An antique mailbox is an elegant addition to any front yard area, choosing the correct type and style should be carefully considered prior to purchase.
If your mailbox will be placed by the street, consider its security and structural strength. Some vintage mailboxes provide for security with locks provided for the owner’s use. While allowing for easy access by mail carriers, these boxes can only be opened by the owner who carries the key making this type of mailbox one of the most secure.
Street side boxes can sometimes be vandalized as they are a distance from the home. For prevention and protection from damage, a street side antique mailbox made from cast iron or cast aluminum and secured by bolts to a cast iron or steel post is best for withstanding damage due to vandals or traffic incidences.
For those who wish a stylish and sturdy alternative to street side mailboxes, a wall mount mailbox adds an interesting touch of elegance to the front of the home while providing for convenient and close access. Made of various materials including copper, cast iron and aluminum, these pieces add beauty and elegance and speak to a bygone time when structurally mounted mailboxes were prominent.
Offered in a variety of finishes, the wall mounted boxes afford the user with a choice of shape, style and color to match the exterior of the home. Aluminum boxes tend to be lighter in weight and are best used for wood or vinyl exterior applications. Aluminum boxes come in a variety of colors and may be painted by the owner as needed or desired. Particularly preferred for this feature, aluminum boxes also come pre-finished with hand painted designs and embellishments fitting any outdoor décor.
For extreme weather conditions, copper may be preferred. Both durable and light in weight, copper provides the best of both worlds and adds a distinctive touch in keeping with a preferred vintage theme. Copper may be mounted either on wood, vinyl or masonry siding and will naturally age in a patina finish over time.
Cast iron wall mounts, molded with distinctive designs, should be mounted in masonry only, using heavy bolts and anchors. Considered to be the most durable and sturdy of the wall mounted choices, these boxes can be painted as needed or desired and speak to the truest design of the classic or old world antique mailbox.
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