By James Lockett From PropeerPR

Ahead of Bonfire Night celebrations, estate agent comparison site, GetAgent.co.uk, has revealed how much it costs to repair damage caused to the home by all of the most common fireworks mishaps and accidents, from scorched grass to smashed windows.

Bonfire Night, with its accompanying fireworks display, continues to be one of the most widely-celebrated events in the calendar. Towns and cities, small and large, will be hosting public displays throughout the country, but with COVID-19 still a concern for some, more people than ever are expected to host their own celebrations at home.

However, doing so comes with a series of risks, the biggest of which, aside from the safety of the people in attendance, is the potential damage caused to the home and garden. 

Carpet cleaning – £30

Any time guests come round, and especially if they’re moving between the garden and home, there is a good chance carpet will be damaged from spills and muddy shoes. 

A professional clean will set you back around £30 per room, a price that can vary depending on the size and number of rooms that require cleaning. If the damage is severe enough for the carpet to need replacing, the cost grows much bigger.

Guttering – £30

Should a stray firework cause damage to your guttering you could also be looking at about £30 to replace depending on the size of the job. 

Roof tiles – £85

Wayward fireworks can also cause roof tiles to crack or dislodge and a single tile averages £85 to replace. 

Fencing – £100

Bonfires and fireworks pose a risk to any wooden structures in and around the garden. If a fence catches fire, it can cost, depending on the type of fencing, around £100 to replace each individual panel. 

Garden Furniture and sheds – £250 – £290

Garden furniture is at risk, too, and if it catches fire or is damaged and needs to be replaced items can start at £250 while the garden shed, most likely to be damaged by out-of-control bonfires, costs around £290 to replace.

Windows – £450

If a stray firework smashes or cracks a window, the cost of replacing it starts at £200 for double-glazing, with the average price being around £450 although the damage that could occur once a stray firework enters your home could be far greater.

The lawn – £495

Finally, if the bonfire leaves nasty burns or scorch marks on the garden grass, replacing it costs between £3 and £7 per square meter, depending on the quality of the turf. This means, on average, a medium-sized lawn will cost £495 to replace should an out of control bonfire spread

In the worst case scenario, fireworks and bonfires can cause major fire damage to the home itself. Any such damage can be incredibly expensive to repair, reaching as much as £50,000, if not more. 

Founder and CEO of GetAgent.co.uk, Colby Short, commented:

“Who doesn’t love Bonfire Night? Aside from our four-legged friends, of course, and while it’s always advisable to attend a formally organised and managed fireworks display, it’s understandable that some people will want to avoid crowded spaces by hosting their own this year.

“But the decision to host a fireworks party should not be taken lightly – it comes with very real risks that need mitigating and managing with some basic safety rules inspired by a heavy dose of common sense. But even with all the caution in the world, accidents can happen and homeowners should have a good think about how they can prevent them, as well as afford to rectify them should the worst happen.”

Property feature	Potential damage	Potential costs and info	Average estimated cost	Links
Carpet	Destroyed carpet from dirty shoes etc	> Average cost of carpet cleaning = £20 small bedroom / £30 stairs and landing areas / £35 large front room> Repair or replace damaged carpet = approx £28 per metre fitted	£30 cleaning – or more for repair/replacement	link	link
Guttering	Stray fireworks can get trapped in gutters and ignite trapped leaves	> Could cause further fire risk issues> Guttering repair approx £30 per m / cleaning around £4 to £5 per m	£30	link	link	link
Roof tiles	Stray fireworks can dislodge tiles	> Replacement approx £70-100 fitted	£85 replacement tile	link
Fence	Stray fireworks can damage or burn wooden fences	> Depends on fence type> Close board fencing approx £30 per panel> Lap panel fencing approx £20 per panel> installation price varies – approx £50	£100 per installed panel	link	link
Garden furniture	Fireworks and bonfires can burn flammable garden furniture	> A wide range of prices – from £250 upwards	£250	link	link
Shed	Fireworks and out of control bonfires can easily set fire to wooden sheds	> A wide range of price – from £290 upwards	£290	link	link	link
Window	Fireworks causing cracked/broken windows	> Replacement double-glazing window from approx £200 and ave around £450	£450	link	link
Grass or turf	Bonfires can leave nasty burns and completely destroy your lawn	> Budget turf around £3 per sq m. Mid-range turf around £5 per sq m. Premium turf £7 plus per sq m> Average cost of turfing a medium sized lawn = £495	£495 average medium sized lawn	link

END

Notes

●        GetAgent pulls data from all of the major portals which are then cross-referenced with the Land Registry using their proprietary algorithms and input from partner agents.

●        GetAgent is a UK wide whole of market estate agency comparison website. Analysing performance through data to inform home sellers of the best agents.

●        Founded in 2015 by Colby Short (Stevenson Cartwright; SMG Worldwide) and Peter Thum-Bonanno (Find Properly; Analysys Mason)

●        Backed by Seedcamp, the prolific venture capital technology investor

●        And has to date received over 100,000 enquiries for agents from property sellers to a total property value of £30bn and are now serving over 10,000 enquiries per month.