Making and personalising your own mailbox is a fun weekend task. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Putting together your own letterbox is a great weekend challenge.
A letterbox is a reflection of what lies beyond your gate, it's a signpost that tells others what to expect when they enter your property. In my case visitors can expect the royal treatment, so when it came time to make a new letterbox, I gave it a royal twist.
But the letterbox itself didn't need to be an elaborate affair. So I visited the Bunnings website and discovered this little beauty which is easy, fast and cheap to build.
Best of all, there's plenty of scope for your own signature touches.
Step 1
Decide how big you want your letterbox to be. Measure, mark and cut your timber.
Step 2
Screw the bottom section to your work bench. This makes the box easier to put together.
Step 3
Pre-drill all the holes and screw or nail the front and two sides on to the bottom section.
Step 4
If you want to paint the inside of the box, it's easier to do so now.
Step 5
One of the side panels will be your door, which will swing upwards. To attach the door and form the hinges, hold it in place then drill a hole through the side panel into the side of the door . (I have used a 6mm dowel so I drilled the hole using a 5.5mm drill bit.) With a hammer, tap the dowel through the side panel into the door. Repeat on the other side.
Step 6
Screw on the top of the box and paint.
Step 7
Screw the roof section together and paint.
Step 8
Attach the roof section to the top of the box and give it all a light sand.
Step 9
Customise your new mailbox and screw or paint on your street number.
Make sure your letterbox is numbered clearly, positioned on the streetline, easy to get to and clear of obstructions. Most importantly, your mailbox slot needs to be between 900mm-1200mm from the ground - this will prevent your postie from developing a hump and make your mailbox a more pleasant place to visit.
At your local Bunnings story this weekend
* Saturday 10am: Make a gift for Dad at the kids' DIY workshop; 11am: How to compost and create a worm farm; 1pm: How to set up a vege garden.
* Sunday 10am: Make a gift for Dad at the kids' DIY workshop; 11am: How to repair leaking taps and unclog a sink drain; 1pm: How to build a cubby house.
