Home Improvement Research Methodology
Purpose of our estimates. Homeowners need a planning number before they request bids. Our ranges are designed for that conversation: refresh vs mid-range vs full replacement, and the line items that usually move the total. They are not appraisals, contractor quotes, or insurance estimates.
How a cost guide is built. We define the project (for example a 10×10 kitchen or an asphalt reroof on an average house), list the work that is in and out of scope, and assign low/typical/high bands from common residential labor and material classes. Access, steep roofs, custom sizes, and hidden damage sit above the band.
Materials and comparisons. Comparisons such as asphalt vs metal or vinyl vs fiberglass use the attributes homeowners actually decide on: installed cost, lifespan, climate stress, maintenance, and resale look. We do not rank brands unless a guide is explicitly a buyer’s comparison of named products.
Timelines. Duration estimates assume permitted work, standard lead times, and a single contractor coordinating trades. Custom orders, inspection delays, and weather add time. We say so on timeline pages.
Calculators. On-site calculators use the same planning bands as the written guides. They are sensitivity tools (project type × scope), not takeoff software. Output should be checked against at least three written bids.
Review cycle. Cluster articles include methodology notes and a last-reviewed date. When we change a recommended range, we update that date. Pages without a review stamp should still be treated as planning content, not a bid.