The short answer
Every statistic we publish links to its primary source and carries the date of the data. We do not claim first-hand testing we did not do. Paid placement is labelled and never affects editorial rankings. When we get something wrong we correct it in public.
Sourcing
- Every statistic links to a primary source: a government dataset, a statute or regulation, a standards body, a company filing, or a peer-reviewed study. Trade-press summaries are not primary sources.
- Every statistic carries the date of the data, which is often not the date we published.
- If we cannot source a number, we cut it rather than round it and move on.
- Where published figures disagree, we say so and explain why, rather than picking the most convenient one.
Claims we will not make
- We do not write “we tested”, “in our lab”, “we interviewed” or “we visited” unless it happened. Where we have compared published specifications or analysed a public dataset, we say that instead.
- We do not publish subscriber counts, reader counts, testimonials, awards or partner logos we have not earned.
- We do not describe a company as vetted, verified, licensed or certified without stating what was checked, against which source, and on what date.
Data reporting
Every data report states the dataset and version, the retrieval date, the filter applied, the unit of analysis, and what was excluded and why. Where a figure is partial or provisional we label it rather than smoothing it into a trend. Our methodology page carries the standing rules.
Advertising and independence
Paid placements carry a visible Sponsored or Featured partner label, and paid links use rel="sponsored". Advertisers do not see articles before publication and cannot alter editorial rankings. Directory ranking rules are published. See How we make money.
Corrections
Factual errors are corrected on the page with a dated note saying what changed. We do not silently edit a published claim. See corrections.
Not professional advice
This publication reports costs, standards and regulations as published. It is not legal, insurance, medical or safety advice for your specific property or business. Mould and fire damage can carry health and structural risk; where that is in play, engage a qualified professional and consult the current regulations in your jurisdiction.