Editorial Policy
This page describes exactly how Gladewick’s content is chosen, researched, written, checked, and published — including who’s behind it and how AI is used. It’s our public promise to readers, and it’s written to be honest about what Gladewick is and what it isn’t.
The four principles behind every Gladewick article
Honest Authorship
Written and edited by one named person — Sameer Patel — who’s a publisher and researcher, not a licensed tradesperson. No anonymous content, and no invented experts.
Accuracy First
Facts and figures are checked against authoritative primary sources before publishing. Errors are corrected promptly and labelled transparently.
Editorial Independence
Commercial relationships — advertising, affiliates, sponsors — never influence article content, product picks, or recommendations.
Full Transparency
Every article shows who’s behind it, discloses that it was produced with AI assistance and human editing, and discloses any commercial relationships.
Our Editorial Mission
Gladewick exists to give homeowners clear, carefully researched home and garden guidance — free, with no paywalls, and honest about how it’s made. Our content covers home improvement, interior design, garden and landscape, DIY and repairs, and home and garden products.
A lot of home and garden content online is thin, padded for search engines, or dressed up with credentials nobody can verify. Gladewick’s difference isn’t a claim to be run by a panel of tradespeople — it’s a commitment to rigour and honesty: every article is researched from authoritative sources, checked against those sources, clear about where guidance varies by location, and upfront about its limitations and how it was produced.
Just as important is what Gladewick doesn’t pretend to be. It is not a contractor, a design studio, or a licensed trade service, and it doesn’t publish under invented expert names. Where a topic genuinely needs a licensed professional, we say so and point you to one. Everything in this Editorial Policy exists to document and enforce that standard.
The standard we hold ourselves to: before anything is published, we ask whether it’s accurate, genuinely useful, honestly sourced, and clear about its limits. If a claim can’t be verified against an authoritative source, it’s cut or clearly qualified — and where a task calls for a licensed professional, the article says so rather than pretending otherwise.
Authorship & How Content Is Made
Gladewick is written and edited by one person: its founder, Sameer Patel. Sameer is a publisher and researcher — not a licensed contractor, electrician, designer, or other trade professional — and Gladewick does not claim otherwise. There is no panel of credentialed specialists behind this site, and no article is published under an invented expert name.
How articles are produced
Gladewick’s articles are researched from authoritative sources and drafted with the help of AI tools, then reviewed, edited, and fact-checked by a human — Sameer — before anything is published. AI is a drafting and research aid; it is never the final word, and its output is never treated as a source of truth. Every factual claim is checked against a primary source (see Section 4), and anything that can’t be verified is removed or clearly qualified.
What every article shows
- A byline — “Sameer Patel — Founder & Editor”
- The publication date and the most recent update date
- An AI-use disclosure noting that the article was produced with AI assistance and edited and fact-checked by a human
- An affiliate disclosure, where the article contains affiliate links
A firm commitment: Gladewick will not attach fabricated author names, invented credentials, or fake “reviewed by an expert” claims to its content. If a genuinely qualified professional ever contributes to or reviews an article, they’ll be named with their real, verifiable credentials — and never a title we made up. Until then, Gladewick is honest that it’s a carefully researched, one-person publication, not an expert panel.
How We Select Topics
Gladewick’s content is built around topical clusters — comprehensive coverage of specific subject areas, so readers can find guidance on every related question within a category, rather than isolated articles on random topics.
Topic selection criteria
- Genuine reader need: Does this topic answer a real question homeowners are asking? We use keyword research and reader questions to identify topics that genuinely matter to people doing real projects.
- Can it be covered responsibly: Can we produce something accurate and genuinely useful, backed by verifiable sources? For topics that require licensed professional expertise, we cover them as general, educational background only — with a clear pointer to a qualified professional — or we don’t cover them at all.
- Accuracy achievable: If a topic can’t be covered accurately from authoritative sources, we don’t publish it just to fill a gap.
- Not commercially motivated: Topics are chosen for reader need, not for affiliate-commission potential or advertiser interest. We do not create articles specifically to generate affiliate clicks.
Content we prioritise
- Practical, step-by-step guidance that helps homeowners complete or understand real projects
- Honest buying guides and product comparisons that help readers make informed decisions
- Clear explanations of complex topics (building codes, material selection, plant care) that make the essentials accessible
- Seasonal and timely content that addresses what homeowners actually need right now
- Content that fills genuine gaps — questions that are currently poorly answered online
Research & Source Standards
Gladewick content is grounded in primary, authoritative sources. We do not base factual claims on other home content websites, SEO-driven blog posts, or unverified secondary sources — and, importantly, we do not treat AI output as a source of fact.
Sources we rely on
- Manufacturer specifications and technical documentation: Official product specs, installation guides, and technical data sheets from manufacturers
- Government and regulatory bodies: EPA, USDA, US Department of Energy, OSHA, local building departments, and state regulatory agencies
- Professional associations and trade organisations: bodies such as the American Horticultural Society, the National Electrical Contractors Association, and the American Institute of Architects
- Peer-reviewed and institutional research: published research and university extension programmes (which are especially authoritative for horticulture and materials questions)
- Industry codes and standards: the International Residential Code (IRC), National Electrical Code (NEC), International Building Code (IBC), and relevant local adoptions
Sources we do not treat as authoritative
- Other home and garden content websites, regardless of their domain authority or traffic
- Wikipedia or other crowd-sourced encyclopaedias, for technical claims
- Social media posts, forum discussions, or Reddit threads
- AI output: AI helps draft and research, but it is never cited as a source of fact — every claim it helps surface is verified against the primary sources above before it’s published
- Anecdotal reports without a verifiable basis
On local variation: Building codes, permit requirements, and horticultural recommendations vary significantly by location. Articles are expected to note explicitly when guidance is location-specific and to advise readers to verify requirements with their local building department or extension service before proceeding.
The Writing Process
Every article follows a consistent process designed to maximise accuracy, usefulness, and readability.
Topic & scope definition
The topic is defined with a clear scope — what the article will cover, what it won’t, and what the reader should be able to do or understand afterwards — based on the reader’s likely intent.
Research & drafting
The article is researched from authoritative sources and drafted with AI assistance. At this stage every factual claim is treated as unverified until it’s checked against a primary source.
Human editing & fact-checking
Sameer edits the draft and checks each factual claim — measurements, specifications, codes, product details — against a primary source. Claims that can’t be verified are removed or clearly qualified, and relevant safety warnings are added.
Accuracy & safety check
A final pass confirms that sources are cited correctly, safety warnings are present where relevant, location-specific guidance is flagged, and the article meets our style and quality standards.
Publication with honest attribution
The article is published with its byline, publication date, and an AI-use disclosure. A disclosure notice appears on any article containing affiliate links.
Ongoing review & updates
Published articles are placed on a review schedule. Time-sensitive topics (products, codes, seasonal guidance) are reviewed more frequently. When updates are made, the “last updated” date is revised and material changes are noted where relevant.
How Content Is Checked
The most important step in the process is what happens between drafting and publishing: the fact-check. Because Gladewick doesn’t rely on claimed professional experience or an invented review panel, verification against authoritative sources is what the accuracy of the site actually rests on.
What the fact-check covers
- Factual accuracy: Every measurement, specification, code reference, and product detail is checked against a primary source (see Section 4). If it can’t be verified, it doesn’t run.
- Safety completeness: Relevant safety warnings are required for any DIY, electrical, plumbing, structural, or chemical content — including a clear pointer to a licensed professional where the task calls for one.
- Practical applicability: Guidance has to be genuinely actionable and realistic for a homeowner, not just technically correct.
- Local variation: The article must be clear about where guidance may vary by location, code version, or climate zone.
- Honest limits: Where Gladewick can only take a reader so far, the article says so and directs them to the right authority — a building department, an extension service, or a licensed trade professional.
This is also why reader corrections matter so much. If you spot something that looks wrong, reporting it feeds directly back into this process — see Section 11 and our full Corrections Policy.
Editorial Independence
Gladewick’s editorial content is kept independent of its commercial operations. The following rules govern that separation and are non-negotiable.
What we guarantee
- Advertisers do not receive editorial coverage, favourable mentions, or preferential placement in exchange for advertising on Gladewick
- Affiliate commission rates play no role in which products are recommended, featured, or ranked
- Brands cannot pay to be included in, ranked higher in, or removed from Gladewick articles
- Commission rates are deliberately kept out of the decision about what to recommend
- We recommend products that carry no affiliate programme when they’re genuinely the best option for the reader
- When a product isn’t good, the write-up says so — regardless of any commercial relationship
- Editorial judgement has the final word on all published content — no commercial partner can overrule or veto it
What this means for you
When Gladewick recommends a product, ranks it first in a comparison, or calls it the best option in a category, that judgement is made on merit — based on research and the criteria stated in the article. The presence or absence of an affiliate relationship, an advertising contract, or a brand relationship has no bearing on it.
Keeping editorial and commercial separate: because Gladewick is a one-person operation, there’s no separate “sales team” — which makes this commitment personal. Commercial considerations are deliberately excluded from editorial judgement: what gets recommended is decided on the merits first, and only then are affiliate links added where they happen to apply.
Product Recommendations
Product content is one of the most commercially sensitive areas of home and garden publishing, so it’s worth being precise about how Gladewick’s works — and honest about what it isn’t.
Gladewick’s product recommendations are based on research: manufacturer specifications, documented performance data, authoritative third-party sources, aggregated owner feedback, and hands-on use where that applies. Gladewick does not operate a formal product-testing lab, and it doesn’t claim lab-based testing it hasn’t done. Where a recommendation rests on hands-on experience with a product, the article says so; where it’s based on research, it’s presented as research.
Our product principles
- Honest basis: recommendations reflect research and, where applicable, hands-on use — never invented testing or fabricated results
- Brand-provided products are disclosed: if a brand provides a product, that’s stated clearly in the article, and it earns no special treatment — a free product does not buy a positive write-up
- Consistent criteria: the same criteria are applied across every product in a category, regardless of brand size, price, or commercial relationship
- Unfavourable findings are published: if a product isn’t good, the write-up reflects that — we don’t suppress it
- Independent of commissions: what’s recommended is decided before affiliate links are ever considered (see Section 7)
Affiliate Relationships & Sponsored Content
Affiliate links
Gladewick participates in affiliate marketing programmes and may earn commissions when readers purchase products through links on our Site. The presence of affiliate links is governed by the following rules:
- Every article containing affiliate links carries a clear disclosure notice at the top of the article, before any product recommendation
- Affiliate links are added to articles after the editorial decisions are made — they’re never a factor in which products are recommended
- A product that carries no affiliate relationship is still recommended and linked directly if it’s the best option
Our full Affiliate Disclosure explains which programmes we participate in, how commissions work, and how editorial independence is protected.
Sponsored content
Gladewick may occasionally publish sponsored content — an article produced in partnership with a brand and for which Gladewick receives compensation. The following rules apply to all sponsored content:
- All sponsored content is prominently labelled “Sponsored,” “Paid Partnership,” or “Partner Content” at the top of the article, before any content begins
- Sponsored content must meet the same factual-accuracy standards as our independent editorial content
- We will not publish sponsored content that makes false, misleading, or unsubstantiated claims
- Sponsored content does not buy positive coverage of the brand in independent articles
- The final editorial decision on any sponsored content rests with Gladewick, not the brand partner
Clear labelling — what to look for
| Content Type | Labelling | Commercially Influenced? |
|---|---|---|
| Standard editorial article | Byline + date + AI-use disclosure | No |
| Article with affiliate links | “This article contains affiliate links” notice at top | No — links added after editorial decisions |
| Product write-up (brand-provided item) | “Product provided by [Brand]” disclosure | No — same standards apply |
| Sponsored content | “Sponsored” or “Paid Partnership” label at top | Yes — clearly disclosed |
| Display advertisements | Clearly delineated ad units labelled “Advertisement” | Yes — clearly separated from content |
Content Updates & Currency
Home and garden advice isn’t static. Building codes change. Products are updated, improved, or discontinued. Best practices evolve. Plant hardiness zones shift. New research emerges. Gladewick uses a structured approach to reviewing and updating published content.
How we manage content currency
- Update schedule: Articles are placed on a review calendar. Time-sensitive topics — product specifications, pricing, building codes, seasonal guidance — are reviewed more frequently than evergreen conceptual content.
- Trigger-based reviews: Specific events prompt an immediate review — a product being discontinued, a major code update, a manufacturer changing specifications, or a reader reporting a potential inaccuracy.
- “Last Updated” dating: Every article shows the date it was most recently reviewed and updated. That date changes only when material content changes are made — not for minor formatting or link tweaks.
- Re-check on update: When an article is updated materially, the changed content is re-checked against authoritative sources the same way as a new article before the update goes live.
Even so, some information may fall out of date between review cycles. If you find content you believe is inaccurate or outdated, please report it to support@gladewick.com. Reader reports are one of the most valuable tools for keeping content accurate at scale.
Corrections Policy
Gladewick takes factual accuracy seriously enough to have a formal, published corrections process. How a publication handles its errors is one of the clearest signals of whether it can be trusted.
Our corrections commitments
- Reader-reported errors are acknowledged personally — usually within 24 hours
- Confirmed factual errors are corrected promptly and verified against authoritative sources before the fix goes live
- Material corrections are labelled transparently within the article, noting what was corrected and when
- We never silently alter factual content without noting that a correction has been made
- Corrections are re-checked against authoritative sources the same way as original articles
To report an error, email support@gladewick.com with the subject line “Correction Request,” the article URL, the specific claim you believe is inaccurate, and any source that supports the correct information. For the complete workflow, see our dedicated Corrections Policy page.
Content We Do Not Publish
Gladewick’s standards define not just what we publish, but what we explicitly won’t publish, regardless of commercial incentive or reader demand.
We do not publish
- Fabricated author names, invented credentials, or fake “reviewed by an expert” claims — the exact practices this policy exists to prevent
- AI output published without human editing and fact-checking — AI is used to draft and research, but nothing goes live until a human has verified it
- Anonymous content — every article carries a byline and an AI-use disclosure
- Paid placements disguised as independent content — all commercial content is clearly labelled
- Content that encourages homeowners to perform work that legally requires a licence without one, or that would create a safety hazard
- Clickbait that makes exaggerated or misleading claims about outcomes, savings, or results
- Thin content designed to rank for keywords without providing genuine informational value
- Content that misrepresents a product’s performance or suitability — including overstating performance to generate affiliate commissions
- Content outside Gladewick’s defined topical areas — we don’t publish general lifestyle, news, or non-home-related content
Serving Homeowners Across Regions, Budgets & Skill Levels
Gladewick’s audience is the full breadth of homeowners — across climate zones, housing types, budgets, and skill levels. Our standards reflect that.
Regional variation
Home and garden advice is profoundly location-dependent: what works for a garden in Portland isn’t what works in Phoenix, and what’s code-compliant in Tennessee may not be in California. Gladewick doesn’t claim in-house experts in every region — instead, when an article’s guidance is specific to a particular region, climate zone, or regulatory environment, it’s expected to say so explicitly and to point readers to the right local authority, such as a building department or a university extension service.
Budget inclusivity
Gladewick content is designed to serve homeowners at all budget levels. We cover both premium and budget-friendly options, and we don’t bias recommendations toward expensive solutions when more affordable alternatives perform just as well.
Skill-level inclusivity
Our how-to and DIY content serves a range of skill levels — from complete beginners attempting a first project to experienced DIYers tackling advanced work. We aim to indicate the skill level a project calls for and include safety warnings appropriate to it — and to be honest about when a job is better left to a professional.
Contact Us
We welcome feedback, corrections, and questions about our editorial standards. If you believe an article on Gladewick contains an error, conflicts with this Editorial Policy, or falls short of our stated standards, please get in touch.
Editorial & Accuracy Inquiries
To report an inaccuracy, ask about our standards, or request a clarification on how a specific article was produced:
support@gladewick.comFor contributor pitches, sponsored content enquiries, or press requests:
hello@gladewick.comYou can also use our Contact Us page to reach us through the online form.
Read our complete set of editorial and trust documents:
- About Gladewick — Who runs the site and how it works
- Corrections Policy — How errors are reported, reviewed, and corrected
- Affiliate Disclosure — Full disclosure of our commercial relationships
- Privacy Policy — How we collect and protect your personal information
- Terms of Use — The legal terms governing use of this Site
- Disclaimer — Liability limitations for our home and garden content