I Never Knew Buying a Replacement Letterbox Could Be So Difficult

Kintarō Hattori

Our letterbox fell apart a while back and I had been slow to replace it when I couldn't find anyone locally who would sell a replacement. I looked at Screwfix etc but after taking measurements settled on getting a unit from Amazon. Despite an accurate measurement of the empty space, the letterbox was too wide. I bought a second unit and the screwholes are completely different. I'd rather not drill additional holes as the ones in this second replacement would be too close to the existing holes.

Am I missing something here? I'm going to have to look at a third unit now. Is there anywhere I could bring the old letterbox too and see if they have something in stock?

Alun

Lenehans on Capel Street?

https://www.lenehans.ie/hardware-diy/door-furniture.html?cat=3677

Knobs and Knockers? Used to be in the centre of Dublin but have now moved to Dun Laoghaire.

https://knobsandknockers.ie/

listermint

Is this a box. Or a letter flap on the actual door?

Kintarō Hattori

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121460910#Comment_121460910

A letter flap. Apologies if that wasn't clear. The existing unit slots into the door with a separate piece that also slots in from the rear.

Alun

Does the old one have a manufacturer's name on it anywhere? Might be on the plastic sleeve somewhere rather than the metal parts.

HeidiHeidi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121460904#Comment_121460904

Or Home Style DIY on Mary Street, just across the road from Lenehans - an absolute treasure trove of stuff like that, and super helpful from previous experience.

Alun

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121461343#Comment_121461343

I knew there was another place around there, but couldn't remember the name, and as you say a veritable Aladdin's cave of all sorts of stuff like that.

HeidiHeidi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121461360#Comment_121461360

I adore that shop - I could spend an entire day drooling over bits and pieces in it (and nearly have done on the occasions I've had to go in there to actually get something!)

listermint

Got ya, would be inclined to blank it off and put a box on the wall. Letterboxes in doors are a draught causing nightmare. Makes hall's very cold.

Kaybaykwah

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121461478#Comment_121461478

Yes, that’s a big problem. I once

made an insulated box to cover mine on the inside, but it still wasn’t a perfect solution. Mind you, the weather where I live is pretty extreme, with many days in the minus tens and twenties from December to March…

Kintarō Hattori

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121461478#Comment_121461478

This isn't actually a bad idea. It's such a pain trying to find one that fits. By doing this we add a little extra warmth to the hallway, so might be a win win.

Alun

That's exactly what we did when we got a new composite door fitted. No point in having a highly insulated door with triple glazed glass and then sticking a gaping hole in it, however draught proof you try to make it. The only snag is you have to remember to keep checking it to see if there's anything in it!

listermint

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121462627#Comment_121462627

Ring doorbell does that for us 😉

Alun

We have a Nest Hello, but have it set so that it only alerts us to people at the front door if neither of us is at home. We get too many alerts otherwise, if for example one of us is working in the front garden, and you can't restrict alerts to just one person, i.e. the postman, using facial recognition unfortunately.