Aluminium hoppers, or hopper heads, are a vital but often overlooked part of an efficient rainwater collection system. They are essentially an open box that sits above the downpipes where the gutters empty the rainwater.
Rainwater hoppers come in various materials, each offering various benefits. Aluminium hoppers are considered a middle ground, offering the benefits of all the other major materials.
Aluminium Superstore has an extensive range of aluminium hopper heads, gutters and downpipes to suit modern and traditional properties.
Functions of Rainwater Hoppers
Aluminium hoppers serve several functions. The hoppers are just for decorative purposes for most people, especially for traditional and heritage projects. But hoppers have other functions as well.
Ornamental
Hoppers are usually added to a gutter system because of the aesthetic appeal they add. This is the case for aluminium hoppers because they feature decorative motifs. The hoppers provide premium space for customisation to add attention-grabbing details and customised motifs or numbers that add uniqueness to the project.
Increasing downpipe capacity
Naturally, downpipes have a water-carrying capacity of about 33%. Most of the space is occupied by air. Adding a hopper increases the capacity of the downpipe to 100% through the siphonic action. The hopper pushes water down the downpipes creating a vacuum that sucks water through the pipe at a higher rate.
Adding a hopper can help solve the problem before installing new and larger gutters if your gutters overflow during a heavy downpour.
Gather a collection of flows into one pipe
You can use hoppers to minimise the need for multiple downpipes, which can negatively affect the aesthetics of the building.
Hoppers allow you to bring together multiple flows into one downpipe. Without the hopper, you will need different downpipes at various roof sections coming together. With the hopper, multiple gutters drain, diverting the water into one downpipe.
Why You Should Buy Aluminium Rainwater Hoppers
Aluminium hoppers strike a balance between functionality and aesthetics. They offer the benefits of cast iron hoppers without the weight and the benefits of galvanised steel with easier installation and more customisation. Some of the reasons why aluminium hoppers are an excellent choice include;
Lightweight
Aluminium is a lightweight material that weighs about a third of cast iron and steel density. The lightweight nature of aluminium makes aluminium hoppers easy to install. The hoppers exert less weight on the fascia board and require less effort to keep in place. The hoppers remain securely in place longer.
Impact resistance
Despite its low weight, aluminium is strong. In case of impact, an aluminium hopper deforms instead of cracking. Although deformed, it ensures continued performance, it doesn't leak or require replacement.
UV light resistance
Like other hoppers, aluminium rainwater hoppers receive a lot of praise for their appealing finish when new. But unlike other hoppers, aluminium hoppers have a high resistance to exposure to UV light. The hoppers don't become brittle or fade because UV light and weather elements are exposed. You can enjoy the attractive finish with aluminium hoppers longer because the colour remains intact.
Temperature and fire resistance
Aluminium properties remain constant with temperature. Aluminium is classified as a non-combustible material. Adding aluminium hoppers to your projects means the hoppers will not melt or spread the flames in case of a fire. At low temperatures, aluminium maintains its properties. In fact, in cold weather, aluminium becomes tougher.
Minimal maintenance
Aluminium rainwater systems are virtually maintenance-free. Polyester powder coated aluminium will need an annual wipe-down with soap and water. In coastal areas, this can be done twice yearly.
Remove leaves and debris to keep your hoppers performing properly, and apply touch-up paint to any exposed metal to avoid corrosion and prolong the service life of your system.
Recyclable and sustainable
It's not just aluminium hoppers, but all aluminium gutters are recyclable. Aluminium's properties don't degrade during recycling, which means the material can be recycled endlessly. Aluminium recycling is highly energy-efficient, making aluminium hoppers a greener and more environmentally-friendly choice.
Leading Aluminium Hoppers Supplier in the UK
The Aluminium Superstore is a leading supplier of rainwater hoppers in the UK. We have an expansive selection of hoppers to cater to various applications. We pride ourselves on delivering quality aluminium guttering systems and an excellent customer experience. Our aluminium hoppers are;
Powder-coated
Aluminium has high corrosion resistance. We improve this vital property by adding a high-quality polyester powder coat layer on our aluminium hoppers. The coat also adds a nice finish to the hoppers.
A wide range of hopper heads
Rainwater hoppers have a decorative function, so the design is a critical aspect worth considering. Our range of rainwater heads includes;
- Pressed hoppers – Our pressed aluminium hoppers come in a variety of profiles. This is our most basic hopper, perfect for buildings going for a simple or minimalist design.
- Cast hoppers – Our cast aluminium hoppers are more detailed, featuring moulded details. These are perfect for buildings looking for details, particularly traditional buildings that want to retain that vintage Victorian appearance.
- Motifs – Aluminium hopper motifs are perfect for projects requiring additional detail or customisation. You can choose from multiple motifs and the option of getting specially-made motifs to customise the hopper even further. If aesthetics are a priority, you should consider adding the motifs.
Hopper head colours
We can deliver our aluminium gutters in various RAL and classic BS colours. The vast range of options ensures you get hoppers that can work with the current theme of your project.
If you want the hopper colour matched but can't find the colours in our colour options, contact our team for help. With over two hundred powder-coated colours available, you can match your hoppers to almost any colour. Our technical team can help with bespoke rainwater hoppers.
Aluminium hopper heads in various shapes and sizes
The hoppers come in different shapes and sizes. Standard sizes start at 63" for round and square outlets.
You'll also find standard hopper heads in 76mm and 101mm sizes with square and round profiles. We have 101x76mm sizes that can work with the downpipe if you have rectangular downpipes.
Choose from Aluminium Guttering, Aluminium Box Gutters, Aluminium Downpipes, Deep Flow Guttering and much more!
You'll find a wide variety of standard hopper heads available online, with bespoke hoppers available on request.
For help placing your order or if you have any questions, we're here to help. Call us on 01296 674099 or use our contact form to message us.