The News

Keep projects on track with the Houzz Pro Timeline tool

T Houzz Pro, the all-in-one business management and marketing software for residential construction and design professionals, recently added new features to its Timeline tool. With the goal of simplifying project planning and tracking, the new features let you quickly map out a project schedule, track progress, visually communicate the plan to everyone involved, assign tasks to team members, and add activities and related sub-activities for each stage of a project. A new dependency feature enables pros to indicate when the start of one item relies on the completion of another, so that moving one activity on the schedule will also move the dependent activities. Time line activities can be assigned to different team members, who are notified immediately. Information can be shared with the team including staff, trade contractors and customers, keeping everyone informed of due dates, tasks and schedule changes. The Houzz Pro app is available on iOS and Android devices. Houzz.com/pro

Grow your business through Remodeling Mastery Forums

T In the world of remodeling, collaboration is key. To

help pros connect, Pro Remodeler has created Remodeling Mastery Forums (RMFs). Comprised of dynamic groups of eight to 10 non-competing remodelers and industry experts, RMFs meet virtually once a month and run in four-month cycles focusing on a specific area of business: leadership, marketing, sales and production. Conducted in collaboration with industry leader Mark Richardson and the National Association of Home Builders, RMFs are open to anyone in the residential remodeling field with more than $1 million in annual revenue. ProRemodeler.com/Remodeling-Mastery-Forums

Talk about flesh tone

T So, it seems in the 16th and 17th centuries, there was a

popular paint color called Mummy Brown. The aptly named hue was produced by grinding down human or feline mummies and mixing them with a combination of myrrh and white pitch (a polymer). The resulting pigment had a rich brown color, and its transparency made it a good choice for use as oil paint, glazing and shading.

However, given that every mummy was different, there were issues of consistency with the paint’s color and performance; specifically, it tended to crack and was easily affected by air or sunlight.

While many painters stopped using it for these reasons, production continued into the mid-1960s when— get this—the paint manufacturer ran out of mummies.

PaintCare recycling expands to New York

T In the wake of New York state passing a paint stewardship law, PaintCare launched its collection and recycling program at paint retail stores and local government facilities throughout the state, with plans to expand to more than 300 drop-off sites by year’s end.

Mirroring PaintCare efforts in California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Maine, Minnesota, Rhode Island, Oregon, Vermont and Washington, the program now makes it convenient to recycle leftover paint in New York by establishing drop-off sites near residential neighborhoods. Most sites accept both latex and oil-based architectural coatings including paints, stains, sealers and varnishes at no cost to residents or businesses. Paint must be dropped off in its original container with its original manufacturer’s label. A full list of products accepted by the program is available on PaintCare’s website: PaintCare.org/products

All sites accept up to five gallons of paint from each customer, and some sites may accept more. Businesses, organizations and households with 100 gallons of paint or more to recycle may request a free pickup at their location (PaintCare.org/pickup). Some restrictions apply.