I'm not seeing it at this time, but it was really bugging me earlier. There have been complaint threads on other forums, so maybe admins got the message.

Showing on my Windows 10 with Google.

I also saw it earlier but no longer see it here on my ipad. I hope it's gone for good.

ETA Nope, still there in Safari on my Mac. Boo.

Yes, it's very annoying.

I saw them earlier today on my work computer (I was taking a quick break), but I blocked them with AdBockPlus in Chrome. I haven't seen them on my home computer yet.

I've noticed that sometimes Houzz changes their advertising links and they start to show up again - I just block them again and I'm usually good for another 6 months or so! I let some through - as long as they're not annoying or obnoxious, but those "find a pro" ads are both!

Windows 10 with Firefox here. I didn't do anything except shut down the computer between uses, so maybe that's why I no longer see the ad. I have Adblock Plus, but someone on another forum explained that since the ad is part of the page format (not sure if I have the correct term), Adblock would not recognize it.

It's pretty clear that the directory (which is not an ad, as mama goose explained) is only being served to certain devices/browsers right now, as they test it out.

If you hate it, now's the time to complain.

Hate it. Using Firefox.

Yes. It is VERY annoying.

It comes and go for me. It doesn't interfere with viewing the threads now that I'm used to it.

Another vote for hate it. If I want to hire a Houzz professional I know where to look (it's at the top of the page!!!!), I don't need it shoved in my face within the posts as well.

Until I realized what was going on, I was closing threads thinking there were no replies. Note to Houzz design team: If you are going to stick an obnoxious banner in between posts, you might want to narrow it so that readers can see the replies below.

I hate it also - iMac - iPad both showing the ad. I was doing the same thing as jellytoast a few times not realizing there were posts below it.

Yes, same as jellytoast. I thought there were no replies.

Win 7, Firefox, I see it, and detest it. I can right click it and 'Inspect Element' but I can't figure out how to block it with Adblock Plus.

but I can't figure out how to block it with Adblock Plus.

Ad blocking software works by preventing the display of ads that are served from remote servers. This directory isn't an ad in that sense; it's just part of the site page layout, so no ad blocker will block it.

For those of you who think you are blocking it, do you see a blank space where it should be? If not, then you are just having luck with not having that particular page format served to your machine.

Yes, AdBlock Plus does recognize it.

• Select the AdBlock Plus icon
• Select "Block Element"
• When you close the pop up, select the "find a pro" area and block it
• All the "find a pro" items immediately disappeared and the space they were in reduced to a much smaller, blank space.

It worked for me.

[Edited to add last bullet in response to WritersBlock's post]

Yes, I see a blank space - much smaller than the original, but it's definitely there.

This is the space where the "Find a Pro" section used to be...

Ah, I see, but in that case Ad Block plus is giving you the option to block anything with trackers on the page, not just actual ads. The directory does use Google Analytics.

I don't like it and I don't know how to get AdBlockPlus.

Yes, that's correct. You can block both - one of the nice things about it!

MgMum - what type of computer/operating system and browser are you using?

I have a windows laptop with Windows 7 and I'm using Chrome.

On my home desktop (Windows 10, Chrome), they have never shown up.

Ad Block does not eliminate them on my Macbook Air with Chrome browser. Very annoying. Houzz please take them off!

There is no space on my screen--but why did I see the ad/directory yesterday, but not today? Now I'm wondering if I shut down my computer tonight, they'll be back tomorrow.

Because it comes and goes.

Gah! If it hadn't been bad enough, now it's moving back and forth.

iPad here. I also thought there were no replies.

Linux with FireFox ... no ads.

I've not seen it - using Firefox with AdBlock Plus.

Question: do you see it when you are signed in? I am always signed in, and have not seen it at all.

I always sign in when I want to use GW, to avoid the annoying sign-up pop-up. I'm still not seeing the directory on the GW threads, but I just clicked on one of the Houzz kitchen stories listed to the right (because I saw the word 'quirky' ;), and saw the scrolling directory between the story and the comments. The side-to-side scrolling adds another layer of annoyance.

buehl, I am on a laptop, Windows 10 with chrome. I don't see them often, but sometimes I do. It's not a pop-up, it's like an answer in a thread.

Yes, it makes no difference whether you are signed in or not. The scrolling thing, I don't know. I think I have to leave this site as long as that's going on.

Ha! Today the banner is narrowed so that you can see the replies below. Unfortunately, it is now a MOVING banner so it is even MORE annoying than before. Oh, for pete's sake, Houzz, give us a break. We are trying to read a post and that banner is jumping below!! There is NOTHING more annoying than a moving banner.

MgMum, the "pop up" I mentioned above is from AdBlock telling you to how to block an element.

Step One: Go to Chrome Settings

Step Two: Select Extensions from the left navigation panel

Step Three: Look for AdBlock or AdBlock Plus as you scroll down the list.

If it's in the list, enable it.

If it's not, go to Step Four.

Step Four: If you do not see AdBlock or AdBlock Plus in the list, then select Get more extensions at the bottom of the list.

Step Five: Search for AdBlock and add it and enable it.

I see it on all my devices and I have Adbloc enabled.

Now it's just one line (an improvement) but it's herky jerky (an abomination). But here's the thing: Scroll past the damn thing. You know it's there, get past it. It's annoying, but it's not the end of the world.

On smaller devices, it is more prominent. It is now one line rather than the large block that was available earlier. It is on my iPhone but not on the iPad. I am using Safari and not Chrome. Even with Ad block on my windows machine it is still showing. I think they are testing it so it shows up sometimes and not others. Just to clarify for people who have not seen it, the picture below is what you see:

This site has been a valuable resource for me as I build my home. Obviously the value comes from the other commenters, but Gardenweb/Houzz are the ones who have created the environment. I'm fine with them making some money off of advertisements.

IMO using an adblocker is like taking a table at a restaurant, ordering a cup of coffee and pulling out your own food.

Adding to freeoscar's comment, this site has been a valuable, FREE resource for me...small price to pay to scroll past more stuff. In fact, until I read the OP, I never even noticed the referenced section, I was so used to zipping past it.

I stay logged in on a different browser (Safari) than the one I use (Chrome) for day-to-day searching, shopping, researching. Otherwise, my GW page gets littered with ads for items I'd researched -- and, more annoyingly, that I'm no longer interested in.

freeoscar, Houzz makes money by tracking your internet usage (the way facebook and pinterest do) and selling that data. Ads are just gravy.

Disapproval of that was a major reason for many old gardenwebbers opting not to sign up after the move.

"Obviously the value comes from the other commenters ... "

Exactly.