a DIY task that you can do without calling the professionals. If you are going to carry out a full installation of a new letterbox without a previous hole in the door, though, it might be best to call the experts. So, where do you start? Let’s have a look!
What You Should Know Before DIYing Your Letterbox Fitting
If you buy a door letterbox online or in a store, you should be able to install it on your current door on your own. So long as you get the correct measurements and follow the instructions provided by the door letterbox manufacturer, it should work out just fine. However, this is NOT a job for a first-time DIY installer. There are many mistakes that can be made, which could leave you with a damaged door.
This is especially true, by the way, if you are installing letterboxes from scratch. Our advice is simple: if your doorway does not already have a letterbox, do NOT try to install one on your own. Cutting through your door and then securing the letterbox is a time-consuming, detail-oriented job. Contact a locksmith or a similar professional and watch how they do the job; you can see how complex the process can be. We appreciate your DIY handiwork and desire, but think about the impact involved.
If you leave yourself with a cut that is the wrong size, your door is left exposed. You might even need to shell out for a replacement door; even a cheap front door is still pretty expensive. Way more expensive than buying a new front door letterbox and having a professional fit it for you, anyway!
Now that we have covered that, let’s take a look at the steps required to go ahead and replace your current door letterbox with a new, shiny alternative.
What Tools Will You Need To Install A Front Door Letterbox?
You will need quite a few tools if you want to carry this job off correctly. Generally, you should be looking to pick up some of the following tools:
- Installation tools, including a drill and a screwdriver (ideally Phillips head)
- Drill parts, including a 3mm and 9-10mm drill bit
- Marking tools, preferably a pencil, for creating markers for installation
- A measuring tape to make sure you get the right size of letterbox
- Cutting tools, including a jigsaw or pad saw
- Screws to fit the new letterbox in place
- Your new replacement letterbox
Now, if you are installing a door letterbox from scratch, you will need more than the above. Again, this guide is for installing a door letterbox into an already-cut letterbox hole, not creating one from scratch. We would not recommend anyone who is not a DIY veteran, with at least some joinery experience, to take this task on alone. Leave it to the professionals if you are starting without a letterbox hole.
The Simple Guide To Fitting Your Door Letterbox
There are some typical steps that you need to follow if you want to get your new door letterbox fitted without damaging your door. The advice we received from Locks & Handles includes the following, but please note that every door is different; if you are ever uncertain, call a professional instead:
Take Out The Old Letterbox
The first step is going to be to remove the old letterbox from its position in your door. Most of the time, this is as simple as taking out the screws on the interior side of your door. The original letterbox should then come unstuck, allowing you to remove it without any resistance.
Sometimes, you might find that it has a glue or silicone finish; you will need to carefully scrape this off, avoiding damaging the door in the process. Take your time; this takes patience and a little bit of elbow grease!
Mark Your New Letterbox
Now, if you have done your research and measured your old letterbox, your new front door letterbox should be the same size as the gaping hole left in your door. If not, you either need to adjust the gap in your door (again, not recommended for non-veterans) or buy an alternative letterbox that is the same dimensions as the old model.
Hold up your new letterbox and, if needed, leave some pencil markings so you know precisely where it will fit. If you feel confident and need to make the gap bigger, use your saw to cut what is needed.
Putting Everything Together
Now, take your new letterbox and hold it up into position. It should be a perfect fit for your newly cut sections. Fit the internal section first; once in place, make sure that the screw holes from the original letterbox line up with the new model. If not, you will need to create new holes with your drill.
Go around to the outside of the door and fit the front section; make sure that the drainage holes are at the bottom of the letterbox, not the top. Now, give the letterbox a push and it should slot into position without much resistance. On the interior, secure the internal cover for your letterbox and then secure it in place with the fixing screws provided with your letterbox. Tighten them as much as you can.
And there you have it; you should now have a comfortably placed, accurately installed letterbox. You might wish to add some silicone around the edge to help secure it in place and avoid any draughts from getting through any potential gaps. Again, if you are ever unsure, call a locksmith or a joiner; they can make sure that the letterbox is installed correctly. Good luck!
