GeoffM

Our son was riding his bike and knocked over a triple mailbox, none of them mine. I've notified 2 of the 3 neighbors who were quite amicable but I am expected to get it fixed of course. The problem is... how? The USPS website doesn't really say much except where it's damaged by vandalism/theft (it asks for a police report). The post is dry rotted which doesn't help matters so I'm a little concerned I'll be liable for a replacing the whole lot when it was likely to fall over itself before too long. They neighbors didn't know what the procedure for replacement was either.

Googling gives ideas on how to fix it - but with dire warnings about doing it an "approved" way! I'm not exactly a handyman, never poured concrete, no idea what type of wooden post it should be, etc.

Any ideas what I should do, who I should contact?

RICH

Call your insurance company. Or the community insurance.

Pulaski

Well looking at the photograph, it appears to have pulled out of the concrete, which is going to need to be repaired. What you do as towards the later stages of repair, as step 1 of any plan, I would get a 5 gallon bucket (an old paint bucket, or buy one for about $3 at Lowe's or Home Depot), and get some sand or gravel. Then remove the base of the post, place the base in the bucket, holding it vertically, then pour the sand or gravel into the bucket. Now you at least have an upright mailbox, and one than can work temporarily for a few days while the repaired concrete can be fixed by you, or whoever else gets involved.

If you're going to fix the concrete, you can buy sacks of premixed cement and aggregate at Lowe's and Home Depot, you just add water.

I can't tell what sort of anchors had held the post to the concrete. If the anchors need holes drilled, and you don't have a hammer drill, and access to a power supply within the length of an extension cord, or a generator, then you are already out of your depth.

MsElui

in our subdivision they had a builder replacing one the other day as they are stone or brisk pillars. whilst the one he was replacing was out of action - they had a temp one from the usps that was literally a stand alone one in a bucket full of concrete. It had the usps logo on it and everything. id ask the post office and see what they say.

scrubbedexpat099

i would tell them to fix their defective box, otherwise looks like the base is bolted in, so 4 j bolts, knock out damaged concrete set j bolts and then bolt on stand.

Pulaski

It's not currently on J bolts - whatever was used has snapped off or pulled out, which is why I think they're some sort of concrete anchors in drilled holes.

scrubbedexpat099

Easier putting in j bolts if the concrete needs to be replaced.

Pulaski

But not lining them up precisely with the holes in the mail box anchor plate, unlike a wall sole plate that you drill to line up with the J-bolts.

scrubbedexpat099

Cardboard template, otherwise you are drilling out the anchor hole, does he have a drill and gluing them in, glue is not cheap.

Pulaski

Which is what I said yesterday in post #3, above. In any case I suspect that J-bolts would be too large to fit through the holes in the mailbox anchor plate. I'd just use expanding concrete anchors.

caretaker

I'd get a bag of redi-crete or whatever and patch the hole but not put the post back on it. Go over a foot and drill holes with a hammer-drill and masonry bit then tap in lead anchors and bolt it down with lag bolts.

thinbrit

That looks like a real simple repair. Just remove the screws holding the white post to the base and install a new base, then screw the post in to the new base.

Use this and bolt to the concrete with anchor bolts:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Allure-A...1-BL/100668793

Or clean the hole and fill with sakcrete and place this in the hole while it sets up:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Simpson-...PB44/100375183

or even drive one of these in to the hole (if there is dirt under the opening :
(use a scrap piece of lumber placed inside the mount and hammer that to drive the mount in to the dirt)
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Oz-Post-...0182/203215009

I presumed the post is 4x4, if not then buy the correct size of the item listed above

Pulaski

Options #2 and #3 probably wouldn't be HOA compliant (if there is an HOA), and anyway I would be wary about driving #3 into the ground because there may be underground utilities!
I might do that too, if it was mine, but I am not sure I would relocate a neighbour's mailbox, not even by one foot, without their explicit agreement.

thinbrit

Good point. If using option 3 Call 811 before you drive the anchor (it is free) Call811 |

GeoffM

I think there were four bolts set into concrete pointing upwards so the baseplate (flanged tube kind of thing) was pulled down to the concrete by nuts. Looks like one bolt never existed, or at least hasn't for some time.

Supposedly the post should be 1-2ft into the hole. There is barely 1-2in of post into the hole. WRT utilities, apparently they should be way lower than 1-2ft.

I don't have all the tools mentioned here, or power unless I plug into one of the affected neighbour's house. Concrete excavation seems to be required. No HOA but one of my concerns was the "tampering with Federal property" warnings to do with mailboxes!

Still a bit miffed that I might be fixing way more than what my son actually broke!