Terms of service

Estimates only, not professional quotes

This is the most important term on this page. Everything CostlyHome publishes is a planning estimate generated from national average cost data adjusted for regional labor rates. It is not a quote, a bid, an appraisal, or an offer to perform work.

We have not seen your property. We do not know your soil conditions, site access, existing structures, local code interpretations, or the current state of your local labor market. Actual costs vary based on all of these, and real quotes will differ, sometimes substantially, from the figures shown here.

Use these estimates to set a budget expectation and to sanity-check a quote you have received. Do not use them as the basis of a contract, a loan application, an insurance claim, or any binding commitment.

Not engineering or code advice

Nothing on this site constitutes engineering, architectural, or building code advice. Structural questions, footing sizing, post depth, ledger attachment, span tables, load calculations, wind and seismic requirements, must be answered by your local building department or a licensed professional.

Frost depths, permit requirements and R-value recommendations published here are general guidance compiled from public sources. They are starting points for a conversation with your building department, not a substitute for one. Requirements are set locally, vary by county, and change over time.

Always confirm permit requirements before purchasing material or beginning work.

Accuracy and availability

We work to keep cost data current and formulas correct, but we make no warranty that the information on this site is accurate, complete, or up to date. Construction pricing moves continuously, and material costs in particular can change substantially within a single year.

The site is provided on an 'as is' and 'as available' basis without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, CostlyHome and its operators are not liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential or special damages arising from your use of this site or reliance on any information published here, including budget shortfalls, project overruns, contractor disputes, or decisions made on the basis of an estimate.

You use this site and its estimates entirely at your own risk.

Acceptable use

You may use this site for personal, non-commercial project planning. You may print or share individual estimates.

You may not scrape, bulk-download, republish or resell the content or cost data; use automated systems to access the site in a way that degrades it for others; or represent our estimates as your own professional quotes to a third party.

Intellectual property

The content, design, calculator formulas and compiled cost data on this site are the property of CostlyHome and are protected by copyright. Product names, brands and trademarks referenced, including QUIKRETE, Sakrete and Trex, belong to their respective owners and are used for identification only. Their mention does not imply endorsement in either direction.

Advertising

This site displays third-party advertising through Google AdSense. Advertisements are not endorsements. We do not control what is advertised and have no relationship with advertisers beyond the ad network. No contractor pays to appear on this site, and no advertiser influences our cost estimates.

Changes to these terms

We may revise these terms at any time. Changes take effect when posted, and the effective date at the top of this page will be updated. Continued use of the site after a change constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.

Questions about these terms: hello@costlyhome.com.