What do I need to know before replacing a letter-box on a uPVC door?

You need to establish the following:

The width of the letter-plate – 10 inch or 12 inch
The height of the letter plate – slimline (50mm) or standard (70mm)
The aperture size (see below) – the aperture should be OK if you have established the above but check anyway.

How do I fit the new letter-box?

First of all you need to take the old letter-box off the door. You can do this very simply by lifting and holding the internal letter plate upright and unscrewing the screws which you will see inside the box at each side end. As you are unscrewing the fixings you may notice that the letter-box becomes very loose and it may be as well at this point to have someone hold the letterbox on the outside to avoid it falling to the ground when you fully release the screws. The letter plate can then be pulled apart from the inside and outside. Keep it safe for now until you finish installing the new letter plate and you are perfectly satisfied.

The fitting of the new letter-box is the direct reverse of the above. Only you must make sure that you fit things the right way around and in the right order. It may be useful to have some one help you by holding the letterbox in place whilst tightening the fixings unless you can successfully reach the outside and inside at the same time!

Unpack the letter-box carefully and be sure to protect the surfaces from any unduly scratches that may occur during installation. Now decide which is the inside plate and there are several.

Ways to identify this:

the side with the brush seal inside the plate
the side whose plate opens least
holes for the screws inside the letter plates not screw ports
When installed the screw heads should always be on the inside of the door.

Now that you know which is the inside plate ensure that the gasket is used on the external side of the door and bring the two halves of the letter-box together in the door (make sure that the flaps are the right way up and not upside down!). You will find that the black sleeves will slide into each other and you are ready to screw the two halves together with the screws provided. Be careful not to over-tighten but ensure a good solid fit and contact is made each side of the door.

Can I use a slimline letter-box to replace my existing standard letter-box?

No. The slimline letter-box was produced for a very narrow centre midrail frame. If you try to fit one into a standard size 12” letter-box opening it will not cover the aperture (hole cut-out) through the door. They only come in a 12” size and should only be used to replace the same narrow letter-box. Check the sizes before ordering.

What is aperture size?

This is the size of the hole that is cut through your door to accept the letter-box. So if you take the letter-box off the door completely you will see a hole in the form of a slot and this should be just big enough to accept your new letter-box sleeve. You can check the size of the aperture required to receive the new letter-boxes by studying the General Details page for the individual letter-box.

What is the difference between a mid-rail and a panel?

A mid-rail is the horizontal frame that spans the middle of the door. Usually there is glass above it and a panel below it.

A panel can be a full length or half-length and is usually about 25-30mm thick. It fits within the opening frame of the door instead of a glass unit.

How do I measure the door thickness?

Open the letter-box and drop a tape measure through to measure from the external letter plate to the internal letter plate and take off the thickness of the plates internal and external.
 
What can I use to clean the letter plates?

Care should be applied when cleaning letter-plates.

Letter-plates can often be cleaned with a soft dry cloth. If further cleaning is needed use a mild solution of warm, soapy water on a soft cloth and dry thoroughly afterwards.

To prolong the serviceable life of the letter-plate, care must be taken not to scratch or damage the surfaces of the letter-plate. Do not use wire wool or scouring agents.