5 Mistakes to Avoid When Installing Curbside Mailboxes in Your Residential Community

After purchasing curbside mailboxes for your residential community, you'll need to install them. While this sounds easy enough, though, there are certain steps you must take to ensure the mailboxes are safely and securely installed. Unfortunately, some developers and property managers are guilty of making one or more of the following mistakes when installing their curbside mailboxes.

#1) Installing on Left Side of Road

Don't make the mistake of installing your curbside mailboxes on the right side of the road. The U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) explains that mailboxes should, when feasible, be installed on the right side of the road so that couriers can easily pull over to drop off and collect mail.

#2) Installing Too Close or Too Far Away From the Curb

Another common mistake made when installing curbside mailboxes is placing them too close or too far away from the curb. According to the USPS, mailboxes should be installed between 6 and 8 inches away from the curb. Installing them closer than 6 inches to the curb prevents couriers from pulling off the side of the road, whereas installing them farther than 8 inches forces prevents couriers from easily reaching the mailboxes.

#3) Using a Concrete Post

Depending on your local municipality, using concrete mailbox posts may be may prohibited. The reason for this is that concrete posts pose a safety hazard to motorists and their passengers. If a car strikes a concrete post, the driver or passengers could be seriously injured. As a result, some municipalities require developers and property managers to install curbside mailboxes on a breakaway-style post.

#4) Installing Post Too Deep

According to the United States Postal Service (USPS), curbside mailbox posts should be installed no deeper than 2 feet into the ground. When installing your curbside mailboxes, mark this depth and use caution not to go any deeper. If your mailboxes are installed too deep, they may fail to break away if struck by a car.

#5) Assuming Curbside Mailboxes Are the Only Option

Curbside mailboxes aren't the only mail system available for residential communities. Another solution is cluster box units (CBUs). A form of centralized mail, CBUs consist of a free-standing or wall-mounted unit containing dozens of individual mail compartments. Each tenant of the surrounding community has his or her own mail compartment in the CBU. Choosing CBUs instead of curbside mailboxes could save you money while also allowing for faster and easier installation.

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Forsite can provide all of your signage needs for your Master Planned Community or  Residential Development. We help our customers to create a uniform, upscale appearance and increase property values by "bundling" themed packages of decorative street signage, mailboxes, post and wall mounted lighting, and wayfinding signage

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