Brick Mailbox with planter on top

AlexGu

Hello,
I have a concern and hope someone might be able to tell me weather or not what I'm about to build is a good idea and will hold up over time.
I am getting ready to build a mailbox out of bricks. It will be 3 bricks wide by 3 bricks deep and approximately 52" tall. I was planning to lay the top 2 rows and create a planter inside. Fill the inside with concrete and create a drain toward the center.I wanted to either use PVC or cooper pipes in center of planter and run it inside the mailbox structure to ground level and have the pipe come thought on the first row of bricks to create a drain so water will not build up in the planter. Has anyone done this before? Will it compromise the structure of the mailbox by making a planter in center of it? Any reason why I should not build a planter?
Any suggestions and or advise is greatly appreciated? Thank you for taking time to read my post.
Alex

jcarlilesiu

If you decide to make a planter, I would line it with a water impermeable membrane, liquid applied is probably the best option. You will see brick deterioration over time without it with water sitting on the backside of the brick. Not to mention the efflorescence you would get on the face.

The plan for drainage sounds good, but makes sure you have a way to prevent debris, dirt, or anything else from clogging the line.

On a design note, I would not make a square with a planter on top. I think that would look weird. Instead, I would plan a tiered shape, with a planter about mid way up the back side and have the mailbox tower get thinner from that point to the top.

tonnygarden

Yeah.. I have done it before. I contacted a mailbox company. They provided me a nice mailbox and placed it as well. So if you are doing it first time then I think you should try the same idea.