In the spirit of being honest with you — the way I’d want a friend to be honest with me — here’s exactly how The Handy Hearth makes money and what that means for you as a reader.
Effective date: June 3, 2026
This disclosure is provided in accordance with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) guidelines on endorsements and advertising. The Handy Hearth (thehandyhearth.com) is operated by Fuente Empresarial S.A.S.
We display ads
The Handy Hearth shows display advertising, primarily through Google AdSense. These are the banner and in-content ads you see around the Site. Ad revenue helps keep this site free for everyone to read. We don’t control exactly which ads appear — they’re served automatically based on factors like the page content and, where you’ve consented, your interests. To learn how advertising cookies work and how to opt out of personalized ads, see our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.
We may use affiliate links
Some posts on The Handy Hearth contain affiliate links — often to tools, paint, or materials we’ve actually used on a project. This means that if you click one of those links and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you. The price you pay is exactly the same whether you use our link or not; the retailer simply shares a little of their margin with us as a thank-you for the referral.
As an Amazon Associate and a participant in other retailer affiliate programs, we earn from qualifying purchases. These small commissions help support the time and work that goes into creating free content here. We’re genuinely grateful when you choose to use them, but you are never obligated to, and it never affects what we write.
Home-service referral programs
Some of our cost guides may include links or forms that let you request a quote from a home-service provider or contractor network. If you request a quote or are matched with a provider through one of these links, we may receive a referral fee — again, at no extra cost to you. We are not the provider, we don’t perform the work, and we don’t set their prices. Always vet any provider yourself, compare multiple quotes, and confirm licensing and insurance before hiring. Any agreement is strictly between you and the provider.
Our opinions are always our own
Here’s my promise: I only ever mention products, tools, or services that I genuinely think are useful and that fit what we do here. A commission or referral fee never buys a recommendation. If I don’t believe something would actually help you, you won’t find it on this site — affiliate link or not. Any opinions, reviews, cost estimates, and before-and-afters I share are honest and entirely my own.
When a post contains sponsored content, affiliate links, or referral links, we aim to make that clear so you always know what you’re reading.
This is not professional advice
Finally, an important reminder that goes hand in hand with this disclosure: everything on The Handy Hearth is general educational information about DIY and home costs, not professional contracting advice. Tessa is not a licensed contractor. Cost figures are estimates that vary by region and provider, and any project involving electrical, gas, plumbing, or structural work should be handled by a licensed professional. You can read the full details in our Terms of Service & Disclaimer.
Questions?
If anything here is unclear, or you’d like to know whether a specific link is an affiliate or referral link, just email me at hello@thehandyhearth.com. Honesty is the whole point.