| Have you ever wanted a masonry mailbox? If | | | | in the first course be sure that you are level and |
| you have then you're in the right place to learn | | | | straight by the third, which should place you right |
| how to build your very own brick mailbox or a | | | | at about 4 inches below ground level, now |
| stone mailbox. I will go over all the materials and | | | | continue to lay your block up 5 more courses, be |
| tools needed to complete this project and | | | | sure that these are straight and level. After you |
| approximate costs. | | | | have laid these you need to install your brick |
| I am going to go over the brick mailbox because | | | | ledge, you do this by using the 4 inch block. Place |
| it will be easier for you to complete. First you will | | | | the block around the base of the column as close |
| need your design layed out, the simplest way to | | | | to the column as possible up just three courses |
| build your maibox is a 24 Inch square with a | | | | which should place you at once again 4 inches |
| 16inch block pillar in the center. Next you will need | | | | below grade. |
| to gather all your materials, you will need 3, 80 | | | | Now that your column and brick ledge are in place |
| pound bags of Quickcrete, 16 8 inch block and 12 | | | | its time to install your brick. Run your brick on top |
| 4 inch block and then roughly 200 brick of your | | | | of the brick ledge which should work to fit the |
| choice. You will also need to pick out a good | | | | brick perfectly. Be sure to switch bond every |
| sturdy steel mailbox and a piece of sandstone | | | | course to make sure you are left with a nice |
| that is 26 inches square and 4 inches thick for the | | | | looking brick job. Every course check for level and |
| top cap. The tools you will need are a good | | | | plum to be sure that your mailbox is not leaning, |
| digging shovel, wheelbarrow, hoe, trowel, hammer, | | | | and then strike your joints every 2 to 3 courses |
| striking iron and and masons brush. | | | | as well, so they dont get two hard on you. If you |
| Step one, dig down 36 inches and 4 inches bigger | | | | are installing brick correctly you should have 3 |
| than your mailbox base in the above example you | | | | courses of brick to every course of block, so if |
| would dig a hole that is 32 inches square. If you | | | | you laid 4 courses above grade then you should |
| are on a street with underground utilities running | | | | end up with 15 courses of brick. to the top of the |
| along the street you are only going to be able to | | | | block column. |
| dig down no more than 12 inches, you will have to | | | | Now it is time to install your mailbox, take your |
| check with your utilities to find this out. Ideally | | | | mailbox out of its packaging and place it on top of |
| though you should make it 36″ deep to | | | | your column and brick with the face of it facing |
| clear the freeze line, especially if you live in the | | | | the road, test open the door to be sure that the |
| north. | | | | brick below is not interfering with the door. Your |
| Next prepare your footer by driving a grade | | | | mailbox door should be resting approximately 1 to |
| stake down into the center of the hole 8″ | | | | 2 inches off the face of the brick. Now continue |
| off of the bottom, this will be the thickness or | | | | to lay your brick up and past your mailbox, you |
| height of your footer. Now mix your quickcrete | | | | will have to make cuts with a saw or with a |
| thoroughly and pour it into the hole till you just | | | | hammer if you are skilled enough to do it. Be sure |
| cover the grade stake, try to make footer as | | | | to fill mortar in around mailbox to lock it in place. |
| level as possible, it may be somewhat difficult | | | | After you have struck all your joints and brushed |
| especially since you will be reaching 3 feet into the | | | | your work down it is now time to install the cap, |
| ground. Now let your footer set up and return the | | | | you can do this with brick or buy a piece of |
| next day to build your mailbox. | | | | sandstone that is 4 inches thick and that is 1 inch |
| The next step in the process is to build the | | | | bigger on all sides of your masonry column, in the |
| center block column our of the 8 inch block and 4 | | | | above example the sandstone should be 26 inches |
| inch block. find the center of your footer, mark it | | | | square. Run a bead of mortar all the way around |
| and measure 8 inches each direction, this will be | | | | your top course, now place the sandstone lightly |
| where your main column will set. After you have | | | | on top and level it up, remove excess mortar and |
| marked out your square mix your mortar and | | | | voila you have yourself a brick mailbox, If you |
| start laying block. Place two 8 inch side by side | | | | are skilled enough you can do the above project |
| and try to make them as level as possible, first | | | | with a stone veneer, but it is only recommended |
| course is most important, if you can't get it level | | | | if you are familiar with the masonry trades. |