A Colorbond fence is tough, low-maintenance and looks sharp, but with plain flat caps on every post it can also look a little like every other fence on the street. Decorative post caps are the simplest way to give it character, and they're one of the few upgrades you can make in an afternoon.
The short version: measure your posts, choose a cap style that suits your home, paint it to match your Colorbond colour, then fit it. Caps that fit over the post suit square steel and timber posts alike, and they keep water out of the top of the post too.
Why change the caps on a Colorbond fence?
Most Colorbond fences are finished with simple flat caps, or none at all on gate and corner posts. They do the job, but they don't add anything. Swapping them for a shaped post cap is a small change with a big effect:
- Street appeal. Posts are the vertical rhythm of a fence, so a shaped cap on each one adds detail along the whole length.
- A finished look. Caps that match your gate, house trim or letterbox make the fence feel designed, not just installed.
- Protection. A cap stops water getting into the top of the post, whether it's a hollow steel post or a timber gate post.
Step 1: Measure your posts
Colorbond fences are usually built on square steel posts, most commonly 50mm or 65mm. Feature posts at gates and corners are often larger timber posts, such as 90mm or 100mm. Measure each type you want to cap, because they're often different sizes on the same fence.
- Measure straight across one face of the post, not corner to corner.
- Measure to the nearest millimetre, and use the larger figure if the two faces differ.
- Order the post top size that matches your post. For caps that fit over the post, we make the internal opening 2mm larger than the post so it slides on neatly.
Our standard range covers posts from 30mm right up to 200mm across different styles, and because every Ledro House post top is made to order, we can make most styles to suit any post size. If your post size isn't listed, email us at [email protected] and we'll confirm the best option. Our post top sizing guide has more detail.
Step 2: Choose a style that suits your home
Colorbond suits almost every kind of home, so the right cap depends on the house behind the fence.
Modern and contemporary homes
Clean, geometric caps echo the straight lines of a Colorbond fence. Good choices:
- Stax: crisp stacked tiers, very architectural
- Block: simple, flat and minimal
- Metro: lines that sweep up into a point
Classic, coastal and heritage-style homes
A softer, rounded cap balances the strong lines of the steel panels:
- Chateau: a smooth sphere on a stepped base
- Paris: a sweeping curve under a pyramid top
- Round Globe: a classic ball top
Step 3: Paint to match your Colorbond colour
Every Ledro House post top is made to be painted, so you can match it exactly to your fence, or pick a contrast colour that ties in with your house trim.
- No prep needed. No sanding or primer. Your post tops are ready to paint straight out of the box.
- Use a good quality exterior paint, such as Dulux Weathershield. Most paint stores can tint exterior paint to match popular Colorbond colours like Monument, Woodland Grey, Surfmist, Basalt and Dune. Take the colour name from your fence and ask for a match.
- Paint before you install. It's easier to cover every edge, and there's no risk of paint on your fence panels.
Once painted, your post tops are suitable for Australian conditions. Our painting and installation guide walks through it step by step.
Step 4: Fit them to your posts
- Caps that fit over the post (such as the Stax, Block, Metro, Chateau and Paris) slide straight down over a square post. This style suits both square steel posts and timber posts.
- Caps that sit on top of the post (such as the Round Globe and Aztec) screw onto an included lag bolt that's fixed into the top of the post, so they're best suited to timber posts, like timber gate and feature posts.
Not sure which you need? The Post fixing row on each product page tells you, or just ask us.
Looking after them
Like your Colorbond panels, painted post tops need very little care. Wash them with warm soapy water and a soft sponge whenever you clean the fence, and give them a fresh coat if you ever repaint.
Quick answers
What size are Colorbond fence posts?
Usually 50mm or 65mm square steel posts, with larger timber or steel posts often used at gates and corners. Always measure your own posts before ordering.
Can I put decorative caps on steel Colorbond posts?
Yes. Choose a cap that fits over the post, sized to your post. We make post tops to suit any post size, so if your size isn't listed, get in touch.
Will the caps match my Colorbond colour?
Yes. Paint them with a good quality exterior paint tinted to your Colorbond colour before you install them.
Do post caps stop water getting into my posts?
Yes. A cap covers the open top of the post and stops water getting in.
Finish your Colorbond fence
Ledro House post tops are made in Australia, made to suit any post size and designed to be painted to match your fence. Browse our contemporary post tops for modern homes, or our traditional post tops for a classic look.
Need a size that isn't listed, or help choosing? Email [email protected] and we'll help you find the right fit.