Boards
Boards come in a variety of styles and widths. Their shapes and tops define them. A classic picket fence features a Gothic, or pointed, top. Stockades come to a point at the top of the board, as well. A more ornate picket might feature the French Gothic with a nip at the neck. Flat-topped boards and dog-ear styles are more commonly featured in modern pickets, shadow box, and tongue-and-groove fencing.

Caps
Caps are added to the tops of posts to provide a finished look or further enhance the style. Like posts and boards, caps come in a variety of styles and are matched to their period or vernacular style. Post caps may be modern, Victorian, classical, colonial, gothic, one of several vernacular architectural styles like Cape Cod, Newport, or ranch.

Gothic-inspired post cap	A classic New England-style post cap	Ball-style post cap	Pyramid-style post cap