Editorial standards

Sources before summaries

For permits, licenses and consumer law, we look first for the responsible city, state or federal source. Company websites can establish what a contractor publishes about itself; they cannot independently prove workmanship. Secondary directories are discovery and cross-checking sources, not substitutes for government records or direct evidence.

Every factual page gets a reviewed or modified date. Material changes to rules, company identity or availability trigger an update rather than a silent patch when the old wording could have changed a reader’s decision.

Recommendations are about fit

We do not pretend one contractor is best for every property. Editorial recommendations identify the project type for which a company appears most relevant, using its published service mix, location, portfolio and other verifiable signals. We do not publish star scores without a defensible review dataset.

Money and the directory

Basic directory records may be included without charge. Paid enhancements may add presentation and publishing features, but payment does not purchase a positive editorial recommendation. Commercial placements will be identified and their outbound links handled as sponsored references. Editorial source links remain ordinary citations.