Editorial Policy

How we choose topics

We prioritize the questions homeowners are actually searching for — specific cost questions (“how much does X cost”), comparison questions (“X vs. Y”), and seasonal problems that spike at a predictable time of year (frozen pipes in winter, mulch and watering in summer). We’d rather cover one question thoroughly than publish ten thin variations of the same topic.

Our research method

Specific factual claims — building codes, safety guidance, chemical or material properties, manufacturer specifications — are checked against primary sources where one exists: government and standards bodies (like the EPA, CDC, or the International Residential Code), manufacturer documentation, and current retailer pricing for cost figures. Where a claim can’t be verified against a real source, we either flag it as an estimate or leave it out rather than present it as settled fact. See How We Estimate Costs for how we handle cost figures specifically.

The role of AI in our process

Some guides on this site are researched and drafted with the assistance of AI tools. Every article is reviewed and edited by a human before it’s published, and we stand behind the accuracy of what we publish.

Corrections

Found an error? Contact us and we’ll fix it, noting the correction where relevant.

When we update a guide

We only change a guide’s “updated” date when we’ve made a real, substantive update to its content — not on a schedule, and not for cosmetic edits.