What "independent" means here
We are not a roofing company. We do not take contractor kickbacks, we do not sell leads to lead-gen networks, and we are not owned by one. Our business model is simple: we publish research, and readers either find it useful or they don't. When we eventually monetize (through affiliate partnerships with tools like material calculators or trusted inspection services), those relationships will be disclosed on every page that contains them.
We also do not pretend to be contractors ourselves. We are a research-and-editorial operation. If you need a roof inspected, you need a licensed professional on a ladder. What we can give you is the context to know whether their quote is fair and what questions to ask.
How we research cost data
Every cost range in our guides is cross-referenced across multiple independent sources — major industry databases (Angi, HomeAdvisor, Fixr, Forbes Home), real contractor quotes we collect from homeowner communities like r/roofing, and published contractor pricing from state-licensed businesses. When those sources disagree, we flag it in the article rather than pick the most dramatic number to lead with.
We use AI tools to help process and synthesize research across sources at a speed that would take an individual writer weeks per guide. Every number you see has been reviewed by a human editor before publication, and every guide lists its primary sources at the bottom. Our full methodology is documented at Methodology.
We update each guide when the underlying data shifts — typically every 3-6 months — and we stamp every page with a visible "Last updated" date so you always know what you're reading.
How to report errors
If you find a number that looks wrong or a contractor quote that contradicts what we published, we want to know. Email us at hello@firstroofguide.com with the page URL and what you're seeing. We read every message and update the guides when readers flag real errors.
Who we are
FirstRoofGuide is published by a small independent editorial team. We do not publish individual writer bylines because our guides are collaborative research projects rather than personal essays — but every page is the responsibility of the FirstRoofGuide Editorial team, and you can reach us directly at the email above.