Effective date: September 30, 2026
This Privacy Policy explains how BasementCalculator.com (“Basement Calculator,” “we,” “us” or “our”) collects, uses and shares information when you visit basementcalculator.com (the “Site”), use our calculators or contact us. By using the Site, you agree to the practices described here.
Who we are
Basement Calculator is an independent publisher of home improvement cost calculators and guides, operated by Jason Keeley in Virginia. We are not a contractor and do not perform construction work. You can reach us using the contact details at the end of this policy.
Information we collect
Information you give us
- Contact form and email: your name, email address and anything you include in your message.
- Comments: your name, email address, website (optional) and comment text. Your comment and name may be displayed publicly.
- Polls: your poll answers. To prevent repeat voting, the poll tool may record your IP address or set a cookie.
Calculator inputs
Our calculators run in your web browser. The numbers and choices you enter, such as square footage, home value or radon level, are used to calculate your estimate on your device and are not stored in our database. If you use a “Copy link” or share feature, your inputs are encoded in the link itself, so anyone you share it with can see them.
Information collected automatically
Like most websites, our servers and the third-party services we use automatically collect certain information when you visit, including your IP address, browser and device type, operating system, referring page, pages viewed, links clicked and the date and time of your visit. This is collected through server logs, cookies, pixels and similar technologies.
Cookies and third-party services
Cookies are small files stored in your browser. We and our partners use them to run the Site, measure traffic, show ads and track affiliate referrals. The main services involved are:
- Advertising (Google AdSense): Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this and other websites. Google’s use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to you based on your visits to this Site and other sites on the internet. You can opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings, and you can opt out of some third-party vendors’ use of cookies for personalized advertising at aboutads.info/choices. Learn more about how Google uses information from sites that use its services.
- Affiliate programs: When you click an affiliate link, which on this Site usually begins with basementcalculator.com/recommends/, we record the click. The retailer or partner, such as Amazon, Lowe’s or Thumbtack, may set cookies to credit us for a referral. See our Affiliate & Advertising Disclosure.
- Analytics: We may use analytics services such as Google Analytics to understand how visitors use the Site. These services collect information such as pages viewed and approximate location, and they use cookies to do so.
- Embedded content: Some pages include content from other sites, such as contractor directories from Thumbtack, and fonts served by Google Fonts. These providers may receive your IP address and set their own cookies, just as if you visited their sites directly.
- Spam protection: Comments and form submissions may be checked by Akismet (Automattic) to filter spam, which involves sending your submission, IP address and browser information to that service.
- Site performance: We use caching and image optimization services to keep the Site fast, which may process technical request data.
You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings. Blocking some cookies may affect how the Site works. Visitors in regions where consent is required will be asked for consent before non-essential cookies are used.
How we use information
- To operate, maintain and improve the Site and our calculators
- To respond to your messages, corrections and requests
- To display and moderate comments and run polls
- To show advertising and earn affiliate commissions that keep the Site free
- To measure traffic and understand which content is useful
- To prevent spam, fraud and abuse, and to keep the Site secure
- To comply with legal obligations
How we share information
We do not sell your personal information for money. We share information only in these situations:
- Service providers that host the Site, deliver email, filter spam, provide analytics or connect our forms to the tools we use to manage messages. They may use information only to provide services to us.
- Advertising and affiliate partners, which collect information through cookies as described above. Under some U.S. state laws, this kind of targeted advertising may be considered a “sale” or “sharing” of personal information. See “Your privacy rights” below to opt out.
- Legal and safety reasons, if required by law or to protect our rights, users or the public.
- Business transfers, if the Site is sold or merged, in which case information may transfer to the new owner under this policy.
If you request contractor quotes through a partner link, you’ll be submitting information directly to that partner, and its privacy policy applies.
Your privacy rights
Depending on where you live, including Virginia, California, Colorado, Connecticut and other states with privacy laws, you may have the right to:
- Know what personal information we have about you and get a copy
- Correct inaccurate information
- Delete your personal information
- Opt out of targeted advertising and the “sale” or “sharing” of personal information
- Not be discriminated against for exercising these rights
To make a request, email us at the address below with the subject “Privacy Request.” We may need to verify your identity before responding, and we’ll respond within the time the law requires. You may use an authorized agent where permitted. If we decline your request, you may appeal by replying to our decision with the subject “Privacy Appeal,” and we’ll respond to the appeal as required by law. To opt out of personalized ads, you can also use the Google and industry opt-out links above or enable a browser privacy signal such as Global Privacy Control where supported.
Visitors in the European Economic Area, United Kingdom and Switzerland: We process personal information based on your consent (for example, for advertising cookies), our legitimate interests in running and improving the Site, or to comply with the law. You have the right to access, correct, delete, restrict or object to processing of your information, to data portability, and to withdraw consent at any time. You may also complain to your local data protection authority. Our Site is operated from the United States, and information may be processed there.
How long we keep information
We keep messages and comments for as long as needed to respond, maintain the Site’s records or meet legal obligations. Published comments remain until removed. Information collected by third-party services is kept according to their own retention policies.
Security
We use reasonable measures, including encrypted (HTTPS) connections and security headers, to protect information. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Children’s privacy
The Site is intended for adults and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us information, contact us and we will delete it.
Links to other websites
The Site links to other websites, including retailers, contractor directories and sources we cite. We are not responsible for their privacy practices, and we encourage you to read their privacy policies.
Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we’ll change the effective date at the top of this page. Significant changes will be highlighted on the Site.
Contact us
Basement Calculator
Attn: Jason Keeley
2862 Southern Hills Drive
North Garden, VA 22959
Email: jason@basementcalculator.com
Phone: (720) 425-5981