This page explains where our numbers come from, what we will and won't say, and how to get something fixed.
Primary data sources
Every city page draws on the same public datasets, so pages are comparable and every figure can be checked:
| What | Source | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Hazard risk by county | FEMA National Risk Index | Flood, hurricane, hail, tornado, wind, winter weather, ice storm, cold wave and heat wave ratings |
| Climate normals | NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals | Annual precipitation and snowfall, summer highs, winter lows for the nearest station |
| Population and geography | U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 5-year, Gazetteer files, geocoder) | City size, county, coordinates, metro area |
| Contractor licensing | State licensing boards and consumer-protection agencies (linked on each page) | Whether a license is required, who issues it, how to look one up |
| Insurance rules | State departments of insurance; Insurance Information Institute | What standard policies typically cover and exclude, claim rights and deadlines |
| Industry standards | IICRC S500/S520, EPA, ACCA, NRCA, NPMA and manufacturer documentation | Correct procedures, safety thresholds, terminology |
| Cost ranges | Published national and regional cost surveys, dated and cited inline | Typical price bands — never a quote |
What a "cost" on this site means
A price range on our pages is a researched band drawn from published surveys and, where we have them, regional adjustments. It is not an estimate for your home. Access, materials, timing, permits and the contractor's own schedule all move the real number. We always tell you which source a range came from and when it was published.
Local pages and why each one is different
We publish a page for a city only when the local data changes the advice. A freeze-prone city gets frozen-pipe guidance; a hail-belt city gets roof-claim guidance; a coastal county gets storm-surge and flood-insurance guidance. If two cities would end up with the same page, we don't write the second one.
Independence and how the site is funded
- Most topics have a call line (shown on that topic's pages) that routes to independent, third-party service providers; topics without one simply show no number. We may be compensated when a call is connected. That revenue funds the research; it has no say in what a page says.
- We do not rank, review or recommend specific companies, and nothing on a page is written to favor whoever answers the phone. Where we mention a brand, franchise or standards body it is for context or verification, not endorsement.
- We do not accept gifts, sponsored content or placement fees from contractors, insurers or manufacturers.
- Advertising, if any appears, is clearly labeled and never influences editorial content.
Verification and updates
Each page carries a published date and an updated date. Cost figures are re-checked against their sources at least once a year; licensing and insurance rules are re-checked when a state changes them and at every annual review. Hazard and climate data are refreshed when FEMA or NOAA release new versions.
Corrections
If a fact is wrong we fix it, note the change on the page's updated date, and thank the person who told us. Email editor@servicesaccessible.com with the page URL and the source that contradicts us.
Safety first
Where a job involves gas, electricity near water, sewage, structural collapse risk, heights or mold beyond a small patch, we say so plainly and tell you to stop. No article on this site is a substitute for a licensed professional or emergency services.