Best wood filler for weathered pine posts?

[CharlieBear62]

Wondering what's the best top quality wood filler suitable for these old carport posts. 

6 years ago when I bought the residence all these untreated pine posts had some old termite damage and now I'd like to pretty them up before I go about enclosing the carport using secondhand 50mm thick coldroom panels. 

I had thought about replacing the posts with thin walled painted square hollow section steel but the posts are still strong, with standing up to a hundred nasty thunderstorms.

What I plan to do is remove one post at a time, give the post a good wire wheeling, fill in the damage and slap on a coat or two of paint.

Termite damaged pine posts

[Nailbag]

Hi @CharlieBear62 

Looking at those photos, the posts already look a patch-job so, I would highly recommend replacing them. It's not a huge job or a high-expense project.

But if you really want to fill them in, then builders bog will be your best option. Overfill each hole slightly, then use a sharp chisel to shave off the excess before the bog fully hardens to save oil sanding.

Nailbag

[JacobZ]

Hi @CharlieBear62,

As those posts are supporting a roofed structure, I would strongly encourage you to replace them instead of filling them. The fact that you are planning to enclose the space makes me feel even stronger about this, as you would be relying on them to support sheet panels that would bring further wind load into play.

While they may seem stable, they are clearly weakened, and as there is evidence of termites, the damage likely extends further than you can see. It is not worth it to take chances when it comes to structural elements, as if they collapse, you or your loved ones can be injured, or worse.

Thinking long-term, it would be much easier and cheaper to replace them now while they are exposed than later on, when you have closed things in. You could quite easily use some acrow props to support the beam, remove one post at a time, and replace them one by one with new timber posts before painting them.

The cost would be a bit higher, but it would be much cheaper than the cost if things were to collapse.

Jacob