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A guy in Boise told me my post caps were 'aggressively ugly'

He said the big, square ones I was using on a cedar fence looked like they were trying too hard. I argued they were sturdy and kept the water out. But after that job, I switched to a simple, rounded cap style for most residential work. Has anyone else had a client's blunt opinion make you change a standard part of your build?
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3 Comments
anna491
anna4912mo ago
Happens all the time with home decor choices. A friend once called my favorite lamp "a crime against light" and I honestly never saw it the same way again. Sometimes you just need that outside view to break your own habits, even on small things.
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wyatt135
wyatt1352mo ago
Remember that clients live with our work long after we've left. Aesthetics matter just as much as function, especially on something as visible as post caps. @anna491 is right about outside views breaking our habits. I switched from bulky caps to a simple rounded style years ago after a similar comment, and now I keep a few samples in the truck for clients to choose from. It adds two minutes to the consult but saves a lot of headaches later. That guy in Boise did you a favor, even if his delivery was rough.
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gavin228
gavin2282mo ago
My uncle's fence in Phoenix has those big blocky caps and it looks solid, not cheap. Sometimes function and simple strength are what people actually want, not fancy looks. Even @anna491's lamp friend might have missed the point that personal taste isn't wrong.
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