Sizing a Pier Cap to the Pillar
A pier cap is sized from the width of the finished pillar, with an overhang of 1 to 2 inches on each side so that rainwater drips clear of the masonry rather than running down the face. On the sizes stocked here, a 16 inch pillar takes a 20 inch cap, a 20 inch pillar takes a 24 inch cap, and a 24 inch pillar takes a 28 or 30 inch cap. If the pillar is going to be finished with veneer, brick or render, measure it at the finished width, because a cap sized to the bare block will sit flush once the facing is on.
Thickness comes down to the height of the pillar and what sits on it. Two inch caps are the usual choice for low walls and for entry pillars under about four feet. Three inch caps are used on taller gate piers and on any pillar that carries a light or a finial. If the pillar will carry a lamp, a house number or a gate closer, let us know when you order so the fixing can be planned before the cap is set. Drilling a finished cap on site carries a real risk of cracking it.
A pilaster, which is a half-pillar built into the face of a wall, takes the same cap cut back to the depth of the projection. Send the depth and we will confirm what fits.
Gate Piers, Wall Ends, Mailbox Pillars and Columns
Most orders on this page are for gate piers and driveway entrances, usually as a matched pair on either side of the opening. Boundary wall ends and corners take a cap at the point where the run of coping stops, so the two are normally ordered together and the profiles should match: a flat cap with flat coping, a sloped cap with pitched coping. Mailbox pillars and lamp posts generally take the 20 inch size. Sloped capstones shed water on all four sides and suit an exposed pier. Flat caps suit contemporary brick and rendered pillars and give a level surface for a light fitting. If you are building the pillar as well as capping it, the same quarries supply retaining wall blocks and stone veneer.
Granite, Bluestone, Limestone and Sandstone Caps by Source
Granite caps in Black Beauty, Charcoal Black and Salt and Pepper from Ontario, and Harbor Black and Blue Mist from Massachusetts. Granite holds its color in weather, which matters on a black cap.
Bluestone caps sawn in full color and blue from Pennsylvania at 2 inch, and Italian and Premium Dark bluestone from Massachusetts.
Limestone caps in full color from Indiana, and in Antique Grey, Athena Grey and K-Black from Ontario.
Sandstone caps rock-faced from Michigan at 2-1/4 inch, and in Autumn Brown, Bronte, Lavender and Dove Grey from Ontario.
Manufactured capstones in Cultured Stone sloped and flat profiles and Dutch Quality wall caps, matched to the veneer lines.
Colors read darker when the stone is wet and lighter in full sun, so check a sample against the pillar material before ordering the pair.