How to Fit a Letterbox

Decide on where to position your letterbox on the front door. If you have a panelled door you can select any non-panelled section. If you have a solid wood door, your letterbox can be placed anywhere you wish. Measure the width of the door to find its centre point and mark it with a pencil. Mark with a pencil the point where this crosses with the height at which you wish to install the letterbox.

Measure the size of the letter box flap; this will give you the size of the recess that is needed. The recess will be slightly larger than flap.

Using the centre mark and the flap measurements along with a spirit level to ensure correct alignment, pencil an outline of the required recess on the door.

Using a bradawl or sharp nail, mark drilling points near the corners of the recess.

Wearing safety eyewear, prepare your power drill with a suitable flat woodcutting bit around 13mm in width. On each of the marks, drill through the door until it begins to emerge on the other side. Then repeat this step from the other side of the door to drill right through.

Get your jigsaw and insert its blade into one of the freshly drilled holes. Carefully cut along the marked line from hole to hole. Remove the wooden cut off when this is complete.

Sand down the inner and outer edges of the recess with sandpaper.

The lugs are the screw fixings on either side of the new letterbox flap. Measure the exact position of the lugs on the new letterbox and mark their exact positions on the door. Using a drill bit that is equal in size to the bolts that will secure the lugs in place, drill the two marked holes on the door.

Measure and cut the bolts to ensure that they are an adequate length for their purpose.

Slide the bolts through the holes and attach the letterbox. Secure it in place with any additional fixings such as nuts.