Falcon Workshop Falcon 200 x Black 8mm Hex Tek Roofing Screw Caps - 16mm Coverage

A small, inexpensive detail can make a roof look finished: hiding the bright screw heads. I’ve been using the Falcon hex screw caps to tidy up exposed fasteners and give them a bit of extra protection, and they’ve quietly become a go-to in my kit for metal roofing and cladding jobs.

What these caps are (and aren’t)

These are black, push‑on polyethylene caps sized to fit over 8 mm (5/16") hex‑headed roofing screws. They’re UV‑stabilized LDPE, so they have enough stretch to snap over a hex and enough resilience to tolerate sun, heat, and cold without turning brittle. Each cap has a short skirt that provides about 16 mm of coverage, which is enough to conceal the hex head and most bonded washers commonly used on roofing screws.

They come in a bag of 200. The size is marked 8 mm x 19 mm (#10‑24) on the packaging; what matters in practice is the 8 mm hex fit and the 16 mm coverage footprint.

Importantly, these are cosmetic and protective caps—not a substitute for a proper sealing washer. They help shield the fastener head from UV and weather, and they hide the hardware, but they don’t create a watertight seal on their own.

Fit and compatibility

Fit is excellent on standard 5/16" hex heads. The LDPE has just enough give to stretch over the flats and seat securely without feeling loose. On typical Tek screws with EPDM‑bonded washers around 12–14 mm in diameter, the 16 mm skirt covers the washer completely or nearly so. On larger 19 mm washers, the skirt won’t reach the edge; you’ll still hide the hex, but a ring of the washer will remain visible.

A few notes from the bench:
- These caps are not for 1/4" (6.4 mm) hex heads—they’ll be sloppy.
- They won’t fit 3/8" hex heads—too tight; you risk splitting the cap.
- They work over nuts as well as screw heads if the nut across‑flats is 8 mm/5/16".
- If you’re using oversized sealing washers or cupped washers with tall profiles, check coverage first—16 mm is the limit.

If you’re unsure, measure the washer diameter where it meets the panel. If it’s 16 mm or under, you’ll get a clean, fully concealed look.

Installation experience

Installation is pleasantly no‑drama:
1. Drive the screw and seat the washer as you normally would. Don’t install with the cap on the bit; these are not integral cap screws.
2. Wipe any swarf or sealant squeeze‑out from around the head—grit under the cap can scuff paint over time.
3. Press the cap straight over the hex head. You’ll feel a light snap as it passes the flats.

I timed a few runs: once you’re in rhythm, it’s 1–2 seconds per cap. On a lap siding wall with about 250 exposed fasteners, I capped everything in under ten minutes with a gloved hand.

Cold‑weather tip: In near‑freezing temps, stash the bag in your pocket or a warm cab. LDPE stays flexible, but warmer caps push on easier and seat more positively. Conversely, on very hot roofs, let them cool a touch before pressing so you don’t deform the skirt.

Weathering and durability

I put a batch on a south‑facing shed roof and a coastal fence gate to see how they’d hold up. After a season of full sun and salt air, I didn’t see chalking or significant fade. The UV stabilizer seems to be doing its job—the black stayed black, which matters when you’re trying to keep a consistent look across a façade.

Mechanically, LDPE is a good choice here. It won’t shatter in cold the way some brittle plastic caps do, and it resists the micro‑cracks that show up after repeated thermal cycling. The stretch fit hasn’t loosened on any of my test fasteners; tugging them off takes deliberate force. On a vibrating gate, the caps stayed put through months of slams.

One caveat: don’t rely on the caps to mask underlying corrosion. If a fastener head is already rusty, address that first; the cap will hide the appearance but won’t stop active rust from expanding under it.

Coverage and appearance

The 16 mm coverage strikes a nice balance. It’s large enough to hide the usual washer and give a clean dot of color, but not so big that the cap reads as a separate object. On black or charcoal panels, the caps simply disappear. On lighter roofs, black creates a deliberate accent—sometimes that’s the look; sometimes you’ll want color‑matched caps.

The edges sit flush without a noticeable gap, and the profile is low. From a few feet away, I can’t pick out individual fasteners on the darker panels. On bright white cladding, I’d personally source white caps to avoid the polka‑dot effect—but for black, graphite, and many dark trims, these match well.

If you do need a custom color and can’t find a match, I’ve had reasonable luck scuffing the caps lightly and hitting them with a UV‑stable plastic paint. It’s a workaround, not ideal, but the LDPE takes paint better than some slicker plastics when properly prepped.

Where these help—and where they don’t

These caps shine in a few scenarios:
- Upgrading the look of exposed fasteners on metal roofs, sheds, pergolas, and cladding.
- Adding UV protection to the head and washer, especially in high‑sun installations.
- Retrofitting: covering mismatched screw finishes after repairs or additions.

They’re not the answer for:
- Sealing leaks. Use proper EPDM‑bonded washers and correct fastener placement/torque.
- Oversized washers beyond 16 mm coverage if you want the washer fully hidden.
- Non‑standard head sizes. Check the hex across‑flats first.

Quantity and value

A pack of 200 makes sense for small to mid‑size projects. I used roughly 160 on a single‑car metal roof and had enough left for a gate and some fencing. Having spares is helpful—inevitably one will roll off the ridge or disappear into gravel. If you’re capping a full‑scale commercial façade, plan how many bags you’ll need and buy in a single batch to keep color consistent.

Minor drawbacks

A few practical nits from my time with them:
- Only black in this pack. If you need color matching, you’ll have to hunt for other colors or paint.
- The 16 mm skirt won’t hide every washer. If your fasteners run larger, expect a bit of the washer to show.
- Because these push on after driving, keep the area clean. Grinding dust trapped under a cap can abrade painted panels.
- In my case, delivery took a bit longer than a domestic purchase, which isn’t an issue if you plan ahead but can sting on a tight timeline.

None of those are deal‑breakers; they’re just the realities of a simple cap doing a simple job.

Practical tips

• Test fit one cap on your exact fastener before committing to a bag.
• Warm caps slightly in cold weather for easier installation.
• Don’t overdrive screws; a distorted washer can keep the cap from seating.
• Keep a small pry tool handy. If you need to remove a cap without marring the panel, a plastic trim tool works better than a screwdriver.

Bottom line

The Falcon hex screw caps are a straightforward, well‑made solution for cleaning up the look of exposed 5/16" hex fasteners while adding a bit of protection from sun and weather. They install quickly, stay put, and the UV‑stabilized LDPE has held up nicely in real outdoor use. The 16 mm coverage is appropriate for most roofing washers, and a 200‑count bag covers a lot of ground.

I recommend these if you’re working with 8 mm (5/16") hex heads and want a clean, finished appearance—especially on dark roofs and trims. They won’t fix a bad seal or fit oversize washers, and color options in this pack are limited to black, but for their intended use they perform exactly as they should with no fuss.