I had the same boring plastic mailbox mounted on a generic wooden post in front of my home for more than 25 years, and it finally needed to be replaced. After spending several days searching for the perfect replacement online, I stumbled across a Chicago-based company called Adoorn. While browsing the company’s website, I instantly fell in love with the appearance and design of their contemporary, all-steel post mount mailboxes. Adoorn offers a handful of mailbox designs, including a model that locks, several wall-mounted mailboxes and several designed to securely hold larger size packages.
Based on what I was replacing, I chose the company’s standard Post Mount Mailbox in blue (without the lock), the solid black in-ground post mount (sold separately), and the optional house number that attaches to the front or sides of the mailbox. I was thrilled that on Adoorn’s website, the items I wanted were on sale, although they were also being sold on Amazon at their full prices. After placing my order online, the mailbox and post arrived within a week.
Adoorn Post Mount Mailbox
What I received was a high-quality, all-steel mailbox with a beautiful contemporary appearance. I immediately knew it would look fantastic in front of my single family home. It was a huge upgrade compared to what I had, and would clearly become the nicest mailbox on the block. Keep reading to learn more about the Adoorn Post Mount Mailbox, the company’s other mailbox options, and discover how replacing your existing mailbox could enhance the appearance of your home’s exterior.
Specifications
- Price: $175.00, but on sale for $100 (without post).
- External Dimensions: 9.5 inches wide by 9.5 inches tall by 19.5 inches deep.
- Material: Heavy-duty galvanized steel with powder-coated finish.
- Color Options: Navy, black, red, white, or Aegean Sea (green).
- Mail Capacity: Up to seven days.
- Package Capacity: Up to 16 inches long by 8 inches wide by 7.5 inches tall. .
- Lockable: No.
- Post Options: Adoorn In-Ground Mailbox Mounting Post (43 inches tall by 4 inches wide by 4 inches deep), or Adoorn Surface Mount Post (27 inches tall by 4 inches wide by 4 inches deep) – Each sold separately. .
Pros
- Large capacity holds up to a week’s worth of mail.
- Made from weatherproof galvanized steel.
- Choose from five colors.
- Elegant and contemporary design.
Cons
- Matching all-steel mailbox post and house numbers sold separately.
- Installation required. (Hiring a professional installer is highly recommended).
- The mailbox is slightly angled so rain drops roll off the back, but snow can still pile up on top.
Here’s What Sets An Adoorn Mailbox Apart
You could go to your local hardware superstore (like The Home Depot or Lowe’s) and pick up a generic mailbox and wood post for less than $100. But, if you want a functional mailbox that’s stylish, weather resistant, and that will be envied by your neighbors, I suggest checking out what Adoorn offers.
What caught my attention about these mailboxes is that they’re made from weatherproof galvanized steel, not plastic. They also have an extremely contemporary and sophisticated appearance. And these mailboxes can hold a lot of mail (and small packages too). Based on where you live, Adoorn offers its Post Mount Mailbox with or without a lock. It’s also available in five colors. I chose the color that matches the front door and shutters on the outside of my home.
Who Will the Adoorn Mailbox Appeal To?
Adoorn’s Post Mount Mailboxes appeal to home owners wanting a mailbox with an extra-large capacity. The version that does not have a built-in lock comes in just one size and five color options, while the locking version comes in two sizes and nine color options. The post mounted mailboxes are sold separately from the matching posts, although if you have an existing 4-inch by 4-inch post already, you can probably mount the Adoorn Post Mount Mailbox onto it. Since there are so many mounting options for a mailbox, it’s important to determine what your needs are and what type of mount you plan to use.
If you’d prefer a wall mounting mailbox (instead of one that fits on a post), Adoorn has its similar looking Wall Mount Mailbox (with a lock) that also comes in two sizes and your choice of nine solid colors. Again, these mailboxes have a very contemporary, boxy appearance which may or may not mesh with the exterior appearance of your home.
Installation Can Be a Project: Consider Hiring A Pro
Because the existing wooden post from my previous mailbox was rotted out and old, a new 4” x 4” pressure treated wood post also needed to be purchased (from The Home Depot) in conjunction with Adoorn’s all-steel (black) in-ground post mount. I also needed gravel for the new installation, plus dirt and grass seed to replace what was dug up. In my situation, the new wooden post needed to be installed into the ground, and then Adoorn’s post got placed over it.
Not being too handy myself with tools and home improvement DIY projects, my housemate took on the task of installing the mailbox and post. It turned into a several hour long project that involved digging, drilling, screwing the mailbox to the mount, a bit of measuring, a whole lot of leveling, and a handful of other tasks. We discovered that the installation instructions that came with the Adoorn Post Mount Mailbox and the Adoorn In-Ground Mount Post were rudimentary, and barely or inaccurately explained all of the installation steps that may be required based on a homeowner’s unique situation.
My recommendation is to hire an experienced mailbox installation professional who can get the job done correctly and quickly, and has all of the required tools on-hand. This will cost a bit more, but save you a bunch of time and potential frustration. You can find a local mailbox installer using a service like Angie or Thumbtack.
With the installation completed, the mailbox and post looked amazing. Although, to maintain the appearance of the mailbox and post, Adoorn recommends waxing the exterior periodically — a maintenance task I never had to do with my previous plastic mailbox and wooden post. This task took me about 15 minutes, after I had purchased the recommended clear auto wax.
My Final Thoughts: Is the Adoorn Post Mount Mailbox Worth It?
Now that I’ve had the Adoorn Post Mailbox installed in front of my home for about a week, I’ve made a few observations. First, as I said, it looks great. Second, after a heavy rain storm, the interior of the mailbox remained completely dry. However, on an extremely hot and sunny day, the metal mailbox does retain heat and can get hot to the touch. This applies to the front-facing door and door handle, too.
Speaking of the mailbox’s door, it too is metal and held shut with magnets. When open, the door hangs downward and swings freely. The first time my mail carrier delivered mail, he opened the door and let it swing back so it hit the metal post. Over time, this could scratch the mailbox door and post. With a bit more testing on Adoorn’s part, this is a design flaw that could easily have been fixed.
Meanwhile, if the postal worker does not properly shut the door, the front of the mailbox could remain open with your mail exposed. I also noticed that while the top of the mailbox has a 1.5-degree slope to allow rainwater to drip off the back, snow could pile up on top of the mailbox in the winter.
I like how the mailbox’s flag is extra-large and bright red, so it’s easily noticeable. However, for aesthetic purposes, I suggested purchasing your home’s street address number and attaching it to both sides of the mailbox. Overall, the Adoorn mailboxes are visually appealing and well made. They’re worth the price Adoorn charges for the mailbox and post. Just be sure to add the cost of professional installation to your budget if you’re not comfortable handling DIY home improvement projects.
Adoorn Post Mount Mailbox
Compared to my previous mailbox, this one is so much nicer and has a larger capacity. I’m very pleased with the upgrade and confident you’ll feel the same. And if you’re worried about porch pirates stealing packages received from Amazon, UPS, FedEx, etc., also consider one of the company’s larger and lockable package boxes.
