Installing A Mail Slot

[zotjen]

Anyone ever install a mail slot in their door? I currently have a small metal mailbox hanging on my front door which I want to replace with a slot. Would it be a lot easier to do this by taking the door off its hinges and placing it on saw horses or can I just leave the door in place?

 

[Uncle Erik]

I'd recommend taking the door off the hinges. They're a lot easier to work on horizontally. Do you have someone to help you take the door down? It's a lot easier with someone else.

I'd lay out the hole with a t-square and cut the hole with a jigsaw. Use a t-square to lay it out square, then clamp a yardstick to the door to work as a fence for the jigsaw.

If you don't have a jigsaw, you should be able to rent one at Home Depot.

 

[MD1032]

Be careful about that. Mail slots really invite burglars.

 

[craiglester]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MD1032 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Be careful about that. Mail slots really invite burglars.

On the other hand, mailboxes encourage mail theft. Personally I'd MUCH rather have my mail delivered into the house than into a box on the street. Especially with the kids round here..

There's pro's and cons to both, but seeing as our mailman is the laziest/dumbest/drunkest SOB I've ever seen, we have to stick with the box by the side of the road, as he seems incapable of getting out of his truck most days. Probably the booze that does it.

 

[zotjen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MD1032 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Be careful about that. Mail slots really invite burglars.

Well, I live in a condo and almost everyone in my complex except me has a mail slot.
Quote:

Originally Posted by craiglester /img/forum/go_quote.gif On the other hand, mailboxes encourage mail theft. Personally I'd MUCH rather have my mail delivered into the house than into a box on the street.

This is a concern of mine which is prompting me to change. A few weeks ago I came home to find my mailbox cover up with no mail inside. There have also been occasions where the mailman (presumably) left the cover open on rainy days and I ended up with wet mail.

Apparently though mail carriers would prefer boxes over slots. I came across this the other day:

Mailman Tips - Mail Slots

 

[ericj]

Check with the post office to see if they will allow this.

IANAPC (i am not a postal carrier) but typically you can't change your mode of delivery without permission, and permission is not typically granted, and even though to you and me there doesn't appear to be any change, your carrier might get his knickers in a twist, hold your mail at the post office, and stick a form with a picture of a broken mailbox on a post on your door.

It all hinges on whether they decide your delivery is 'city' or 'rural'.

Where i live, the USPS would like to see all individual mail boxes (and slots) completely gone. They have tried to convince entire neighborhoods that they need to drive down to the mail kiosk at the new condo development to get their mail. When people move into a house with a mailbox attached to the house, they tell people that the law requires them to install a mailbox at the curb - which is a lie.

The long & short of it is, there's a federal law that says that the domestic mail manual is regarded as law. And another federal law that says that changes to the DMM have to be approved by congress. And the post office sometimes doesn't really agree with the DMM or finds it inconvenient, and just tells people whatever they feel like telling them.

If you're sure that you're within the requirements of the DMM, and they say you aren't, threaten to complain to the district manager. And make it clear that you've read the manual. The district manager is the man they don't want to hear from.

So, good luck with it. fwiw you want section 508 of the DMM.

DMM 508 Recipient Services