Research Methodology

Exactly how HomeCost Guide produces its cost figures. Last updated October 2026.

Where the numbers come from

Every cost figure starts from published industry data — contractor surveys and cost databases such as Angi, HomeAdvisor, HomeGuide, Fixr, and This Old House. We never invent a price. If a figure cannot be traced to a published source, it does not go on the site.

How we handle disagreements between sources

Sources often disagree — one database says $1,200, another says $1,800 for the same job. When that happens we publish the wider range and say which sources sit where, instead of picking the tidiest-looking number. The national average we headline is the midpoint of reputable published figures, labeled as such.

How a guide is built

1. Collect. Pull current published figures for the job: national average, typical range, and per-unit costs where they exist.
2. Decompose. Break the total into line items — labor, materials, permits and fees, disposal — so readers see where the money goes.
3. Regionalize. Add state-by-state variation, because labor rates and permit costs shift prices substantially between high-cost and low-cost states.
4. Cite. Attach the source to each specific claim, linked to the exact source page — not just a list at the bottom.

How often figures are re-checked

Cost guides are re-checked against published sources every quarter, and each guide carries an "Updated" stamp. Material prices and labor rates move — a 2024 figure presented as current would be misleading, so stale numbers get refreshed or removed.

What this methodology does not do

Published averages are planning figures, not quotes. Your home's age, layout, local codes, and the contractor you choose all move the final price — which is why every guide ends with a free-estimate call option to price your specific job. See also our editorial policy and advertising disclosure.