I can always tell when a custom builder has an attention for detail, or when he is just interested in cutting corners wherever he can. It’s subtle choices that give this mentality away; the way windows are framed, the kind of molding and trim used in places that aren’t necessarily the showy rooms, and the use of deck caps on fence and deck posts outside. It’s the last one that, for my money, makes a new home appear finished or not. Nothing says “half-done job” like bare naked fence and deck posts. Why would someone intentionally stop so close to the finish line? It makes no sense to me.
The reason is simple: without these seemingly unimportant or purely decorative elements, a fence or deck has a shorter life, because the exposed upper ends of the posts are subject to moisture deterioration. Not only do deck caps protect and beautify, but so do finials. And with the wide range of materials and costs, they can be a showy and economical way of finishing off a house, fence or deck project. And builders that pay attention to that last detail have my confidence that they haven’t cut other important corners, too.
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