We have two gumtrees over a largish deck - 10 x 4 m with 120mm Merbau. I had 80mm before it was redone. The gumnuts and sticks and leaves are a total pain! The trees are nice but all year they make a mess. Tannin is another issue requiring constant cleaning.
Been thinking of a sealing strip to keep out the crap so I can blow it off at least and not have to scrap out the gaps which are about 3mm wide. The gaps run away from the house.
Is this a good or bad idea?
I'd consider how much rain it gets before thinking of filling the gaps. You could be swapping one problem for another if the deck doesn't slope sufficiently away from the house to properly drain.
My first plan would be
A leaf blower (or even just a yard brush) for the dry stuff, followed by
A pressure washer for what's left. A bit of decking cleaner in the soap container every so often would preserve its appearance too.
I like the gaps, my deck is treated pine but I think air circulation in the 4 to 8 mm gaps helps to slow rot ( now 25 years old with a few replacements). I have holly ,oak, and pine to supply crap. I blow every couple weeks and about once a year I clear cracks with a large blade.
