The ideal mailbox should be able to withstand ravages of many kinds.
Whether you're installing a new post for your mailbox or replacing a damaged one, you want to create the most sturdy construction possible. Aluminum is much more lightweight than iron and thus easier to work with, but that's where the advantages end. Because of its lightweight properties, aluminum is much more likely to be damaged from the weather or other abuse. If you want a mailbox post that will last, iron is the better choice. Does this Spark an idea?
Iron is Sturdy
If you want your mailbox post to be able to withstand almost any catastrophe, from a tree falling on it to rowdy teenagers playing mailbox baseball, you should choose iron over aluminum. Iron is much sturdier, which means it will withstand more weight and pressure. And if you set the iron post with concrete, there is nothing short of a tornado or a head-on collision with a car that will be able to dislodge the post.
Larger Capacity
Another advantage of using an iron post is its ability to hold a bigger, heavier mailbox. An aluminum post will support much less weight than will its iron counterpart. If you receive a lot of packages and don't wish for them to be left on your doorstep or, worse yet, beside your mailbox, you might prefer to install a larger capacity mailbox. An iron post could withstand the added weight with ease.
Permanence
An iron mailbox post is much more permanent than aluminum. Even if your mailbox never suffers falling trees, bad weather or mischievous teenagers, just the act of using it every day can weaken the base. Your mailbox is opened and closed a minimum of twice on most weekdays; every time the box is accessed, it puts stress on the post. If an iron post is set properly into the ground with concrete, you need never worry about it becoming wobbly.
Weathering the Elements
Weatherproofing your iron post will protect it from rust.
The only real disadvantage to choosing an iron mailbox post over aluminum is rust. Simply put, iron rusts while aluminum doesn't. Being outside, your iron post will be at the mercy of the elements. This limitation is easily overcome by protecting the exposed iron with paint, chrome plating or a sacrificial zinc anode to coat the iron. The anode corrodes faster than iron, not only protecting it but giving clear indication (when the zinc visibly starts to rust) when the post is ready for another coat. Most anodes will last for at least a year, and there's no need to add a new coat until you notice corrosion.
Tags: iron post, mailbox post, much more, post will, your mailbox
