How to fix timber gaps in porch?

amberh

Hello everyone 

We had a timber porch replaced a while ago. It was lovely but after a week or so some of the joins started to split open. The carpenter said it must have been 'new wood' and attempted to screw some together but over the past 18 months they've split open heaps more. Seems structurally sound but not good to look at. Also sap leaking through eyes in the wood, so having to sand down and redo all the painting and fill the gaps unfortunately. Some small gaps I can fill with appropriate filler. But I'm having trouble filling these large gaps, I tried outdoor filler but it eventually cracked open, then I tried to use Builders bog but had trouble getting it to sit in the deep gaps. Joins aren't flush either sort of a step so hard to fill. Do I try some sort of silicone pumped into the gaps? Or a slither of wood is actually needed first? Many thanks in advance! Amber 

JacobZ

Hi @amberh,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

It looks like this is framing timber, which is not really designed or made to have tight connections; it is there to create a solid structure, which can then be clad and finished with other materials to hide gaps like this. 

Have you got any photos showing things from a bit further back? 

Seeing the broader picture might help us to come up with a solution that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Unfortunately, as wet timber will shrink and move as it dries out. As the wood continues to dry, the joins open up, and sap bleeds from knots and grain. Rigid products like exterior filler or builders' bog are not designed to cope with that movement, which is why they crack and fail over time.

A simple solution might be to use a flexible outdoor filler such as this No More Gaps Exterior Gap Filler, which can be smoothed and painted once it has dried.

There may be other solutions, but I'd have to see things from further back to see what is possible. I will assist further when we can see things from a bit further back.

Jacob