How to plugFor a clean, screwless finish
Plugs are the finishing touch — they conceal your fasteners and complete the look that makes a GAPCAP™ install feel designed instead of installed. The method differs slightly between TopCap and FasciaCap plugs.
TopCap plugs are tapped flush with a hammer. FasciaCap plugs are pressed in by hand to protect their softer profile. Don't mix the techniques — a hammer can deform a FasciaCap plug.
TopCap plugs
Seat the fastener first
Make sure the screw is fully seated in the TopCap so there is room for the plug to drop in. If the screw head sits proud, the plug will too.
Match the grain
Align the grain of the plug with the grain direction of the TopCap. A mismatched plug stands out from across the yard.
Press, then tap
Press the plug in by hand to start it, then lightly tap with a smooth-faced hammer. Use the weight of the hammer — you're seating, not driving.
Flush check
Make sure the plug is tapped in flush with the TopCap. Run your finger across the seam — if you can feel a ridge, give it one more light tap.
FasciaCap plugs
Hand only
The FasciaCap plug is designed to be pressed in by hand to avoid needing a hammer that might damage the shape of the plug.
Seat the fastener first
Make sure the screw is fully seated in the FasciaCap, so there is room for the plug to be installed. Stop driving the moment the head sits below the channel surface.
Match the grain
Align the grain of the plug with the grain direction of the FasciaCap. This is the difference between an invisible fastener and one you can spot from the driveway.
Press flush
Press the plug in by hand and make sure it is aligned and flush with the FasciaCap. Wiggle gently as you press for a tighter final seat.
Common plug mistakes — and how to dodge them
- Screw left proud. If the screw isn't fully seated, no plug will sit flush. Always check the screw before you grab the plug.
- Grain ignored. A 90°-rotated plug is the single most common reason an otherwise clean install looks "off". Take the extra two seconds.
- Hammer on FasciaCap. Don't. Hand pressure only.
- Wrong color batch. Color-match plugs to the cap, not by eye on the shelf — keep them paired from the original 2-pack.