CostPlain is an independent, plain-English guide to what home repairs and replacements cost in the United States, and why quotes for the same job can differ so much. We cover roofs, foundations and crawl spaces, plumbing and sewer lines, heating and cooling, and exterior work such as fences, siding and driveways.
What we do
Each cost page does three things. It shows the published estimates side by side, with who published them and what they measure. It builds the cost up from parts you can check: materials at dated prices, labor hours at government wage data, and an overhead and profit line we show openly. And it explains why the published numbers disagree, so you can read a real quote with more confidence. Our how we estimate costs page explains the method in full.
Our pages are written for readers in the United States and checked against US sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics, EPA, FEMA, the IRS, state and city agencies, university extension services and manufacturer specification sheets. Articles are published under the CostPlain name.
What we are not
CostPlain is not a contractor, a lead service, a contractor directory or a government agency. We have no crew, do no jobs and inspect no homes. We have not priced or quoted your job, and we do not claim to have done the work we describe. Our estimates are built from public data, and we say where each figure comes from.
How we are funded
CostPlain is funded by display advertising. Ads may not appear yet while the site is new. Once they run, some may come from contractors, retailers or manufacturers in the home repair business. An ad is not an endorsement, and advertisers have no say over what we publish.
How we stay independent
- No affiliate links. We earn nothing if you buy something after reading a page.
- No paid placements. Nobody can pay for coverage, a mention or a better position.
- No sold leads. We have no quote form, and we do not pass your details to contractors.
- No contractor referrals. We do not recommend, list or rank contractors, and no contractor pays us.
- Nothing for sale. We do not sell materials, equipment or repair work.
That is why our pages can say things a seller might not: that a repair may not be needed yet, that a structural problem deserves an assessment from someone who is not selling the fix, or that one quote is missing items another includes.
How pages are checked
Every page gets a fact-check against its sources, separate from the writing, and the sources are linked at the claims they support. Each page ends with the date its sources were checked. Our editorial policy explains each step.
Use our numbers as a starting point
An estimate can’t see your house. Prices change with your region, the condition and layout of the home, how easy the work is to reach and what your local code requires. A licensed local contractor prices the real job, and your local building or permit office decides what the work needs.
Mistakes and questions
Our corrections page logs what we have fixed, and our contact page says how to reach us. Please read our disclaimer too: everything here is general information, not professional, legal or financial advice.
