Maintenance
The key items to watch for are wooden post and/or mailboxes that need staining, wooden mailbox stands that need repair, numbers missing or falling off, and leaning posts. If you have an aging mailbox, the two main options are to repair/replace your wooden mailbox, or replace it with a plastic model.
Wooden Post w/ Metal Mailbox (original style)
Mill Creek South Wooden Mailbox Stand
Stain for the wooden mailbox stand and metal mailbox is available from Dell Erwin (434-245-5891, email.) The construction drawing to the left shows the sizes and number of pieces needed to build the mailbox. The cedar siding and any other wood can be obtained at ProBuild, which is right down the street in the Mill Creek Business Park.
The cedar siding can be purchased at most home improvement stores and is a standard item. It is helpful to stain all sides of the wood prior to assembling the mailbox stand.
The metal mailbox that goes on top is a standard item that can be purchased at most hardware stores. The mailbox should be coated with the same stain used for the wood.
Numbers
It is important that our house numbers are highly visible to help emergency vehicles find houses as needed. Please be use black or dark brown numbers to provide the high contrast needed. It is sometimes helpful to remove the numbers and paint them black or dark brown.
Plastic Mailbox
Mill Creek South Plastic Mailbox
The Rubbermaid Gentry All-In-One Post Mount Mailbox and Post Combo is the approved model. We have this model available for purchase in the neighborhood. As of September 1, 2012, they cost $90. The fee covers all materials and installation including the post, cementing it in level and numbers on the side.
Or you can get the mailbox directly from Home Depot. With this, you will also need a 4×4 post to bury in the ground.
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Installation
The US Postal Service provides installation guidelines here.
Contact
Scott Walk helps with the installation your new mailbox, or help to straighten existing posts. You may also purchase a plastic mailbox from him.
Email Scott Walk or call 434-977-8827.
Mark Loisell, a neighbor in Mill Creek North, builds and installs the traditional cedar mailbox stands. See his mailbox flier for more info.
Our mailbox has broken a hinge and I’ve gotten a new one from Lowes of the same size. It doesn’t have the ridges on it though. Does the nieghborhood provide boxes of the exact same kind for purchase? If not, I think this will do except that I’ll need to paint it.
Hi Tom: You can contact Scott Walk (See information above your query.) He keeps a supply of mailboxes and does installations and repairs. Mailboxes don’t have to be exactly the same, just similar. As you may have noted, years ago the board approved 2 different plastic models. I can provide you with stain that works for both the wood frame and metal mailboxes. New metal mailboxes should be sanded or have primer applied. Let me know if you need stain, and I’ll drop it off or you can pick up at my house. Contact by email or phone: 245.5891. Thanks for your part in improving our neighborhood.–Dell Erwin