Trade Types
BuildVision organizes construction work by trade using CSI MasterFormat divisions. This helps with filtering, exporting, and getting accurate labor rates.
Supported Trades
| Trade | CSI Division | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Demolition | 02 Existing Conditions | Selective demo, hazmat removal, salvage, site clearing, strip-outs |
| Concrete | 03 Concrete | Footings, slabs, columns, walls, rebar, foundations |
| Masonry | 04 Masonry | CMU, brick, stone, block, mortar |
| Structural Steel | 05 Metals | Beams, columns, connections, plates, bracing, joists |
| Openings | 08 Openings | Doors, windows, storefronts, curtain walls, hardware |
| Finishes | 09 Finishes | Drywall, tile, flooring, paint, ceilings, carpet |
| Roofing | 07 Thermal & Moisture | Roofing, insulation, waterproofing, membranes |
| Fire Protection | 21 Fire Suppression | Sprinklers, standpipes, fire alarms, extinguishers |
| Plumbing | 22 Plumbing | Fixtures, piping, valves, drains, water heaters |
| HVAC | 23 HVAC | Ductwork, diffusers, equipment, thermostats |
| Electrical | 26 Electrical | Outlets, panels, switches, conduit, lighting |
| Site & Civil | 31-33 Site/Civil | Earthwork, paving, utilities, landscaping |
| General | 01 General | Catch-all for items that don't fit elsewhere |
Setting Your Specialties
If your company focuses on specific trades, set them in settings:
- Go to Settings > Company > Trade Specialties
- Select the trades you work with
- Save
This does a few things:
- Faster AI detection - System focuses on relevant symbols
- Cleaner UI - Your trades show first in dropdowns
- Better accuracy - Less noise from irrelevant detections
Trade-Based Detection
When you run AI takeoff, you can filter by trade:
- Select pages
- Click Run AI Detection
- Choose Trade Filter
- Select one or more trades
- Run detection
The AI looks for symbols specific to those trades. Running "Electrical" finds outlets, panels, switches - not plumbing fixtures.
Trade Packages in Export
Excel export creates separate sheets per trade. Each sheet has:
- Items for that trade only
- CSI codes
- Material costs
- Labor hours and costs
- Category subtotals
- Package total
Send these directly to subcontractors for pricing.
Labor Rates by Trade
Each trade has its own labor rates. See Labor Rates for the full breakdown.
Quick reference:
- MEP trades (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) - Higher rates ($80-85/hr journeyman)
- Structural (concrete, steel, masonry) - Mid-range ($65-75/hr)
- Finishes (drywall, paint, flooring) - Lower rates ($45-60/hr)
- Demolition - Mid-range ($60/hr lead, $40/hr laborer)