Editorial Policy

What Do We Publish?

We publish information about frost line depth and what it means for building: the depth a jurisdiction sets, how it applies to footings, fence posts, decks and buried lines, and the science behind it. We do not publish structural designs, engineering advice or legal advice.

Where Do Our Facts Come From?

From official building codes, state rules, local government documents, and a small number of named technical sources such as university extension services, standards bodies and manufacturer data sheets. Every number on a page is tied to a source listed at the bottom of that page. See Sources.

How Do We Separate Code Requirements From Common Practice?

We label them. A code requirement is something a code says you must do, with the section named. Common practice is what builders or manufacturers recommend, and we say who recommends it. Where a manufacturer gives a depth or concrete amount, we cite the document. Where we found no source, we say that instead of filling in a number.

How Is Content Written and Reviewed?

Pages are drafted with AI assistance (Claude, made by Anthropic) from sources the project team gathers, and the facts are checked against those sources. We follow a few rules: put a direct answer first, name the source for every number, and leave a number out rather than guess. No named licensed engineer, architect or code official has yet reviewed the site. When one does, we will name them on the About page.

How Do We Handle Corrections and Updates?

Pages show the month they were last checked. If a reader sends a better document, we check it against the official source, correct the page and update the date. Use the contact page to report an error.

What About Advertising and Affiliate Links?

None of the pages today carry ads or affiliate links. If they are added, they will be labelled, and nothing paid will change a value, a ranking of options or the text of a requirement.