The mailboxes in Avensong are supposed to add a distinguishing charm and village feel to our community and increase curb appeal. A few years back, there was a mailbox restoration project in the Village section of Avensong. This project greatly enhanced the curb appeal of that section of our neighborhood. Unfortunately, many mailboxes in Avencroft and the Carriage are in great need of repair or replacement. The mailboxes in Avencroft will soon be replaced using the Avencroft at Avensong's reserve funds. No such funds exist to replace the mailboxes in the Carriage. The Association will begin sending courtesy letters to those homeowners who need to repair or replace their mailboxes in the Carriage.
If you need to replace your mailbox, mailbox numbers, or if you need to paint your mailbox post, please be mindful of the need to adhere to community standards. The post must be of original type and make (no wooden posts are allowed). Mailboxes must also be of original type and make. Vinyl numbers must be black and gold (similar to the ones that are on the Village mailboxes) and must be affixed to the front of approved mailboxes only. No other numbering is allowed. To ensure adherence to community standards, each homeowner must submit an Application for Architectural or Landscape Change form prior to beginning work.
If you choose to do the restoration of your mailbox yourself, the following information applies. You must submit an Application for Architectural or Landscape Change form prior to beginning work. You may not paint your mailbox. Mailbox has to be replaced as specified below. Also, the original cast iron post may not be replaced with a different style metal post or wooden post. You will also need the following equipment and tools and plan to spend approximately 3 hours (possibly more if you have to reset the post):
- Electric drill with appropriate metal bits to drill holes in the base of the mailbox
- Cement to reset the post if the existing post is leaning
- Screwdrivers and wrenches of appropriate size
- Nuts and bolts of appropriate size
- Measuring tape
- Level to ensure that the mailbox and posts are at right angles with the ground and each other
- New mailbox - Home Depot only (Lowes does not have the correct mailbox), Elite Premium Steel Mailbox, SKU # 442034, Price as of 4-19-08 = $11.97.
- New numbers for front of mailbox - Home Depot, Hillman 1" Mylar Letters and Numbers, SKU # 842266, Price as of 4-19-08 = $1.98 (No numbers except on the front of the mailbox in the appropriate place)
- Black spray paint for cast iron post (Please slightly sand your post before applying) - Home Depot, Rust-oleum Black Gloss Protective Enamel, SKU # 445606
The Association has negotiated reduced pricing with The Mailbox Man (Michael Kokitka). His contact information is as follows: (M) (678) 521-1605 and E-mail - mkokitka@alltel.net. If you use this approved vendor, you do not have to submit an Application for Architectural or Landscape Change form prior to beginning work. Pricing depends on the nature of work needed. Most homeowners will only need to clean and paint the post ($27), install a new T1 mailbox ($21), and numbers ($7) = $55.00 total. If you need your post reset, it will be an additional $32. Prices are as follows:
- Total replacement (includes installation of new post, as well new mailbox and numbers): $248
- Clean and paint existing (original) post: $27
- Install new T1 mailbox: $21
- Install new numbers: $7
