If your mailbox is knocked over, broken, or just needs to be replaced, you want to make sure that the next one will stay firmly in place. By using Quikrete Fast-Setting Concrete Mix and following these 5 easy steps, you can feel confident that your mailbox will be set firmly, and won’t fall over or get knocked over easily.
For this project, we’re going to be using Quikrete Fast-Setting Concrete Mix. You can pick some up right now at Koopman Lumber, and knock this project out in just under an hour!
Most mailbox posts will need 2 bags of Quikrete to set, but before starting use this calculator to determine how many bags you need!
Step 1: Dig the Post Hole
Start by measuring your post, and then using a shovel or post hole digger to dig out a hole that is 1/3 to 1/2 the length of the post. The hole should be 3 time the width of your post. If your post is 4 inches wide, the hole should be 12 inches in diameter.
It is also recommended you add about 6 inches of compact gravel to the bottom of the hole. Quikrete has gravel mix that is perfect for this application.
Step 2: Support the Post
Now that the hole is dug convince a friend or family member to hold the post up for you. You don’t have to tell them what it is that they’re doing, but you should emphasize how easy it’s going to be. Rewarding them with food is acceptable.
They’re going to have to hold the post up for you (straight up) while you set the concrete mix and water and keep it there until the solution is ready to support the post, so make sure they can stand in one spot for about 20 minutes.
Be sure to use a level when setting!
Step 3: Pour your Quikrete
Pour your Quikrete into the hole, applying it evenly on all sides until you run out of Quikrete. It’s imperative that you pour the Quikrete as evenly as possible. Having a lopsided pour will make one side weaker than the other, and can hurt the integrity of the Quikrete.
Step 4: Fill the Hole With Some Water
Pour about a gallon of water into your hole to mix with your Quikrete. Pour slowly to allow the water to saturate the Quikrete until the full gallon has been used up.
Step 5: Let it Set
Hold that post up until it can support its own weight, and you’re done! Quikrete will finish setting in about 20-40 minutes all by itself. Nothing left for you to do but reward your friend with a nice, cold drink.
You can put dirt over the top of the Quikrete if you don’t want it to show without harming the Quikrete itself.
Wrap Up
That’s it! It’s so easy to use Quikrete to set up your Mailbox Post, you can easily have it done in under an hour. Better than that, you can get everything you need to complete this project right here at Koopman Lumber! Click Here to find the Koopman location nearest you, and feel free to give us a call if you have any questions. Thanks for reading!
