Replacing an Old Plastic Mailbox With a High-Security Locking Mailbox
A lot of the mailbox replacements I work on start with the same concern: mail theft.
For this project, the homeowner had growing concerns about both mail theft and small package theft. Their original mailbox had likely been installed when the home was first built and had never been replaced. While the old setup had held up surprisingly well over the years, it simply wasn’t designed with security in mind.
The existing mailbox was constructed of plastic and mounted to a wood mailbox post sleeved with plastic.
Why Plastic Sleeves Are Used on Wood Mailbox Posts
One detail I thought was interesting on this installation was the plastic sleeve surrounding the original wooden post.
If you’re going to install a wood mailbox post, protecting it from direct exposure to the elements can absolutely help extend its lifespan. Sleeves like this help shield the wood from:
- Rain
- Standing moisture
- UV exposure
- General weathering
In many cases, they work fairly well above ground.
However, even when the visible portion of the post still looks decent, moisture exposure below ground level is usually where deterioration eventually happens. That was the case here. The wood post had begun rotting below the surface over time, which is common for buried wood installations as they age.
Removing the Existing Mailbox and Post
To begin the installation, I first removed the existing plastic mailbox and the plastic sleeve surrounding the post.
The sleeve had been secured with screws, so once those were removed I was able to slide the sleeve upward and off the post assembly.
From there, I removed the original wooden mailbox post along with the concrete footing it had been mounted into.
Once the existing setup was completely removed, the site was ready for the new installation.
Installing a Heavy-Duty Steel Mailbox Post
For the replacement, the homeowner wanted something significantly more secure and durable long term.
I installed a Mail Boss heavy-duty steel mailbox post followed by a Mail Boss Mail Manager Pro high-security locking mailbox.
One of the biggest advantages of reinforced steel mailbox posts is rigidity and long-term durability. Heavy locking mailboxes place substantially more weight and stress on a mailbox post than lightweight plastic mailboxes do, especially over many years of weather exposure.
Steel posts help provide:
- Better long-term support
- Improved rigidity
- Reduced maintenance
- Greater resistance to warping or deterioration
Combined with a locking mailbox, the final setup creates a much more secure and permanent installation.
Upgrading to a Locking Mailbox
For homeowners concerned about mail theft, upgrading to a locking mailbox is one of the simplest ways to improve mail security.
The Mail Boss Mail Manager Pro is designed to help protect:
- Checks
- Sensitive documents
- Small packages
while still maintaining a clean residential appearance.
The final result completely changed the original setup from:
- An aging plastic mailbox
- A deteriorating wood post
- An unsecured mail delivery point
to:
- A reinforced steel mailbox installation
- A permanently mounted concrete foundation
- A high-security locking mailbox built for long-term use
Watch the Full Installation
Want to see the installation process from start to finish?
Watch the full YouTube installation video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISDl41cbkPM
If you’d like to learn more about the products used in this installation, including the Mail Boss heavy-duty steel post and Mail Boss Mail Manager Pro mailbox, you can also watch our detailed product review videos here:
Mail Boss Mail Manager Pro
Mail Boss Post