So 8 months ago, I needed a quick fix to put up a new mailbox post…and when I looked
at my options, I decided to try a no dig, no concrete mailbox post solution and I filmed
it.
It was one of the first DIY videos I put together and uploaded on this channel, How To with
Kevin.
In that video, which I’m showing you some of the highlights here, I detailed each step
of the project, showing you the products and tools I used.
And then I showed you the completed project and my thoughts on it.
And one of those thoughts I shared was wondering how this mailbox post with no concrete around
it would hold up over time.
And I got a lot of comments from viewers wondering the same thing, many of them saying it was
‘too flimsy’ and that I absolutely needed concrete.
Well, now it’s 8 months later and it’s been through a full winter with snow and ice,
which of course means that when the roads are plowed, the snow is pushed along side
of the road where it will push up against the mailbox post.
So now that spring has arrived, I thought it would be a good time to show you how it’s
holding up, if at all?!?
But before I do that, I just wanted to remind you real quick about the no dig mailbox post
product I used and how it works because it’s important when you think about the durability
of the project.
As I do that, keep in mind 2 things, this video is not meant to show you every step
I took to install the mailbox post; if you want to see how I did it with all of the details,
definitely check out that first video, which I’ve linked for you in the description.
The other thing to know is that I’m not being sponsored for this video.
I’m not trying to talk you into this project or anything, I’m just showing you what I
did and the products I used so you can make the best decision for yourself if this is
something you would want to try doing.
If after watching this video, and also that first video, you decide that you’re interested
in trying to install a no dig not concrete mailbox post for yourself, I’ve also linked
the products I used in the description so it’s easy for you to find.
Okay, so the product I used is an in-ground anchor post kit made by Gilbralter Mailboxes.
Within the kit, there are 2 items: a steel stake that goes into the ground and then also
a 4 by 4 wood post that goes onto the stake.
If the Gibralter name sounds familiar to you, it probably is, because it’s a popular name
in mailboxes with the company having been around since 1957.
At the time I bought the kit, it cost around $15, but like everything else being affected
by inflation, the price has gone up and is now around $20, so still not too bad.
So as you can see, the wood is pre-drilled to make it fairly easy to get the wood onto
the stake.
And how it works is that you drive the thick part of the stake into the ground, leaving
the narrower part sticking out above the ground and then this is the part the wood post goes
over so it can stand up and support the mailbox.
To install the mailbox post anchoring kit, I used a hammer to pound the steel stake in.
As you I told you in the first video, I didn’t use a big sledge hammer because I wanted to
go slow and make sure I was pounding it in straight.
To doublecheck that, I used a level a couple of times before I got the stake all the way
driven in.
After the stake is in, you have to put the wood post on top of stake to start driving
it on.
Even though the wood post was drilled out, I was concerned that that too much hammering
could split the wood.
So because of that, I decided to use a mallet instead of a hammer to prevent a potential
split.
After I got it started, I also was able to use my own weight to push it down some without
the impact of pounding on the wood.
Driving the wood the last couple of inches was definitely harder so I used the hammer
fairly gently to finish it off, but I was able to drive it on without splitting the
post.
At this point, I also put a new mailbox post sleeve over the wood post.
With the Gilbralter anchor kit, you can use any 4 X 4 mailbox post sleeve you want, as
long as it fastens within about 23 inches from the bottom because that’s the length
of the post you have to work with.
If you’re interested in looking into the mailbox post sleeve and mailbox I used, it's
one by Postal PRO named the Madison Mailbox and Post kit.
Again the price has gone up a little since I bought mine, but you can get it in the 50
to 60 dollar range.
As I mentioned in the first video, I liked the look of it from the picture on the box
and the website, but I have to admit it looked a little more plastic-y in person.
But that’s really only up close to it; when I’m in the car or looking at it from the
house, I think it looks pretty nice.
Again, not sponsored, but I’ve linked it for you in the description.
So in the first video I then showed you how I finished installing the mailbox onto the
post.
I’ll skip talking about all of that part and just show you how it looked when I finished
it back in August.
Now before I show you the mailbox and post today, let me show you a clip on what I said
8 months ago: So I think it’s a real easy and quick DIY
project to complete.
Now I will say, I’m not sure how it will hold up over time.
It doesn’t feel super-sturdy when you pull and push on the post.
Having said that, when I’ve put some decent pressure on it, while it flexes, it does come
back to the original position everytime.
But overall, I would say I’m happy with how easy it was to install, it’s doing the
job, and I would consider doing it again depending on how it holds up.
I’ll keep you posted ;-) Alright so it’s time for the big reveal,
did it hold up?
And if it did, how does it look?
Well as you can see, it’s still up.
And in my opinion, it still looks really good, really no wear to speak of.
As far the eyeball test, it still looks straight.
I did use a level and it still appears to be just as upright as the day I put it up.
Now full disclosure, my level was really too long to measure it super accurately because
the mailbox post sleeve isn’t completely flat because of the decorative style, but
again, it just passes the eyeball test as far as it looks like it’s standing up straight
without any leaning.
The other thing to know is it still feels flimsy; unlike me, it doesn’t get less flexible
with age!
When you open the door, it just doesn’t have sturdiness you would like it to have.
But just like I said the day I put it up, even though it flexes, it does go back to
the original position everytime.
I can understand if that concerns you, it’s still a thought that I have in the back of
my mind.
But knowing it’s gone through an entire winter, plus has stood up to my mailman who
does his best to jam big boxes in there, and it’s held up fine, I can tell you at this
point, I have no regrets.
It was an easy project for me that I was able to do myself in under a half an hour.
So there you have it, my 8 month update of my no dig, no concrete mailbox post.
Again, if you’re interested in doing this yourself, check out the full How To Easily
Install a Mailbox video to see all of the steps it takes to complete.
I hoped you found the video helpful and if you did, please like it.
And if you enjoy doing a variety of DIY projects, definitely consider subscribing as I’m looking
to do a lot of different types of videos on this channel.
I have a lot going on outside of the channel, but the more interest and subscribers that
I have, the more I’ll do here.
Thanks so much for watching and have a great day!