Editorial Policy
Gutter N Roof exists to give homeowners useful, understandable information about roofs, gutters and the parts of a house directly connected to them.
I’m Mike Carter, a roofing and gutter contractor with years of hands-on experience. That experience plays a big role in what I write here, but experience alone isn’t enough for every subject.
This policy explains how I approach the content published on Gutter N Roof.
The Goal Is to Help, Not Impress
Roofing can get technical quickly.
There are legitimate reasons contractors use terms such as flashing, underlayment, decking, drip edge, rake, fascia and roof pitch.
There is no good reason to make a homeowner feel stupid for not knowing them.
My goal is to take what I know from years of working around roofs and explain it in language that makes sense if you’ve never installed a shingle in your life.
An article should leave you knowing more about the problem than you did before you opened it.
It shouldn’t leave you reaching for a roofing dictionary.
You can learn more about who is behind Gutter N Roof and why the site was created.
How Topics Are Chosen
I focus primarily on questions homeowners actually run into.
That might be something obvious, such as:
- How often gutters need cleaning
- Whether a roof leak can be repaired
- How long shingles normally last
- Why a gutter keeps overflowing
- Whether gutter guards are worth considering
It can also be a question people don’t think about until they’re forced to deal with it, such as roof depreciation in an insurance claim or how safely a homeowner can perform a particular maintenance job.
I prefer topics where understanding how something works can help a reader make a better decision.
Hands-On Experience
A significant part of the information on Gutter N Roof is informed by real roofing and gutter work.
That includes subjects such as recognizing common installation problems, tracing leaks, understanding drainage, comparing roofing materials and knowing where certain problems tend to show up.
When I describe something I’ve personally encountered during my years in the trade, I may say so.
However, personal experience isn’t presented as proof that something happens the same way in every home.
Houses are different.
Materials are different.
Climate, workmanship, roof geometry, local requirements and the age of a building can all change the answer.
Research and Sources
When an article includes factual information that goes beyond my direct experience, I research it.
Depending on the subject, sources may include:
- Government agencies
- Building authorities
- Roofing and construction organizations
- Manufacturer technical documentation
- Safety organizations
- Insurance regulators
- Academic research
- Published standards
- Other established professional sources
I try to rely on the original source whenever one is reasonably available.
For example, if an article discusses ladder injury statistics, I would rather look at the agency or research responsible for those numbers than repeat a statistic from another blog.
Roofing Codes and Local Requirements
Building requirements aren’t identical everywhere.
A roofing practice that is acceptable in one location may be handled differently somewhere else because of local building codes, weather conditions or adopted standards.
Articles on Gutter N Roof are therefore general educational information unless a particular jurisdiction is clearly identified.
Always check the requirements that apply where the property is located when a project involves permits, structural changes or code compliance.
Insurance Content
Roof insurance can be especially confusing.
Policy language, depreciation, deductibles, exclusions and settlement methods can produce very different results from one homeowner to another.
When I write about insurance, my job is to help explain roofing-related concepts and the practical issues a homeowner may encounter.
I don’t pretend that working on roofs makes me an insurance adjuster, lawyer or insurance agent.
Readers should check their own policy documents and speak with the appropriate insurance professional when making decisions about a specific claim.
Safety Comes Before DIY
I believe homeowners can do plenty of maintenance themselves.
I also know how quickly an ordinary job becomes dangerous once ladders, steep roofs, wet surfaces or overhead work are involved.
Articles should not encourage somebody to climb onto a roof simply because hiring somebody costs money.
Where a task involves a meaningful fall, electrical, structural or other safety risk, that risk should be explained clearly.
Sometimes the useful DIY advice is knowing when not to DIY.
Product Recommendations
If products, materials or tools are discussed, the goal is to explain what makes them appropriate for a particular job.
Price alone doesn’t make something good.
Neither does being the most expensive choice.
A recommendation should have a practical reason behind it.
Where commercial relationships, sponsorships or affiliate arrangements apply to content in the future, they should be disclosed appropriately.
Accuracy and Updates
Roofing products change.
Prices change.
Insurance practices can change.
Codes are updated.
Manufacturers alter product lines and installation requirements.
Older articles may therefore be reviewed and updated when important information has changed.
When updating content, the goal is not merely to make an article look new. The goal is to keep information useful and accurate.
Corrections
I can make mistakes.
If a factual error is identified, I want to correct it rather than defend it.
Significant errors should be corrected as soon as reasonably possible once they have been verified.
Small spelling, grammar and formatting corrections may be made without a separate notice.
Editorial Independence
The purpose of Gutter N Roof is to help readers understand their homes.
Content should not recommend a product, service or approach simply because somebody would benefit financially from that recommendation.
If money changes hands in connection with content, that relationship should not determine the conclusion of an article.
The practical question remains the same:
Does this make sense for the homeowner and the job?