How to Build a Brick Mailbox Enclosure
A brick mailbox has the ability to make any home look more elegant. This project doesn't require any special masonry skills, but it does require attention to detail and a little planning ahead to figure out how you want your mailbox to look once finished. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- 4 Wooden Stakes
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Mailbox
- Shovel
- Wheel barrow
- cement mix
- 4 8" x 8" x 16" concrete blocks
- Bricks
- Mortar
- 8 to 24 metal strap anchors
- Jointer
- Trowel
Instructions
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1
To excavate a square hole where the mailbox is to go, place a stake at each corner to make a perfect square. The square needs to be slightly wider than your mailbox. Dig out the square in the center at least 8" deep. Pack down the dirt with your trowel to ensure it's level.
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2
Prepare your cement and pour into the hole until it reaches ground level. Allow the cement to cure. Read the cement instructions to know how long this should be. It could be anywhere from 24 hours to one week. Check that your square is level. You may need to add more cement if it's not level.
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3
Build the central core of the mailbox from the concrete blocks. Place two concrete blocks in the center of the square, side-by-side, the solid edges facing out. Trace around the edges of each block with your pencil on the concrete then remove the blocks.
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4
Prepare you mortar and lay some along your tracing lines, then press the concrete block back down on top, ensuring a firm fit.
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5
Lay mortar on the tops of your first concrete blocks. Press two more concrete blocks on top of the bottom two at a perpendicular angle.
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6
Lay a generous amount of mortar around the base (the area around the concrete block core). Set the first brick down, the widest part of the brick pressed into the mortar against the concrete core, and a corner of the base.
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7
Apply mortar to the end of the next brick. Press it into the mortar, butted up to the first brick. Repeat until the entire base is covered with one layer of bricks.
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8
Apply mortar to the top of this first set of bricks and repeat until bricks are same height as your concrete block core.
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9
Add metal strap anchors to the four corners and in the center to secure this first section.
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10
Now repeat steps 3 to 9 for your second level. If the height of where you want your mailbox opening to be isn't tall enough yet, then repeat steps 3 to 9 for a third level.
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11
Secure your mailbox into place the same way you would a brick. Apply mortar everywhere on the bottom your mailbox touches. To make sure your mailbox can open, don't place it too far from the edge.
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12
Set bricks vertically this time all around the mailbox, the same way you did when applying them around the base. Set the bricks slightly behind the edge of your mailbox. Remember, you want your mailbox to be able to open, so don't brick it closed. Use mortar to fill in the gaps between the mailbox and the bricks.
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13
Continue applying bricks horizontally, at least one set, above the vertical row of bricks to finish. Once all bricks have been laid, but before the mortar can set, hit the corners with your jointer. After the mortar has dried, sweep away any excess mortar with a brush.
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Tips & Warnings
Check your county's building codes and if this type of project will require a permit. Also, check the United States Postal Service's requirements for mailbox sizes and enclosures to be sure your new mailbox enclosure fits within their guidelines.
