Ideally, the best position for a letterbox is on the front door, sat on or above the midrail of the door but be far enough away from the door handle. If your front door has a side panel with obscured glass, however, it should sit here instead. Generally speaking, you should avoid putting your letterbox at the bottom of the door, to prevent causing unnecessary strain to whoever delivers your post.
At this point, you’re probably wondering: why here and not somewhere else? So, let’s have a closer look and find out. We’ll be covering areas such as:
- The importance of letterbox positioning
- Letterbox height law
- Letterbox brushes
- Letterbox replacements
- The average letterbox size
- Stopping your letterbox from banging
Why is the position of the letterbox important?
- The postman/woman – placing the letterbox at the bottom of the door means your postie will have to bend down a fair way to give you your post. There is a chance of them refusing to do this because of health and safety reasons, which could lead to you not receiving your post.
- Security purposes – if the letterbox is too close to the door handle, there is a chance of a potential intruder reaching their way inside your home, unlocking your door, and entering through it. This issue can be avoided by placing the letterbox in a side panel. However, without obscured glass, if you’re on holiday and there is a build-up of post, a potential intruder will be able to see this. This will indicate to them that you’re not home.
Here at Seal-Lite, our uPVC and composite entrance doors are available with a range of obscured glass panels. Perfect for ensuring the front of your home is secure, they’re great for adding visual appeal too.
What is the letterbox height law?
In 2019, legislation passed that required all future letterboxes to be somewhere between 0.7m and 1.7m high. This came after pressure from mail worker unions who were complaining of back pain caused by the repetitive strain of bending down. Some unions complained of their staff having to take extended periods of time off to recover. The change in law was scheduled to be implemented into building regulations at the start of 2020.
Do you have to have a letterbox by law?
No, you don’t, which is surprising because so many UK homes are fitted with them. However, Royal Mail recommends that you do as it makes delivering your mail far easier.
If you don’t have a letterbox, you might find the postie knocking on your door each day to hand you your post, or you might just find it left on the floor outside your home. It’s likely at the discretion of the postie at that point!
Why do letterboxes have brushes?
Letterbox brushes are more useful than you might think. Firstly, they stop draughts from getting into your home, so it doesn’t feel so cold. Plus, they stop people from seeing into your property, which means they’re a useful security feature too.
Can you replace a letterbox on a uPVC door?
Yes, you can but it’s essential that you ensure the replacement letterbox is the right size. Generally, there are 3 size ranges for the letterboxes you find on uPVC doors: 10-inch, 12-inch and 12-inch slimline.
Are letterboxes standard size?
With various styles of letterboxes on offer, homeowners are opting for designs that are more aesthetically pleasing than the average slot in the front door. However, some modern doors do not actually have a letterbox, so homeowners are buying a free-standing or wall-mounted letterbox. Great who have pets and do not want to come home to mushed-up mail!
However, what is the standard size for traditional letterboxes? It will depend on how the letterbox is fitted; letterboxes fitted through moulded panels to entrance doors are typically between 20-40mm. Letterboxes fitted through the frame are generally between 40-80mm in size.
Is it easy to replace a letterbox?
The best way to find the correct replacement for your letterbox is to take your old one with you when looking for new ones. Make sure that the inside measurements are small enough to fit inside the hole in the door and the outside measurements are big enough to cover the hole in the door. As letterboxes are standard sizes, it is easy to find a replacement!
How do you stop a letterbox from banging?
You might have heard your letterbox banging away when the wind is blowing heavily outside. However, try putting a little bit of bluetac on the outer edges of the back flap to hold it in place. But, make sure to remove it again whenever you’re expected some post.
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Have you been thinking of replacing the front door on your home? Get in touch with the team here at Seal-Lite today to discuss your new front door. We’re available to call on 01275 342 656 or you can contact us online.