Blocking up an old letterbox

[SmileyDan]

I have a letterbox in the middle of our door which I want to block up. The aim is to remove the terrible draughts coming through the door. In addition, we want deliveries to be made at a different part of our house, so I have installed a wall mounted post box there.

Does anyone have any suggestions on the best way to blank off the letterbox? Once I have removed the box it should just be a big hole in the door. I intend to fill that with polystyrene or rigid insulation, probably seal that in with expanding foam to avoid moist air getting to the external face.

I was wondering about using a plain fingerplate turned horizontal but would that survive the weather?

The door is painted hardwood.

 

[HERTS P&D]

What about a block of wood?

Andy

 

[SmileyDan]

What about a block of wood?

I wondered whether it would be hard to match the grain of the existing door and end up looking like it was a naff effort... Maybe I'm wrong. Don't know where I'd get a small block of oak from tbh.

 

[HERTS P&D]

The door is painted hardwood.

 

[SmileyDan]

You can still see the grain... I guess I would have to paint the whole door. But maybe you're right...

 

[geraldthehamster]

I was wondering about using a plain fingerplate turned horizontal but would that survive the weather?
The door is painted hardwood.

I did this to my inner front door after building a porch on the front of my house, using a pair of reclaimed Victorian finger plates. Admittedly mine isn't exposed to the weather, so I can't comment on that bit. You could always polish and lacquer the outside one (if it wasn't lacquered already).

Cheers
Richard