Cheers, will give the sanding / filling a go & see how it comes up
@Sharkstar - that had crossed my mind & would probably save the ball-ache of redoing this every couple of years, if the first option looks gash I think that might be on the cards - I take it a properly painted finish would be more resilient than varnish of any sort?
If the wood isn’t actually rotten, as Airhead says, sand and varnish keeps the current look, but won’t last as long as a good paint system. Painting over oak (which is what it looks like you have there) isn’t to everyone’s taste.
Cheers, will give the sanding / filling a go & see how it comes up
@Sharkstar - that had crossed my mind & would probably save the ball-ache of redoing this every couple of years, if the first option looks gash I think that might be on the cards - I take it a properly painted finish would be more resilient than varnish of any sort?