Bonfire night prep in Exeter
Professional bonfire night prep services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£85-£160
Typical Duration
1.5-3 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Bonfire built safely and properly for November 5th. Right location chosen, stable construction, proper clearances maintained. Professional setup so you can enjoy the night safely.
Build a Bonfire Without the Worry
It's all fun and games until someone builds a bonfire too close to the fence and spends the evening with a hosepipe in one hand and apologies to the neighbours in the other. Get it set up properly and you'll actually enjoy Bonfire Night.
💡 Pro tip: Wind direction matters more than people think. Build upwind of your house so smoke blows away from buildings, not towards them. In Exeter, prevailing wind is usually south-westerly, so build on the north-east side of your garden if possible.
Professional Build vs DIY Disaster
| ✅ Built Properly | ❌ Common Mistakes |
|---|---|
| Safe distances measured and maintained | Guessed it, too close to stuff |
| Stable pyramid structure | Pile of wood that collapses when lit |
| Air flow for good burning | Dense pile that smolders and smokes |
| Easy to light safely | Dangerous to ignite, needs accelerants |
How I Build It
🔧 Bonfire Construction Process
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Site selection | Find safest spot considering all clearances |
| Base layer | Stable foundation, usually pallets |
| Structure | Pyramid build with air gaps for circulation |
| Kindling space | Central area prepared for easy lighting |
| Final check | Stability tested, safety zones marked |
📦 You Get
- Bonfire built in safest available location
- Stable structure ready to light
- Won't collapse when burning
- Clear instructions for safe lighting
Pricing Guide
| Service | Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Standard bonfire construction | 1-1.5 hrs | £60-£85 |
| Large bonfire build | 1.5-2.5 hrs | £85-£135 |
| Bonfire + full safety setup | 2-3 hrs | £110-£160 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. You provide the wood.
Perfect For...
✅ Family bonfire night - want it done safely
✅ First time building one - not sure how to do it properly
✅ Small garden - maximizing safe space
✅ Peace of mind - professional assessment and build
Why Choose Us for Bonfire night prep in Exeter?
Bonfire built in safest location possible
Proper clearances from buildings and fences
Stable structure that lights easily
Safety advice for the night itself
What to Expect
Step 1: Location Assessment
I'll walk your garden and work out where's safest to build. Measuring distances from fences, buildings, trees. Checking ground is suitable. Considering wind direction.
Step 2: Build the Structure
Using your wood supply, I'll construct a stable bonfire. Base layer of pallets usually, then building upwards in pyramid shape with good air gaps. Central space left for kindling.
Step 3: Safety Brief
I'll mark safe spectator distances, show you where water should be positioned, and explain how to light it safely. Give you tips for managing it through the evening.
🔧 DIY Tips
Building your own bonfire? Here's how to do it without drama:
🔧 Materials needed
- Wood (pallets, old fence panels, dry branches)
- Kindling (smaller sticks, newspaper)
- Firelighters (not petrol!)
- Long matches or lighter
- Measuring tape
- Buckets and water source nearby
🪵 Construction method
- Choose location - measure 15m from all buildings/fences
- Lay base - pallets work perfectly, create stable foundation
- Build upwards - stack wood in pyramid, leaning inwards
- Leave air gaps - tight packing = poor burning and smoke
- Create kindling chamber - center space to place firelighters
- Keep it stable - test it's not going to fall over
- Don't build too high - 2-3 metres is plenty safe
🔥 Safe lighting procedure
- Final check - make sure spectators are back, water ready
- Place kindling - in the central chamber you left
- Add firelighters - enough to get it going
- Light from upwind side - so flames go away from you
- Step back immediately - once lit, stay clear
- Never add accelerants - petrol = explosion risk
⚠️ Critical safety points
- Check pile for animals before lighting (hedgehogs hide in wood piles)
- Never use petrol, white spirit, or other accelerants
- Keep spectators at least 5 metres back (mark it if kids present)
- Don't build bonfire near anything flammable
- Wind can blow sparks - be aware of direction
- Have water ready - buckets, hose, or both
- Don't leave it unattended until completely out (next day)
💡 Pro trick: Build it the morning of Bonfire Night if weather's decent. Too early and it gets wet or animals move in. Too late and you're rushing. Morning of the day gives you time to build properly in daylight, but it's not sitting around for ages.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🎨 Wood supply? I don't provide wood - you'll need to collect that yourself. Pallets are brilliant if you can get them (ask local builders or warehouse). Avoid treated timber, painted wood, or anything with nails sticking out everywhere.
Check your bonfire before lighting - seriously, give the wood pile a poke with a long stick first. Hedgehogs, mice, and other small animals love to hide in bonfire piles. Give them chance to leave before you light it.
Afterwards - bonfire will stay dangerously hot for hours, often until the next day. Keep everyone away until it's stone cold. Then douse with water before disposing of ashes.
Exeter gardens are often smaller than you'd ideally want for a bonfire. Be realistic - if you can't get 15m clearance from fences/buildings, consider skipping the bonfire and just doing ground fireworks, or head to an organized display instead. Safety first.
Smoke and neighbours - even if you're legally allowed to have a bonfire, be considerate. Give neighbours warning so they can bring washing in. Don't do it if wind's blowing straight at their house. Good neighbourly relations are worth more than one bonfire.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will you build the bonfire with wood I've collected?
Yes - you provide the wood, I'll build it safely. Pallets work great, old fence panels too, dry branches and logs. Just nothing treated with chemicals, painted, or full of nails. I'll construct it properly so it's stable and lights easily.
How big will the bonfire be?
Depends on your garden size and how much safe clearance we've got. Typical back garden bonfire is about 2-3 metres high and 2 metres across. Big enough to be impressive, small enough to be safe. I'll judge what's appropriate when I see your space.
When should I book bonfire night prep?
Book in October for early November setup. I get busy in the run-up to November 5th, and you want it built close to the day anyway (not weeks in advance or it'll get wet). Day before or morning of is ideal timing.
What if my garden's quite small?
Small gardens need extra care with bonfire placement. We might only be able to build a modest bonfire, or I might advise it's safer to skip it and just do fireworks on the ground, or attend an organized display instead. I'll be honest about what's safe in your space.
Do you provide fire safety equipment?
No - you'll need to have buckets, water supply, and ideally a fire extinguisher ready yourself. I'll advise where to position them and what you need, but the actual equipment is your responsibility on the night.
Bonfire night prep Also Available In:
Get a Free Quote in Exeter
Call us today for a free, no-obligation quote for your bonfire night prep job in Exeter.
01392 964094Request Online QuoteOur Rates
Got multiple jobs?
Make the most of your first hour - I can often tackle several small tasks in one visit. List everything you need done when you call!
Why Trust Us
Need Bonfire night prep in Exeter?
Get a free quote for your bonfire night prep job in Exeter today.