Mailboxes are typically positioned in the open, where they’re exposed to every possible weather condition. So naturally, this gives cause for concern as people wonder if their mails are safe and if mailboxes are water-resistant?
Most modern mailboxes are configured with materials that make them able to resist moisture. However, even the strongest can develop holes and cracks over time, allowing water to penetrate. So, once in a while, you will need to inspect your mailbox to detect possible damage early.
Failure to maintain your mailbox could result in damages, both to the mailbox and the sensitive mail contained inside. If you want to keep your mailbox in a safe condition, read on for the precautions you can take.
Is My Mailbox Waterproof?
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It is common practice to design mailboxes with materials that equip them to withstand penetration and damage from moisture. There are assorted designs of sizeable, waterproof mailboxes made from metal or plastic.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t make their waterproof ability permanent, as they can degrade over time.
How Can I Weatherproof My Mailbox?
Mailboxes are bound to contact various natural and environmental elements because they’re positioned outside the house. As a result, you’ll need to take necessary measures to ensure that both the mailbox and its contents are kept safe.
Here are some tips to help you weatherproof your mailbox and make it durable:
Step 1: Choose the custom weatherproof mailbox instead when buying your mailbox. There’s a wide variety of metallic and plastic options available that have already been weatherproofed. Ensure that it’s securely fixed to the ground to protect it from heavy wind.
Step 2: If you already have one, coat it with water-resistant paint so it can stay brand-new and prevent rust. Get protective sealants and use them to seal your mailbox. This will help to weatherproof it and protect it from moisture.
Ensure that you wipe particles off your mailbox completely before coating it with waterproof paints to seal the parts. Apply the protective sealant sufficiently over the body of your mailbox. You could use either a boat wax or plastic sealant.
Step 3: Open the mailbox and check for possible holes and cracks after painting and coating the exterior. Seal them up properly using caulk or weather stripping. Take out and replace damaged parts if necessary.
The preferred weather stripping for the interior part of the box is the thin ones used for windows or doors. However, you could also check special home care or any local home improvement stores in your area for self-stick weather stripping. To fix the weather stripping inside the mailbox, measure each side of the interior and cut out a stripping that size.
Peel off the thin sheet covering the sticky layer, then use it to cover the interior corners of the mailbox. This will provide double protection against natural elements like moisture, wind, and snow.
Step 4: If you don’t have a sidewalk box, you can place your mailbox somewhere beneath your front porch. This will help keep it safe from rain and windstorms.
You need to note that these weatherproof steps aren’t permanent solutions. You may need to repeat the process once every few years to maintain the protection.
How to Protect My Mailbox From Rust?
Numerous patterns and sizes of mailboxes are made from different substances and materials. In general, mailboxes are designed to protect their contents from the elements, but they tend to wear out and crack over time. Unfortunately, this is almost unavoidable because the box is constantly exposed, so it’s prone to damage.
The holes and cracks sustained make it easy for rain or melted snow to penetrate your mailbox and settle there. Your box will need repairs the same way you fix your broken doors and windows. This will also ensure that your mails are untampered.
Often, the holes will appear around the screws holding the mailbox in place and on the surface where it’s fastened. The steps below are recommended to fix your leaking mailbox:
Step 1: Look for the bent parts around the door if you’re using a metal-type mailbox. These bends make it difficult for the door to shut properly, allowing moisture to penetrate the mailbox. Try to straighten the bends out with your hands until you’re sure the door can lap securely.
If your mailbox is the plastic or resin type, you’ll need to buy a new part for the warped door.
Step 2: Uncover your mailbox and carefully inspect the knots and screws used to tighten the base of the mailbox to the stand. Use the correct screwdriver size to fasten the knots back into their original position. Next, spread a silicon clog on each nailhead and the knots with a clogging gun.
Step 3: Use the clogging gun to apply small quantities of caulk at the extremes of the interior base and the edges in between. This will prevent any liquids on the mailbox stand from slipping into the mailbox.
Step 4: Apply extra silicon clog or gum around the outside of the mailboxes to cover the nails and knots. Water can penetrate the mailbox through loose knots and nailheads. Clogging the nailheads and knots is crucial to seal up invisible holes and keep your mailbox dry.
Step 5: Those using resin or plastic design mailboxes can also apply clogs to seal up cracks inside or outside their box.
How Do I Repair a Leaking Mailbox?
It’s possible to protect your mailbox from rust and save yourself the money you’d use to do frequent repairs. First, ensure to inspect the entire body of your mailbox as often as you can to detect rusting parts early.
- You can stall the rust from spreading further by completely wiping the inside and outside with an all-around cleaner. Take off any leftover dirt and allow the mailbox to dry out. Proceed to apply a double layer of protective sealant. If you notice rust already present on your mailbox, you’ll need to scrape it off.
- Use a homemade cleaner or your regular laundry shampoo with a rough sponge or brush to scrub. Make sure the interior and exterior parts of the mailbox are thoroughly cleaned, then allow them to dry completely. Patch up any visible holes or cracks using weatherstrips, clogging gum, or caulk, as the situation demands.
- Afterward, apply a few coats of moisture-proof paints to your mailbox. The final step would be to apply some wax or protective sealer layers to prevent moisture penetration. You’ll need to clean and seal your mailbox against rust at least once every two to three years.
- Mailboxes can’t avoid frequent contact with weather elements because they mostly stay outside. This is why it requires periodic coatings with wax or water-resistant sealant. Helpfully, most modern mailboxes are made with natural water-resistant materials like aluminum, steel, and plastic.
Nonetheless, you’ll be doing yourself a huge favor by carrying out these occasional maintenance measures. They’re necessary to help avoid premature replacement or buying a new mailbox altogether.
In closing, a mailbox is intended to keep your mails secure and safe from unfriendly substances. You must conduct regular checks for bends, dentures, leakages, and anything that’ll compromise the safety of its contents.
