Summary (TL;DR)
- Some “where to buy” and product links on DeckMath are affiliate links.
- If you buy through one, we may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you. You pay the same price.
- Commissions never influence our calculations, material comparisons, or recommendations. The math is the math.
- DeckMath stays free forever — no accounts, no paywalls. Ads and affiliate commissions are how we keep the lights on.
- Affiliate links carry
rel="sponsored nofollow"so search engines can tell them apart from editorial links.
What is an affiliate link?
An affiliate link is a normal link to a retailer (like Amazon, The Home Depot, or Lowe's) that includes a tracking tag identifying DeckMath. If you click it and then buy something, the retailer pays us a small percentage of the sale as a referral fee. The price you pay is exactly the same as if you had gone to the retailer directly — the commission comes out of the retailer's margin, not your pocket.
Programs we participate in
DeckMath is a participant in (or is applying to) the following affiliate programs:
- Amazon Associates — decking hardware, fasteners, tools, and finishes.
- The Home Depot affiliate program (via Impact) — lumber, composite decking, and building materials.
- Lowe's affiliate program (via Rakuten) — decking, railing, and hardware.
- Manufacturer and specialty-retailer programs for specific decking brands, where available.
As an Amazon Associate, DeckMath earns from qualifying purchases. Brand and program names are the trademarks of their respective owners; DeckMath is an independent tool and is not endorsed by or affiliated with any decking manufacturer or retailer.
Our editorial independence
This is the important part. No advertiser, retailer, or brand pays for a better recommendation on DeckMath. Our calculators are driven by published pricing data, IRC building-code tables, and manufacturer specifications — not by which link earns us the most. When we say a pressure-treated deck is cheaper than composite, or that a given joist span fails IRC R507.6, that conclusion is the same whether or not there's an affiliate link on the page. If a commission ever conflicted with giving you the correct answer, the correct answer wins.
How we label affiliate links
Wherever practical, affiliate links are marked as “where to buy” or shopping links, set to open in a new tab, and carry the rel="sponsored nofollow" attribute per the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's endorsement and disclosure guidelines and Google's link-attribution guidance. Purely editorial links to codes, standards, and reference sources are not affiliate links and carry no such tag.
Your choice
Using our affiliate links is entirely optional and never required to use any calculator, guide, or tool on DeckMath. If you'd rather not use them, just navigate to the retailer yourself — you'll get the same product at the same price. Either way, thank you: when you do use them, you help keep DeckMath free for everyone.
Questions
Anything unclear? See our Privacy Policy and Editorial Standards, or reach us via the contact page.