GUTTER PROTECTION: from Foam Inserts to Gutter Caps

Needle-Leafwedge.com Update

2011-12-17T13:11:00.000-08:00

Our busy season ends around Thanksgiving and we are making some changes to make the 2012 season better for our customers. We have changed servers and are in the process of having a NEW WEBSITE launched. The new website will include a new storefront that will allow smoother online purchases. Look to see the new website by February 1, 2012 (or sooner if we are lucky.)

Our 5" K-Style HomeOwner Grade Needle-Leaf Wedge (our most popular product) is now offered in four different linear foot box sizes: 68 feet, 48 feet, 32 feet and 24 feet. GREAT NEWS: with the new box sizes we are able to lower our shipping charge from $49.92 to $39.92 per box!! The 24 foot box still ships for $33.92.

The Needle-Leaf Wedge comes in 4-foot long pieces and ships by dimension and not weight (like shipping popcorn!) Our boxes are all 48 inches tall. We use boxes are 48 x 14 x 14 for the 68 linear foot orders and 48 x 12 x 12 for the 48 foot and 32 foot orders. The 23 foot orders are shipped in a box 48 x 12 x 6.

Needle-Leaf Wedge Outperforms GutterStuff Pro in Review

2011-03-22T13:30:00.000-07:00

GutterStuff Pro & Needle-Leaf Wedge Gutter Foam Insert

Update

By Jeff Gedgaud

Last year I installed and tested these two competing products and now for my first update, all winter these two gutter foam fillers
have been keeping silent guard on my front porch gutters. I used GutterStuff Pro Gutter Foam Filters and Needle-Leaf Wedge
Gutter Filter Foam for this home improvement project that I received from the companies in four foot sections.

Gutter foam filters are made to fill your gutter and keep debris, leaves and other things from clogging the gutter and
downspouts. Both brands use a simple open cell foam that is UV and fire retardant treated to prevent UV sun damage and
possible fires.

I installed both brands across half the front and one side of my homes porch and both installed equally well without much
problem, just a little on the job use to find the best way to install them. Once I got the hang of cutting the bottoms to install over
the gutter hanger's things went quickly and I had the front and sides in place.

Once installed they both did very well at keeping leaves, branches and other debris out of my gutters but now winter has come
and gone, for the most part. Here in the middle of March we are still due for maybe one more winter storm but I had someone
ask how the products faired and here is my answer.

GutterStuff Pro did not fair as well as the Needle-Leaf Wedge in maintaining its black color and not falling to the ravages of the
sun. The GutterStuff Pro shows signs of deterioration and this is due to the suns UV rays eating at the foam and causing the
foam to become brittle and discolored.

The foam is now a gray in the middle of the wedge but only on the top 1/4 inch or so and it does not go through the whole piece
of foam. If you pick at the foam it is no longer pliable but brittle on the top and breaks apart some but the rest of the foam piece
is fine.

It only has eaten some of the foam near the top in middle and does show that it will last at least several more years before
having to be replaced or messed with in any way. This is not a problem after only one winter but it does affect how you look at
the product and whether you will purchase the less expense brand.

I would be happy to use either product on my gutter system but if you have a two story home and want the best protection and
the longest lasting it looks like the obviously coated Needle-Leaf Wedge is a better product. While both are not cheap by any
means the coating that shows on the Needle-Leaf is an obvious UV protection that has lasted throughout the Winter without
any signs of wear or deterioration from the sun.

I would recommend the Needle-Leaf product over the GutterStuff Pro as the cost is obviously a factor in giving you more
protection from the suns UV rays. The cost difference of $2 per four foot section may be a deal breaker as the cost for doing
your house may be higher because of the amount you need.

In order to finish my home I will need 22 pieces and at the $12 per piece it will cost about $264 for the GutterStuff Pro filters.
The Needle-Leaf Wedge will cost about $308 for the same amount and for some this cost difference may be the factor in going
with a less expensive brand.

I would be happy to use the less expensive brand as right now I really do not have the extra money to spend but I might go with
the more expensive so I do not have to climb on the roof as often. For the lower porch the less expensive brand would be fine
but for the higher gutters of the second story I think I would go with the better brand just to ensure I am not messing on the
ladder at that height any sooner than I have to.

I would have to recommend the better and slightly more expensive brand of Needle-Leaf Wedge as the extra protection the
company puts on their product does make a difference in only one winter's time.
More resources
• gutterstuffinternational.com
• needle-Ieafwedge.com

New, Lower Price 5" K-Style Gutter Filter Foam $2.29 / Ft

2011-03-19T15:19:00.000-07:00

Now that the weather is changing people begin to think about cleaning out their gutters. We have lowered the price on our rain gutter foam insert product, Needle-Leaf Wedge, to $2.29 / Foot. This product can be installed by the homeowner and comes with a 25-Year No-Clog Warranty. Visit our website at http://www.needle-leafwedge.com/purchase/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=5 and learn about the advantages of the 5" K-Style Homeowner Grade foam gutter insert. If you look at Gutter Stuff, Leaf Defier or other gutter protection products, check out the benefits of Needle-Leaf Wedge before you make a purchase.

Testimonials are great.

2010-11-13T11:12:00.000-08:00

From C.D., a customer in Maryland who purchased 48 feet of 6" K-Style Needle-Leaf WEDGE: "Excellent quality product. Extremely easy to install. Thank You."

It is always a treat when someone searches for the solution to a problem and is then kind enough to give some feedback after making a purchase.

Needle-Leaf WEDGE continues to be the best foam leaf filter, gutter guard on the market.

The Testimonials Keep on Coming

2010-10-26T16:32:00.000-07:00

Here is an excerpt from Kirt in Ohio: "Using the Needle-Leaf wedge product seems to eliminate the problem from those small leaves from getting into the gutters since the foam contours to the inside of the gutter with a snug fit. Other gutter guard products in the past we used did not work meaning we had to clean out the gutters almost every year and they still where more expensive in cost."

Kirt is referring to our $2.49/Ft plus S&H 5" K-Style HomeOwner WEDGE that comes with a 25-Year No-Clog Warranty, as do all of our exceptional gutter protection products.

Needle-Leaf WEDGE now on eBay

2010-10-26T16:26:00.000-07:00

This marks the end of our first week on eBay. We are offering our 5" K-HomeOwner product in boxes of 120 feet, 88 feet, 48 feet and 24 feet. Our other offerings are as follows: 6" K-Style in boxes of 88 feet and 48 feet; 5" Half-Round in boxes of 80 feet and 48 feet; 6" Half-Round in boxes of 80 feet and 48 feet.

Listings are under headings like: 5" K-Style Foam Leaf Gutter Guard Insert -- 120 Ft/Box etc.

We are encouraged in that we have had sales in just the first week. Now we plan on listing the same products on Amazon.com

Until next time......Regards, Jack

We just listed products on eBay.

2010-10-15T22:40:00.000-07:00

Are we the last people to have an eBay listing? Maybe so. Better late than never.

Here is our video:

$2.49/Ft HOMEOWNER GRADE NLW Now Available.

2010-08-31T18:33:00.000-07:00

September 1st marks the official release of our $2.49/Ft, 25-Year No-Clog Limited Warranty, 5" K-Style Homeowner Grade WEDGE. The new offering is added to our traditional Commercial Grade K-Style products in 5" and 6" as well as the 5" and 6" Half-Round products.

Box sizes have also been changed to be able to offer the best shipping rates. The NLW products are expensive to ship because they are not shipped by weight, but by dimension which is more expensive.

Both of our 5" K-Style products, the Homeowner Grade ($2.49/Ft) and the traditional Commercial Grade ($3.50/Ft), are available in a 1-Foot 5K Sample Pack for only $3.49 plus S&H...see and feel both grades, compare and decide for yourself! We also offer both products in boxes of 88 Feet, 48 Feet and 24 Feet.

All products are available in a 1-Foot Sample; put the WEDGE into your gutter and see for yourself why NOTHING gets through the WEDGE except water!

The 6" K-Style Wedge comes in boxes of 60 Feet, 48 Feet and 24 Feet.

The Half-Round products, both 5" and 6", are available in boxes of 80 Feet, 48 Feet and 24 Feet.

ALL BOXES ARE SHIPPED TAX-FREE except to Washington State.

New Website

2010-03-08T14:47:00.000-08:00

We were able to have a new website designed so that we could offer customers UPS and US Postal Service shipping options. In addition, the new website automatically calculates Sales Tax for Washington State customers.

The new website is easier to manage and ordering is a snap.

Please visit us at www.Needle-LeafWedge.com

Regards...Jack

$3.99 SALE EXTENDED INTO FALL

2009-09-14T11:31:00.000-07:00

Our summer County-Fair pricing of $3.99 per foot for the 5" K-Style Needle-Leaf WEDGE by-the-box has been so successful that we are extending the offer.

Mason County Fair a Success!

2009-08-08T09:48:00.000-07:00

July 24-26 was clear and warm at the Mason County Fair in Shelton, WA. The FREE event offered a variety of food and entertainment including a real rodeo and 4-H exhibits.

Needle-Leaf WEDGE had a booth and we featured our rooftop display, complete with running water and plastic gutter. The beauty of the display is that people can actually see how the NLW physically occupies about 2/3 of the gutter space and acts as a barrier to everything except water.

Sales were brisk with Shelton area residents admitting that they were unfamiliar with this relatively new gutter protection solution. The actual running water display affords people with the "lightbulb" moment as they realize that when in place, the Needle-Leaf WEDGE will keep all of their needles, leaves and debris on top of the gutter and not inside the gutter. It is also apparent that most needles and debris will blow off of the top shelf formed by the WEDGE.

We will be at the Kitsap County Fair from August 27-30 and look forward to visiting with you.

New Video & Updated Content

2009-07-18T11:22:00.000-07:00

Our goal is to keep the website content original and continually updated. Since last post we have added our privacy policy, mission statement and described the warranty. We are also highlighting the fact that our WEDGE is up to 80% LESS EXPENSIVE than Leaf Filter, LeafGuard and Gutter Helmet.

New Gutter Protection Video

2009-05-14T20:16:00.000-07:00

A video is being edited which will demonstrate the ease of installation of the Needle-Leaf WEDGE and its remarkable ability to keep everything out of your gutters except water.

The video was filmed by videographer Dave Hubbard of Des Moines, WA as part of a 7-day a week Home Show display in Seattle, Wa. This new Home Show concept offers over 100 display units with exhibits, displays, videos and a live Needle-Leaf WEDGE, running water rooftop display. There are no salespeople at the displays. After touring the Home Show, people request brochures and literature by booth number.

The Home Show is currently up and running in Boise, ID and Salt Lake City, UT. The Seattle exhibit will be opening at the end of May. Our display can be seen in booth 12.

New Name: Needle-Leaf WEDGE

2009-05-04T18:17:00.000-07:00

As announced previously, we have been able to register a Trademark for our cutting edge gutter protection product. The new company name and website name is: Needle-Leaf WEDGE.

Our website is brand new from bottom to top. We hope to set a new standard in the gutter protection industry. We have raised the bar for not only foam insert products, but for aluminum covers, brushes, caps and any other needle-leaf rain gutter protection product.

Our new Needle-Leaf WEDGE will not only be offered to homeowners and commercial businesses with standard 5" & 6" K-Style and Half-Round rain gutters. Those products are our "bread and butter" products, but we specialize in CUSTOM ORDERS for gutters of all sizes. Simply fax or email a hand scribbled drawing indicating the dimensions of the back, top and front of a custom gutter and we will supply you with a quote.

As always, 5" and 6" K-Style and Half-Round Needle-Leaf WEDGE product is always ready for shipment. Boxes ship for FREE but we also sell By-The-Foot.

Our new website will be published no later than Friday, May 8 at www.needel-leafwedge.com . Please visit the new website and email us your comments.

New Name - New Website: Coming Soon

2009-04-06T12:20:00.000-07:00

As with most things, plans rarely unfold on schedule. Since January we have been making plans to change our company name and website in an attempt to differentiate us from all of the other "foam" gutter protection products. The new name has been selected but the website is the holdup. I believe that the wait will be worth it.

The reason that we feel a need to differentiate ourselves is that we ONLY offer a 25-Year No-Clog Warranty product. The technical jargon for this advanced product is, "A multi-poymer, thermally fused material, as superior to chemically coated and untreated flexible urethane filter media used for gutter protection systems." In plain english, the extended warranty is justified due to the New Advanced Protection(TM) Process:

EXTREME DEFIANCE (TM) Coating: provides superior protection against extreme weather conditions
BIOCIDE & FUNGICIDE Coating: Inhibits growth of mold, mildew, fungus, algae and moss
UV STABILIZER Coating: Prevents degradation from the sun

In the meantime, we are working hard for a May 1 deadline for publishing the new website.

Now Is The Time!

2009-03-13T08:42:00.000-07:00

February-March-April-May is a great time to clean rain gutters. The leaves have stopped falling and the weather is improving. This year has been particularly unique, we had snow last week in the Seattle area! As the snow thaws in the east and temperatures begin to warm nationwide, it is time to start cleaning those rain gutters.

While you are at it, this is a great time to install Rain-Gutter Filter-Foam. The foam inserts install in minutes and will keep your gutters free-flowing with water for years. Imagine, never having to scoop that nasty "gutter sludge" out of your gutters again!

As a side note, look for our brand new website during the first half of April.

"Best Of Show"

2009-02-11T19:45:00.000-08:00

Yes, we are proud as punch. Two people independantly, on their own accord, without prompting, told us that Gutter Filter Foam was the BEST product at the recent Tacoma Home and Garden Show! Many people had never heard of a foam gutter insert. Many thought that the idea of a mechanical barrier that keeps everything out of the gutters except water is a great concept.

People loved the idea that Guter Filter Foam is a simple, easy Do-It-Yourself project. They love the notion that they never have to clean out their gutters again. They were happy to learn that they will never have "gutter sludge" again.

We made a lot of new friends and sold a lot of Gutter Filter Foam at the Tacoma Dome. We are looking forward to our upcoming appearances at the Mason County Fair and the Kitsap County Fair during summer.

Home Show a SUCCESS!

2009-02-02T10:40:00.000-08:00

Yes, it was grueling standing before our rooftop display for 10 hours each day from Wednesday through Sunday, but we talked with a lot of good people.

Our "real life" display was a 6 foot by 4 foot shingled roof section with a 4-12 pitch and flowing water! We had a custom made, 6 foot long, K-Style gutter made out of plastic. It was a very graphic example of just how much water Gutter Filter Foam can handle.

A pond-pump was used to create water flow of 320 gallons per hour down our roof. That is a whole lot more water than could be seen in a real rain storm. We then placed a 1 foot K-Style aluminum gutter length with Gutter Filter Foam in place on top of the roof so that people could see the completely flat surface that the foam creates. It is obvious from the display that most leaves and debris will blow off of the gutter naturally.

We handed out more than 700 brochures and the demonstration was performed dozens of times each day. A lot of people said that they live right under trees, or have a lot of needles. It was explained that, even with the Gutter Filter Foam in place, the surface might have to be blown or swept once a year to remove excess debris. The point is, the foam is never removed and "gutter sludge" never develops so "cleaning" just means sweeping or blowing the surface....no scooping of nasty sludge from inside the gutter.

Many visitors sent friends or neighbors to see our display; two people told us that we had the best product in the entire show! Many reported that some of the other "gutter protection" exhibitors would not quote prices, but wanted to make an appointment. Many visitors had already had $4,000-$5,000 estimates in the past. They agreed, Gutter Filter Foam is the most effective-least expensive solution to clogged gutters.

"IT'S SHOWTIME"

2009-01-27T20:42:00.000-08:00

Wednedsay, January 28 through Sunday, February 1st is the Tacoma Home and Garden Show at the Tacoma Dome. We are in booth P-406 on the Promenade level.

There will be several other gutter protection products so this will give you an opportunity to "compare and contrast" the costs and benefits of each.

The position of Gutter Filter Foam is that what we really are looking for is an inexpensive, mechanical barrier that keeps everything out of your gutters except water. Expensive bullnose aluminum covers still allow needles and other debris into the gutter; the aluminum covers with screens cannot withstand high levels of water flow. Both require professional installation.

When shopping for gutter protection, the common denominator is: "How much is it per linear foot?" If the salesman starts tap dancing and tells you that he has to perform a free estimate, you know that it is going to be expensive. Even if you were to tell him that you have a one-story house with a straight 60 foot run in the front and in the back, he will still not say, "your job will be $X per linear foot."

We sell our Gutter Filter Foam online at an everyday low price of $4.75/foot with free shipping on orders of 120 feet or more. As a bonus, we offer an additional discount for purchases made at the show.

COME AND VISIT OUR BOOTH. SEE GUTTER FILTER FOAM IN ACTION ON OUR ROOFTOP DISPLAY THAT INCLUDES A CUSTOM MADE SEE-THROUGH PLASTIC GUTTER. OUR DISPLAY PUMPS 320 GALLONS OF WATER PER HOUR....MANY TIMES THE VOLUME OF WATER THAT YOUR HOUSE WOULD EXPERIENCE!

We look forward to meeting you.

What is an Avatar?

2009-01-23T06:15:00.000-08:00

Please go to our website at www.gutterfilterfoam.com and experience the SitePal avatars. They are icon-type figures that appear real as they talk about different aspects of gutter protection.

The purpose is to educate and entertain visitors about the need for gutter protection and some of the reasons that Gutter Filter Foam is the most effective and least expensive alternative.

Remember, what we really need is an economical mechanical barrier that keeps EVERYTHING out of our gutters EXCEPT WATER!

What do you think about the avatars? Please let me know.

Jack

A Better Mousetrap!

2009-01-04T18:15:00.001-08:00

Have you ever noticed that NONE of the other gutter protection products compare their features and benefits to Gutter Filter Foam?

Most of the other “systems” are based on reverse curves that are supposed to allow water to flow over the front lip into the gutter while leaves, needles and debris falls to the ground (professional gutter cleaners know better.) Others declare that they have super-duper micro screens that keep everything out of your gutters, but are expensive and don’t work on metal roofs or in other circumstances (can’t screens tear?)

The fact is that other gutter protection products are outdated...WE HAVE DEVELOPED THE BETTER MOUSETRAP!!

Remember the old, heavy, big, slow, expensive computer that you have replaced with a smaller, more powerful, faster, less expensive modern machine? Gutter Filter Foam is the latest, lightest, most durable, easy-to-install, less expensive gutter protection solution that makes the others obsolete, and it comes with a 25-Year No-Clog Warranty, and you can install it yourself.

You don’t need new gutters; you don’t need products that are nailed or screwed to your roof, possibly leading to other problems. What you need is a simple, inexpensive, physical barrier that keeps everything out of your gutters except water. Bingo!...Gutter Filter Foam.

Leaf Guard System Failure

2009-01-03T18:05:00.000-08:00

Hi,

Interested in installing your product on a problem area where the Leaf Guard system installed several years ago failed. It is a 32 foot gutter off a sloped 'flat' roof area which catches a lot of pine needles. The slow water-flow caused the pine needles (and other debris) to follow the contour into the gutter and clog them.

Will the pine needle cause problems with your Gutter Filter Foam system?

Thanks,

Jim

This is an email that I received from from an internet customer who has experienced clogged gutters with the Lear Guard system. I have heard from many gutter cleaners that the aluminum systems like Lear Guard, Gutter Helmet etc eventually require cleaning. As the email states, a slow flow of water will create a dynamic where needles and debris follow the water around the lip of the cover and enter the gutter. This is particularly a problem with needles.

What I told Jim is that Gutter Filter Foam acts a mechanical barrier, blocking everything except water. For people living under or close to trees, the worse case will be that you occasionally have to blow or brush away leaves and needles that are not blown away naturally by the wind. In no case will there be buildup that won't allow water flow through the Gutter Filter Foam.

Please comment on your experiences.

Could anything be more un-glamorous than Gutter Protection?

2008-12-21T13:04:00.000-08:00

I started the company Gutter Filter Foam as a local Seattle-Tacoma business as well as an internet retailer out of my personal need for gutter protection. After climbing up a dangerous ladder for the "umpteenth" time, I vowed that I would never clean a gutter again. I had received a coupon from Gutter Helmet and called for an estimate.

The price quoted was $18 per foot! I love to do research so I began to investigate some alternate options. Afterall, what I really needed was a simple, inexpensive way to keep leaves and debris out of my gutter, not an expensive aluminum gutter cover. I didn't want a bulky, ugly gutter guard that could be seen from the street and which requires occasional cleaning anyway.

I finally found a foam gutter filter that was inexpensive to purchase and easy to install, the perfect Do-It-Yourself project. My favorite saying is, "on-sale, wholesale, or no-sale" so the $4.75 cost per foot looked a lot better than the initial $18 quote for the fancy gutter cover. Someone had suggested a seamless gutter but I already had new gutters, I just needed a way to block leaves.

During my research I discovered that there is a big difference between the many foam gutter filters that are available. Ace Hardware sells a GutterStuff product for around $4 that looks similar to other filter foams, but I found that it only has a short warranty. I purchased the Gutter Filter Foam with a 25-year water flow warranty which sells for around $4.75. Now I never have to clean gutters again!

Gutter Protection: Who Cares?

2008-12-21T11:45:00.000-08:00

Rain gutters, talk about "out of sight, out of mind." The only time that people think about their metal, plastic or seamless gutters is when they are overflowing or falling down. Who needs them anyway?

The purpose of rain gutters is to redirect the tremendous amount of water from our roofs away from the foundation of the house. The rain falling on the roof flows down; without gutters, the water falls to the ground adjacent to the foundation. Big deal you say. Without a water collection and diversion system, you can experience extensive damage requiring expensive repairs.

The goal is to install a gutter system that will function properly and require little attention. A clogged gutter can lead to roof damage, siding and window damage, electrical and landscape damage, and destructive foundation damage. This protection is accomplished with the use of leaf gutters, rain gutters or just gutters, whatever you want to call them. They come in standard 5 inch K-Style types or more exotic round or even copper gutters.