Piling Cap Buying & Installation Guide

Should I Choose Cone or Flat Piling Caps?

Piling caps are available in either cone or flat styles. While they both accomplish the same task – keeping accumulated water from prematurely rotting the tops of wooden pilings – the selection of one style over another is based on individual taste as much as utility.

Round cone piling cap installed on a wooden piling

Cone Piling Caps

♢ Makes it difficult for birds to perch, minimizing bird waste and cleanup
⚓ Easier to toss dock lines over the top without getting hung up
Round flat piling cap installed on a wooden piling

Flat Piling Caps

⊙ Minimizes extra material on top, blending with the actual shape of the piling
⊙ Protects your dock while maximizing your view – popular for aesthetic reasons
⚒   Installation Guide

How Do I Install Piling Caps?

Installing piling caps is fairly simple. You will need about four (4) nails or screws per cap, pre-drilling holes in each cap to accommodate the nails.

1

Drill Holes

Measure about ¾" up from the bottom of the cap and drill 4 small holes around the perimeter.

2

Position Cap

Place the cap on the piling and make sure it’s sitting level.

3

Secure Cap

Run the nails or screws through the holes and into the piling just until the head touches the cap, then stop. Do not overtighten!

ⓘ Important Tip

If you look underneath after installation, there may be a small void or gap between the cap and the piling – that is fine! Your piling caps will be much more aesthetically-pleasing if they are still perfectly round after installation. Nothing looks worse than a dock full of warped piling caps that are out of round!

We recommend using stainless steel ring shank nails or stainless steel decking screws to attach the caps to your pilings.