Beyond the Standard Install: Customizing Gutters in Lino Lakes, MN
See how Ultimate Gutter Solutions protected a Lino Lakes home without ruining the masonry.
We customized a drainage plan to keep the front entrance dry and the curb appeal high.
When you pull up to a beautiful home, the first thing you should notice is the architecture—the
masonry, the entryway, and the landscaping. You shouldn’t be staring at a metal pipe running
right down the middle of a decorative stone pillar.
We recently had the pleasure of working with a homeowner in Lino Lakes, MN, who was facing
a common dilemma: they needed effective water management, but they didn’t want to sacrifice
the look of their stunning front entrance.
Here is how we moved beyond the “standard install” to create a custom solution that kept the
water moving and the curb appeal intact.
The Challenge: Aesthetics vs. Function
The front of this home featured beautiful masonry work on the entry pillars. The standard way to
gutter this area, and what you might see on many blueprints, is to run a straight gutter across
the roofline and drop a downspout right down the front column.
While that is the quickest way to get water from the roof to the ground, it creates two major
problems:
It ruins the look. A white or aluminum downspout contrasts sharply with natural stone,
distracting from the home’s beauty.
It creates a hazard. Dropping water right next to the front walkway often leads to
pooling. In our Minnesota winters, those puddles turn into dangerous ice patches right
where people are walking.
The homeowner was rightfully concerned. They wanted the water gone, but they didn’t want a
downspout blocking their sidewalk or cluttering the façade.
The Ultimate Solution: Going the Extra Mile
At Ultimate Gutter Solutions, we believe that anyone can drive a truck and hang a straight
piece of gutter. But true craftsmanship comes down to customization and foresight.
Instead of taking the easy route, we looked at the home holistically. We decided to extend the
gutter run significantly, bypassing the front pillars entirely and routing the water to the side of the
home.
This approach required more materials and more precise installation than a standard job, but
the results were worth it.
● Out of Sight, Out of Mind: The downspout is now tucked away on the side of the
house, blending in with the siding rather than clashing with the stone.
● Safety First: By redirecting the water away from the front entrance, we eliminated the
risk of water pooling on the sidewalk and freezing into a slip hazard during the winter.
Thinking Ahead: Future-Proofing Your Home
One thing that sets our team apart is that we try to think about your home’s future, not just the
project at hand.
When we design a gutter layout, we ask ourselves: What if the homeowner wants to build a
deck here in five years? Will this downspout be in the way?
By moving the downspout to the side in this Lino Lakes project, we didn’t just solve a current
aesthetic issue; we cleared the way for future landscaping or patio updates. We aim to install
systems that work with the flow of your property, ensuring that our work never becomes an
obstacle for your future plans.
Why Customization Matters
There is a time and place for standard installations, but your home is a unique investment. We
take pride in offering options that other contractors might overlook to save time or material
costs.
Whether it’s preserving the look of custom masonry, routing water around a future deck build, or
simply ensuring your front walk stays ice-free, we are happy to go the extra mile.
Do you have a tricky roofline or a design concern? Don’t settle for a downspout in the
middle of your walkway. Contact Ultimate Gutter Solutions today. Let’s come up with a plan
that keeps your home dry and beautiful.