DIY House Number Posts

Large numbers are easier to read from the street.

Anyone who has received a phone call due to a lost friend or pizza delivery person knows the importance of a prominent house number display. Most areas have regulations in place regarding post height, distance from the road or driveway and number size, so check with your city to prevent code violations. Within those regulations, a house number post can be as plain or decorative as you like. Pressure-treated lumber will guard against weather and insect damage.

Things You'll Need

• Screw-in fence post finial
• Measuring tape
• 4-by-4 post, 8 feet long
• Pencil
• Carpenter’s square
• Hand saw
• Medium-grit sandpaper
• Nail-on house numbers
• Hammer
• Roofing nails
• Post hole digger
• Quick-setting dry concrete mix
• Garden hose
• Hoe or shovel
• Level
• Power drill
• Drill bit set

Instructions

1. Measure the height of the finial, less the screw, which will be inside the top of the post.

2. Measure the post from one end to the height you desire for your number post, less the length of the finial. Add 2 feet to this measurement for the part of the post buried in the ground. Make a mark with the pencil.

3. Set a lipped carpenter’s square on the edge of the post with the corner against the pencil mark. Trace the other edge of the square onto the post with a pencil, making a straight cutting line. Cut the post at the line with a hand saw.

4. Align the house numbers on one side of the post. Place the numbers top to bottom. For example, if your house number is 135, the number 1 will be in the top position, the 2 will be directly beneath it and 5 will be on the bottom.

5. Hammer one roofing nail through the top of the number plates and into the wood, and another nail at the bottom of the plates. Roofing nails are short, with a wide head that helps prevent the number from falling off.

6. Use the post hole digger to dig a hole 2 feet deep in your desired location.

7. Mix the concrete in a wheelbarrow or bucket until it has a peanut-butter like consistency. Stand the post upright in the hole and fill in around the post with the concrete.

8. Set a level against the side of the post. Adjust the post until the bubble is centered and the post is plumb. Use stakes or blocks to hold the post in place, as needed. Let the concrete set for 24 hours.

9. Select a drill bit that is the same diameter of the screw shank on the post finial, and fasten it to the drill chuck. Drill a pilot hole straight down into the center of the top of the post.

10. Twist the screw portion of the finial into the pilot hole until the finial rests flat against the top of the post.

Tips & Warnings

• Stain and seal the wood with deck sealer, if desired, or paint it any color you like.

• If your area allows it, install a hook on the back side for hanging flowering pots or seasonal decorations.

• Never dig without calling 411 first. Your utility company will mark the location of any buried lines to prevent injury and damage.

• No matter how beautiful you make your number post, you could incur a fine if it does not meet your local regulations.

References

• Corner Hardware: How to Dig a Post Hole