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Original poster

Help me find a solution for an extra tall letterbox hole

31 replies

MandarinOrange · 10/12/2017 07:42

We bought a fixer-upper Edwardian house and are slowly making it weatherproof and liveable.

The letterbox currently has no draught excluder or plate, so the wind whistles through. However I can't find one that fits, because the hole is too tall at 80mm. Usually letterbox holes have a height of 40-46mm. The width of 250mm is fine. Can any of you expert mumsnetters find a suitable draught excluder where I have failed? To further complicate matters, it is a vertical rather than a horizontal letterbox, so a closing mechanism that depends on gravity is also not suitable. The bolts are 270mm apart.

Or an alternative solution I saw on a website was to reduce the size of the interior door hole using wedges or slats (usually made of wood or plastic). Any suggestions for where I could buy wedges or slats? Or how-to guides to help me through this?

Thanks very much for any help you can provide

OP posts:
Original poster
MandarinOrange · 10/12/2017 07:58

Thanks so much! I have been searching for about an hour and not found anything, whilst you have found something very promising in a fraction of the time! Also looks like a seller who responds to questions. I will get in touch and see if this could solve our problems.

OP posts:
CurlsLDN · 10/12/2017 07:59

Work out the dimensions of your ‘extra’ space, go to b&q and ask them to cut you a chunk of wood that size. Glue that inside with no more nails, then get a normal brush thingy to fit in.

Alternatively, the old school solution is a Door curtain, would be easy to make with heavy fabric and lining, could look quite lovely in your Edwardian house with a lovely fabric

Original poster
MandarinOrange · 10/12/2017 08:00

Oh no... just seen this:
'please note these are suitable for horizontal (ie east to west letterboxes) not vertical (north to south) letterboxes'

OP posts:
Original poster
MandarinOrange · 10/12/2017 08:03

That's all I need is it? A chunk of wood from B&Q? Somehow I thought there would be a more high tech solution. We may even have some suitable wood knocking around the house already. We certainly have some 'no more nails'

The curtain thing.... my mother is very keen on this idea and keeps suggesting it. But I love to see the stained glass, don't want to hide it away. Will keep it in the back of my mind as a solution if all else fails though

Thanks also for posting!

OP posts:
rizlett · 10/12/2017 08:06

Oh sorry - I didn't notice that op.

Original poster
MandarinOrange · 10/12/2017 08:09

Oh dear. Just had another look. The exterior flap is fixed to the inside of the hole. That means that we can't put a wedge of wood in after all, because it would obstruct the opening.

Conclusion: if no large enough draught excluder available, we will remove everything, fill in the hole, and create a new horizontal, standard size letterbox hole.

OP posts:
Original poster
MandarinOrange · 10/12/2017 08:14

Thanks rizlett, that one is unfortunately not tall enough. It is 80mm tall, which is the same as the width of the hole. Excellent width though! And thanks for continuing to search

OP posts:
rizlett · 10/12/2017 08:18

oops - another 80mm one! [i'll look a bit longer for a longer one...]

RatOnnaStick · 10/12/2017 08:20

I would be inclined to seal the letterbox shut and install an outside box with a key instead.

Original poster
MandarinOrange · 10/12/2017 08:23

RatOnnaStick, indeed, sealing the letterbox shut does sound like where we are heading. Unless rizlett can pull some amazing search results out of the bag!!

OP posts:
rizlett · 10/12/2017 08:29

maybe a couple here?

www.doorfurnituredirect.co.uk/catalogsearch/result/?q=letter+box+

Orchardgreen · 10/12/2017 08:33

Or here?

www.castinstyle.co.uk/product.php/4275/kirkpatrick-black-iron-letter-plate-6080

Or you could ask a local arty blacksmith to make one to fit.

Original poster
MandarinOrange · 10/12/2017 08:41

rizlett - that one from door furniture direct looks promising. I have contacted them with the dimensions to ask if it is suitable (and if not, do they have anything else). Door furniture direct do seem like specialists in this field - if they don't have anything suitable then I don't think anyone will!

Orchardgreen - thanks for looking. I am looking for a draught excluder to go on the inside of the door - unfortunately that link is for a letterbox to go on the outside. Appreciate your time.

OP posts:
rizlett · 10/12/2017 08:41

this might fit - but no brushes!

www.amazon.co.uk/Extra-Polished-Chrome-Letter-BC146C/dp/B009NDFR7G?tag=mumsnetforum-21

Original poster
MandarinOrange · 10/12/2017 08:48

I am sorry, that is perfect on size but not suitable for a vertical aperture because the closing mechanism relies on gravity - as disclosed in the Q&A
Question: what is the internal dimension, and is it spring closing?
Answer: It's 35 cm internal and covers the external aperture of my letterbox comfortably. No spring, rather it hangs from 2 pins in each corner, perfectly good from my perspective.

OP posts:
Spookle · 10/12/2017 09:24

As a quick and simple fix for this winter I would look into one of the horizontal door base brush strips of 40mm depth. You should be able to cut it in half and then to size with a hacksaw. Then screw each piece vertically on each side of the letterbox with the two 40mm pieces giving 80mm coverage.

Original poster
MandarinOrange · 10/12/2017 09:47

Ha, Spookle, that is the solution which the previous owners had implemented. Except they didn't bother to find a brush strip of 40mm depth. It was shorter. Meaning there was a big gap in the middle where the two pieces didn't meet and the wind could gush in!

OP posts:
Jackreacherswife · 10/12/2017 10:38

Try contacting slingers ironmongers in Preston. They are amazing and will come up with suggestions if they don't have anything to fit. Brilliant company

PurplePillowCase · 10/12/2017 10:44

could a blacksmith or metal worker (car body work) custom make you one?

wonkylegs · 10/12/2017 13:53

We have a huge Victorian door with a non standard sized letterbox I will look up where we finally got ours from.

wonkylegs · 10/12/2017 14:22

What about
www.inbrass.co.uk/acatalog/draught-proof-inner-tidy.html
It might just be big enough

I did see someone suggest fixing a heavy piece of fabric to the inside of an awkward shaped letterbox so it basically had its own curtain.