How Much Does It Cost To Fit a Letterbox?



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Cost To Fit a Letterbox


Job
Description
Cost
1With you doing the painting, he will charge half a day labour
£75

“Labour” at £175 a day (tradesman) £100 (labourer), includes incidental fixings etc. and tipping charges. “Materials” if mentioned, are larger things (a boiler) and stuff only you can choose (tiles etc).  Also, VAT must be added all round.

Information Sheet on Cutting and Fitting a Letterbox


One thing is for certain, the new one doesn’t fit the old hole does it? You are going to need a “chippie” as it’s not really a DIY job.

Firstly, he will have to take the front door off so that all the paint will come away around the hinges. Consequently, the frame will need re painting. If you’re going to paint the frame yourself, you can’t not paint the door as well can you? Secondly, he will need a bit of space outside to do the job and a dry day on which do it.

Two Things
Make sure the new hole for the letterbox is central and that he cuts it from the inside face. He will probably use a jigsaw and as front doors are quite thick, the blade may distort as he cuts. Even if his eye is perfect and his cut is smack on his guide line, the hole on the other side which should be another perfect rectangle, will probably look like a flattened shoe box! Hopefully the small rim on the letterbox casting will cover this.

Now, here’s a perfect example of a case which illustrates that the bloke who designs things, never actually fits them. I’ve fitted dozens of letterboxes and with every single one of them, the position of the two fixing lugs which take the threaded bars that secure the thing, are always sited about a hair’s breadth from the “letter hole”. This makes drilling the two holes, which take the bolts a complete nightmare. Cool Hand Luke would need two dozen boiled eggs before attempting it.

Inspection Time

So, when the chippie’s gone and you rush to make that intricate inspection that everyone does after any works been done, don’t be too critical if one of his attempts has burst through. He should have filled it though!

Be happy if the letterbox flap actually opens fully without “touching the sides” and that he has fitted the washers under the domed back nut. You can bother fitting the back flap if you must but it will fall off and after the tenth time you’ll end up putting it on that shelf under the stairs. After all, you will have time to fix it on properly one day won’t you!

FAQs 'traffic light' guide


  • What's tricky about this job…

    Open or Close

    The fixings on the letterbox are ALWAYS too close to the letterbox hole. It's a design error that has never been addressed. The chippie won't want to paint the door. So you are going to have to paint it early one morning and keep it open for eight hours plus! Get that crossword out.


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