Editorial policy

In short

• Figures, quotes, rules and makers' terms in our guides are cited to a source, with the date we read it.
• Every guide is checked against its sources and passes automated checks before our founder, Clyde Macababbad, approves it.
• Money doesn't buy coverage, a place in our recommended ranges, or a better position in a list.
• We fix errors and say what we changed.

1. Who's responsible

Clyde Macababbad, our founder, is responsible for everything we publish. Every guide carries his byline. His author page lists the guides he's responsible for, and our About page tells you more about him. We never invent people or credentials.

2. Where our facts come from

We use sources in this order of preference:

1. Primary documents: manufacturers' data sheets, installation guides and warranty documents, and test reports such as bushfire (BAL) and slip ratings. We refer to Australian Standards and the National Construction Code by name and clause, but we don't reproduce their text.
2. Direct answers from manufacturers and sellers.
3. Reliable secondary sources, such as government agencies and industry bodies.
4. Owners' accounts published on review sites and forums. We quote them word for word, say who posted them and where, link to them, and treat them as one person's experience.

We don't use unsourced summaries as sources.

What we cite. Figures, quotes, rules (such as the building code, bushfire and pool rules) and a maker's own terms are cited to a source, with the date we read it. The sources are listed at the end of each guide. General explanations and advice aren't cited.

Product facts and prices live on our product and price pages, where every fact shows its source and the date we last checked it. Guides don't quote product prices.

Installation guides are linked and summarised. We don't copy them onto our site without the manufacturer's permission.

3. Fact-checking and approval

Before a guide is published:

1. every figure, quote and source in it is checked against the source;
2. automated checks fetch every link, block prices quoted in the text, block claims of testing we didn't do, flag figures without a source, and check spelling, style and near-duplicate text; and
3. our founder approves the exact version that passed those checks. Approval needs him signed in with two-factor authentication. An approved guide can be scheduled to go live at a set time.

We never invent tests, results, quotes, sources, prices, people or credentials.

4. Independence and conflicts of interest

Builders and suppliers pay us for leads, and people pay us for "deck on my house" pictures. Being a paying business never changes a comparison, a price we show or the order boards are listed in.

To keep those relationships away from what we publish:

• six ranges are our own recommended pick. They come first in lists, and we explain the pick where they're listed. No brand or seller pays for the place;
• on our price pages, the boards below them are listed by price per square metre, worked out by code that never sees who pays us;
• we don't show guides to brands or businesses before they're published; and
• we don't publish expert ratings or "best" lists. See How we review.

We're a small business. The person who approves our guides also manages our relationships with builders and suppliers. The rules on this page are how we keep those roles apart.

Gifts and samples. If a brand or business ever gives us samples, gifts, travel or hospitality, we'll say so on the related guide. We don't accept payment for coverage.

5. Advertising and sponsored content

We don't publish sponsored content or advertising. If we ever do, it will be labelled "Sponsored" or "Advertisement" and kept separate from our own guides and lists.

6. Images

• Photos are credited, for example "Photo: @handle, used with permission". Makers' own images are credited to the maker.
• Instagram posts we don't have permission to host are shown using Instagram's own embed, or as a link.
• 3D previews are labelled as 3D renders with colours indicative. AI-generated pictures are labelled as AI, and we never present one as a photo.
• We don't change product colours in photos.

7. Corrections and updates

• If something looks wrong, tell us through the contact page, by email or by phone. Our email and phone number are at the foot of every page.
• We'll reply within 5 working days, and we fix confirmed errors promptly.
• A significant correction to a guide gets a dated note at the end of the guide, for example: "Correction, 6 October 2026: we said the warranty was 25 years. It is 20 years for residential use."
• We don't add notes for minor fixes such as typos.
• Guides show when they were last updated, and each source shows the date we read it. Product facts show the date we last checked them.

8. Contact

Email info@compositedecks.com.au, or use the contact page.