Metal and Composite Posts

You will need epoxy adhesive and/or self-drilling metal screws.

If you are using epoxy, add a bead all the way around the very top of the post. Try not to add any epoxy to the sides, it may drip down after installing the cap. You can wipe off excess epoxy if needed.

If you are using screws, just place your cap on the post and use screws on opposite sides of the cap.

Pro Tip: Use a tiny bit of touch-up to paint around the screw or use a screw with a rubber washer. This will prevent any bare metal spots and extend the life of your caps.

Wood Posts

Wood posts can be a little trickier. Sometimes water can get into the wood and make it swell. This will make the post too large to fit the post cap.

You have a few options...

Option 1: Shave down the sides with electric sander, pocketknife, or a rasp.

This is the quickest option if you need your caps installed immediately. This can take a little bit of effort if you don't use powder tools.

Option 2: Let the post dry out

This option can sometimes take days or even weeks, especially with new posts. If there is a stretch of sunny days, you can leave your posts exposed and let the sun do all the work. But, if it starts to rain, you need to cover the top 12+ inches of your posts with a bucket or bag so that the post doesn't absorb more water.

Eventually your posts should shrink back to the desired size. There are some cases where they never do get back to the desired size. If this happens, you will have to resort back to option 1 to make the caps fit.

Common Issues and How to Fix Them

True size caps are typically straight forward and easy to install, but sometimes you can run into fitment issues.

The most common issue is having square corners on your posts but rounded corners on your cap. If this is the case, you will have to use a knife or a sander for your wood or composite posts to round the corners. This issue can be tricky to resolve if you are using a metal post. You will need to use a hand grinder to grind the corners. Be careful and don't take too much off at one time.