Letterplate or not?

1.  When a letterplate is installed onto your door, remember:

• The security risk: if it is placed too close to the middle of the door, it could enable access to the lock.
• Considering the postman: a low letterplate can be trickier for the postman but it does look more contemporary when positioned towards the bottom of the door. 

2. A letterplate may not be suitable for Passivhaus 

A letterplate may not be suitable for Passivhaus properties or zero carbon rated houses with high insulation values because they are a source of heat loss. It is possible to buy certified letterplates, however they are not always attractive or contemporary in design.

3. Placement of a letterplate on a timber doorset with grooves

If the door is vertically grooved, then the letterplate should be vertical to prevent water rolling down the door and sitting in the grooves. The same applies if the door is horizontally grooved – the letterplate should be horizontally fitted as well.

4. Consider a mail chute 

This is a postbox, which sits on an outside wall with a tunnel that connects to a basket, for the post to fall into, inside the property. This option is best implemented during the building process – it's an excellent option when there's an abundance of space available.

5. Creating a special place for the letterplate on the door is an option

This is usually added to the sidelight in a dedicated panel. This is a neat solution and a benefit is that it's not in the door.

6. Be mindful if you have glass side panels (sidelights)

It's worth noting that if there is a clear glass sidelight by your door, there is s security risk if post is visible while you are away. In this instance, sandblasted glass could be a good option because it allows light in but you can't see into the property.