letterbox insulation

[neilsolent]

Hi

Help ! Our house is suffering from a very bad draught through the letterbox.

The letterbox is a vertical slot with a flap that opens inwards and hinges on the (short) top edge. There is a cross-slat in the door behind the letterbox that obscures the top edge of the slot. It is therefore impossible to fit the standard brush type insulating frame.

Instead, I woud like to try to fit an additional external flap that completely covers the slot that lifts outwards - but where could I get something like this from. I can't find anything like this anywhere.

Merry Xmas and many, many thanks to anyone that can help.

thanks Neil

[RicodJour]

An external flap will be a Rube Goldberg affair - not necessarily a bad thing if it works, but it would look like poop. How about a magnetic flap on the inside? That's assuming it's a steel slot. If not, maybe using some polyurethane or silicone caulk to make your own gasket and/or swapping out the spring (assuming that it's spring- loaded and not gravity) for a stronger one.

R

[willshak]

on 12/17/2007 1:01 PM neilsolent said the following:

Mount a 3 sided wooden box on the inside of the door covering the mail slot with a lift door on the top to get the mail out?

[neilsolent]

Good idea, and it would work well. However I am not very handy with stuff like that. Think this may be the only option.

[neilsolent]

Thanks for the ideas. It is a steel slot. Any kind of caulking or filling just stops the flap from returning - as it isn't spring loaded (it returns under gravity only).

[Joe]

If it really bothers you, remove it, mount an outside mail box and repair the door opening with decorative trim. I think you will find that a replacement weather proof door mounted box to be a very pricey situation by comparison. Good luck.

Joe

[Mark]