Our back room is a converted patio cover that was done many years ago. In doing some outside repairs discovered they poured the slab around the existing 4×4’s and there is at least  one that is exposed on one side to the elements at ground level. While it seems solid enough now I would like to keep it that way. Any suggestions on protecting this from the weather. The 4×4 was originally put in cement and that is visible from the outside also.