Forgive if this is the wrong forum.
I have a few structural timber beams outside about 8"x8" in cross section.
They've been gunged up with some sort of black matt paint which is now flaking off and looking really tatty. Most seems easy to remove but as I scrape it off I'm finding some filled splits in the timber - seems to be a white polyfilla type material. Some of this is loose and I'm pulling it out revealing quite wide and deep splits. Say 10" long and up to 1/4" wide and extending almost to the centre of the beam. Most seem to radiate from cracked knots.
The general look is really good. Very rustic looking. I can't believe the "filler" was doing much from a structural strength point of view but would be interested to know whether there is any concern structurally. From a weather/insect resistant point of view, can the splits be left open, and if so can they/should they be preserved in any way to strengthen and prevent future damage.
Many thanks
I have a few structural timber beams outside about 8"x8" in cross section.
They've been gunged up with some sort of black matt paint which is now flaking off and looking really tatty. Most seems easy to remove but as I scrape it off I'm finding some filled splits in the timber - seems to be a white polyfilla type material. Some of this is loose and I'm pulling it out revealing quite wide and deep splits. Say 10" long and up to 1/4" wide and extending almost to the centre of the beam. Most seem to radiate from cracked knots.
The general look is really good. Very rustic looking. I can't believe the "filler" was doing much from a structural strength point of view but would be interested to know whether there is any concern structurally. From a weather/insect resistant point of view, can the splits be left open, and if so can they/should they be preserved in any way to strengthen and prevent future damage.
Many thanks