Methodology
How projects get here, and what we check
ProjectGallery Local shows work, not opinions. We make sure every project is real, attributed to the right business and shown with permission, and we order businesses by a published score of their public record.
Last revised
From submission to the gallery
- A business submits a project. Photos, neighborhood, completion month, project type and, if they want, a budget band.
- We match it to a permit where the work needs one. The address is used for the check only and is never published.
- We check the photo rights. The business confirms it owns the photos or holds a license, and that the homeowner agreed.
- An editor tags it. Style and project type, from the photos. Businesses can suggest tags; editors decide.
- It goes live, usually within two business days, linked to the business that did it.
What we check, and what we don't
| Item | How | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Business license, where one is required | Checked against the state record | Regularly |
| Project matches a finalized permit | Checked | Once per project |
| Business holds the photo rights | Declared, documents on file | Once per project |
| Budget band | Supplied by the business, not checked | Shown as supplied |
| Ratings and review counts | Read from public review sources | Every few weeks |
| Quality of the work | Not judged | We show work; you decide |
How the businesses are ordered
On each city and project-type page, businesses are ordered by one published score of their public record: rating (adjusted for how many reviews it rests on), review volume, recent reviews, years in business, how complete their details are and the checks we could confirm. Businesses need enough real reviews and a working phone number to be listed.
How the gallery is ordered
Newest first, by completion date. Nothing else affects the order, and payment never does.
No stand-in pictures
If a business hasn't added projects yet, we show its public record instead. We never use stock photos, renders presented as finished work or AI-generated images.
How we make money
Businesses can pay for bigger portfolios, a clearly labelled sponsored slot, or the quote requests they receive. Paying doesn't change ordering, checks or tags. Full details.
Corrections
We reply within three business days and note material changes on the page. If a photo is yours and was used without permission, it comes down within 48 hours while we look into it. Report a problem.
Questions about the gallery
Why look at past projects before hiring?
A finished project shows the standard of work, the materials a business is used to and the size of job it takes on. It is the closest thing to seeing your own job done.
Do projects show what they cost and how long they took?
When the business supplies a budget band and a completion month, we show them as supplied. We do not check budgets, so use them as a starting point for your quote.
How are styles and materials tagged?
An editor tags each project from its photos. Businesses can suggest tags, but the editor decides, so the same style means the same thing across the gallery.
How is a project documented before it goes live?
The business confirms the photo rights and the homeowner's consent, and where the work needs a permit we match it to a finalized permit. The address is used only for that check.
Want your projects in the gallery?
It's free to add projects. The checks above apply to every business, paid or not.