- Data and model policy
The model is built to be inspectable: separate components, sourced ranges, visible exclusions, and confidence labels that stay honest about what the data can support.
Framework
[01]
A planning estimate is a budget range for early decision-making. It is not a contractor quote, contract, guarantee, appraisal, or professional advice. The goal is to show a reasonable benchmark before you request written bids.
[02]
Published contractor cost guides, home service pricing guides, and source pages with clear dates and units get priority. Internal seed values can guide research, but they cannot replace sourced production rates.
[03]
Installed totals are not added on top of material and labor rates. Source ranges are normalized into material-only, labor-only, allowance, markup, or minimum-fee components before they enter the model.
[04]
The model prices materials, standard labor, downspouts, optional guards, removal, contractor overhead, and minimum job fee separately. This keeps a high total from being explainable by visible parts instead of one black-box number.
[05]
The public pilot is a national benchmark. State labor adjustments are not shown until a separate data gate is passed, because showing a state control before it changes the model would create false precision.
[06]
Low, Typical, and High are scenario rates applied to the same project inputs. They are not three different projects and they are not statistical confidence intervals.
[07]
Confidence reflects source count, source quality, component coverage, data age, and calibration evidence. Pilot pages are capped below Strong until independent quote calibration supports a higher label.
[08]
Each calculator states what is included and what is excluded. Taxes, hidden damage, permit changes, unusual site access, emergency scheduling, and local code requirements can move real quotes outside the planning range.
[09]
Rates live in versioned project data. A visible data version, model version, price year, and last verified date are shown where the estimate is produced.
[10]
Before launch, sample projects are compared against external references to catch obvious underpricing or overpricing. This is a reality check, not a substitute for a full independent holdout set.
[11]
Source corrections, broken links, unit mistakes, and model concerns can be sent through the contact page. Corrections are reviewed against the data contract before changing published rates.
[12]
Partner compensation does not change the calculator model, rate selection, confidence label, or editorial wording. Disclosure belongs both near calls to action and on the full disclosure page.
Found a source issue, outdated range, or unit mismatch? Send the exact URL and the correction so it can be checked against the model contract.
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