Editorial Policy

Last updated: October 2026

How we research. Every guide starts with the reader’s real question, a scan of what’s already ranking, and published US cost data — primarily Angi/HomeAdvisor cost datasets, Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and manufacturer pricing. We look for what existing guides miss — the cost line items, code requirements, and decision points they skip — and fill those gaps. A guide that only repeats what the top results already say does not get published.

How we estimate costs. Cost figures are labeled with their source type. Every cost figure on Renovation Guide HQ is either linked to its published source or clearly labeled as a planning estimate. National ranges are starting points, not promises: regional examples are illustrative multipliers, not local quotes, and your contractor’s bid is the only number that counts for your budget. We never invent statistics, studies, or contractor quotes, and we never publish a number we cannot trace to a source or a stated estimation method.

How we choose topics. We write about the projects US homeowners actually search for and pay for — kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, roofing, and the budgeting decisions around them. Topics are driven by reader questions and search demand, never by what a sponsor wants covered.

Independence. Affiliate relationships (Amazon Associates, The Home Depot via Impact) never influence our numbers, rankings, or recommendations. See our Affiliate Disclosure. Advertisers and partners cannot preview, edit, or approve our content before publication.

Experience. Where we have first-hand project experience, we say so. Where we don’t, we mark it rather than inventing it. We do not publish fabricated project stories, invented contractor interviews, or pretend hands-on testing that never happened.

Updates and corrections. Guides carry a “Last updated” date and are reviewed against current material prices, labor markets, and codes. When we find an error — or a reader points one out — we correct the guide promptly, and significant changes are noted on the page. If you spot an error, contact us — corrections are published promptly.

No sponsored rankings. We don’t sell placement, rankings, or positive coverage. Period. No company can pay to appear in a guide, rank higher in a comparison, or have unflattering facts removed.