# Editorial policy

> Driveway Sealing Lab's editorial standards: independence, sourcing, corrections, and how affiliate links are handled.

Canonical: https://drivewaysealinglab.com/editorial-policy/

Last updated: 2026-11-08

## Independence

    Editorial decisions are made by the editorial team, not by merchants. A
    commercial partner cannot buy a ranking, a score, a "best" label, or a place
    in a roundup. If we cannot recommend a category honestly, we say so.

## Sourcing

    Articles cite manufacturer documentation, adopted code, government guidance, or
    named contractor reports. Statistics without a source are removed. Estimates are
    labelled and their inputs are shown.

## Affiliate links

    Some outbound links are affiliate links. They are marked with
    `rel="sponsored"`, and every article carries a disclosure. The
    commission does not change the price you pay. See the
    [full disclosure](/affiliate-disclosure/).

## Reviews and scores

    Scores are relative to the pavement, not absolute. A sealcoat that is right for
    a sound, oxidised driveway is the wrong treatment for alligator cracking over a
    failing base, where it hides the problem for one season. We state the pavement
    condition the judgement assumes rather than hiding it in a number.

## Corrections

    We correct factual errors promptly and note the update date. To report an
    error, email [contact@drivewaysealinglab.com](mailto:contact@drivewaysealinglab.com)
    with the URL and a source.

## AI assistance

    Drafts may be prepared with software assistance, but every published article is
    reviewed against its sources by the editorial team. We do not publish
    unreviewed generated text.

## Review cycle

Material and method guides are rechecked when a manufacturer revises a data
    sheet or a pavement-maintenance specification changes. Cost guides are rechecked
    quarterly. A page that has not been reviewed in twelve months is flagged in the
    editorial calendar rather than left to drift.