Mailbox and house number installation

Wall-mount mailboxes

Many valley homes have a mailbox on the wall by the front door. Old boxes rust, lose their lids and let rain in. A new wall box mounts on the same spot when the holes line up, or we patch the old holes and mount fresh. On stucco we use masonry anchors and seal the holes so water does not get behind the box.

Post mailboxes

Curbside mailboxes on a post must sit where the carrier can reach from the vehicle. The U.S.

Postal Service publishes placement guidance on its site at usps.com, which says: “Place a curbside box 41 to 45 inches higher than the road surface and 6 to 8 inches back from the curb.” We set posts in concrete to that height, level, and attach the box to the arm or the top plate. Changing where a mailbox stands may need a word with your local post office first.

Locking mailboxes

Mail and package theft is a real concern in many neighborhoods. A locking mailbox with a slot lets the carrier drop mail in while only you can open it. We install wall and post-mount locking boxes, and check that the slot is large enough for the mail you usually get. Larger parcel boxes are an option where porch packages go missing.

House numbers that work

House numbers help delivery drivers, guests and emergency responders find you, especially at night. Numbers should be large, high-contrast against the wall, and visible from the street in both directions. Many cities ask for minimum heights; check your city’s rules if you are replacing old numbers.

Reflective or lit numbers help after dark. We mount them level, evenly spaced, and fastened so they do not loosen in wind.

Lighting the address

A light near the numbers makes them readable at night. If there is already a porch light, mounting the numbers near it often solves the problem. New lights on existing outdoor boxes are covered on our outdoor lighting page.

Curb painting

Some homeowners ask for curb address painting. Many cities have rules on curb painting, and some only allow it through approved programs. We focus on the house and the mailbox.

Combined visits

Mailbox and numbers pair well with a doorbell or a lock change, since they are all at the front door.

Mailbox styles

Wall-mount boxes come with or without locks, in steel, aluminum and brass. Post-mount boxes come in standard rural sizes and larger parcel sizes. Decorative cast boxes look good but rust at the joints; a powder-coated box lasts longer in sprinkler spray.

Mailbox posts

Wood posts rot at the ground line in a few years if set straight in soil. Concrete footings, a treated post, or a steel post set in concrete last much longer. We set posts plumb, at the height the Postal Service lists, and brace them while the concrete cures.

Number styles

Modern floating numbers mounted on standoffs cast a shadow that helps readability. Classic tile or brass numbers suit older homes. Contrast matters most: dark numbers on light walls, light numbers on dark walls.

Numbers on curbs and posts

Where the house sits far back from the street, numbers on the mailbox post, a fence or a low wall near the drive help drivers. We mount numbers on both the house and the post when that helps.

Multi-unit lots

Lots with a back unit or ADU need clear unit labels so mail and packages reach the right door. We add unit letters or numbers by each entry and on the mailbox.

Package theft

Package boxes with a one-way drop door let carriers leave parcels safely. They need to be anchored to the ground or the wall so they cannot be carried off. We bolt them to a concrete pad or a wall.

Numbers for emergency calls

In an emergency, every second counts. If your numbers are faded, hidden by plants, or behind a gate, an ambulance may drive past. We often recommend a second set of numbers at the curb or on the mailbox for homes set back from the street, and trimming plants that cover them.

Combining jobs

Numbers, mailbox and porch light refresh together make the front of a house look cared for, and fit one visit.

Timing

Concrete for a post needs to set before the box gets loaded; we follow the drying time on the bag. How long wall boxes and numbers take depends on the job; we’ll tell you after seeing photos.

Where the old box was

A removed wall mailbox leaves holes and a shadow on the paint. If the new box is smaller, we patch and touch up so the outline does not show.

Sprinklers and rust

Mailboxes and numbers near lawns get sprayed daily. Turning a sprinkler head away from the mailbox, or picking stainless or powder-coated parts, adds years. We use stainless screws so the numbers do not leave rust streaks down the stucco.