Editorial Policy
The standards behind every guide, calculator, and figure on this site.
We don't invent numbers
Every cost figure traces back to a published methodology and the sources listed on that page. If we don't have a reliable source for a claim, we don't publish it.
We disclose AI assistance
AI tools assist with research organization, drafting, and internal linking. Every guide gets a human editorial review for accuracy and usefulness before publishing — see our authors page for what that review covers.
Editorial and advertising are separate
We don't accept payment to feature a material, product, or contractor more favorably in a guide. Advertising, where it runs, is clearly distinguished from editorial content.
We correct mistakes
When we find an error, or a reader reports one we can verify, we fix it and update the guide's last-updated date. We don't quietly rewrite history on factual corrections.
Sourcing standard
We prioritize government and public-agency data (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census Bureau, Energy Information Administration, NOAA) over secondary sources. We do not scrape pricing from other cost estimation websites, contractor marketplaces, or retailers without an explicit license permitting that use.
Updates and corrections
Guides display the date they were last updated. We update a guide when the underlying data changes, our methodology changes, or we find a factual error — not simply to refresh the displayed date. To report an error, use our contact page.
What this site isn’t
HomeCostGuide is not a contractor directory, a lead-generation service, or a substitute for a licensed professional’s assessment of your specific project. Read the full disclaimer for details.