Trade Specialties
Tell BuildVision what trades you work in. This makes everything faster and more relevant.
Why Bother?
Most contractors focus on specific trades. A plumbing company doesn't need to see electrical symbols cluttering up their detections. An electrical contractor doesn't need drywall templates.
Setting your specialties does three things:
- Faster AI detection - The system only looks for symbols you care about
- Cleaner interface - Your trades appear first in dropdowns and filters
- Better accuracy - Less noise means fewer false positives
Setting Your Trades
- Go to Settings > Company > Trade Specialties
- Click the trades you work with
- Save
That's it. Changes apply immediately.
Available Trades
| Trade | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Demolition | Selective demo, hazmat, salvage, strip-outs |
| Concrete | Footings, slabs, columns, foundations, rebar |
| Masonry | CMU, brick, stone, block work |
| Structural Steel | Beams, columns, connections, joists |
| Openings | Doors, windows, storefronts, curtain walls |
| Finishes | Drywall, tile, flooring, paint, ceilings |
| Roofing | Roofing systems, insulation, waterproofing |
| Fire Protection | Sprinklers, standpipes, alarms |
| Plumbing | Fixtures, piping, valves, drains |
| HVAC | Ductwork, diffusers, equipment |
| Electrical | Outlets, panels, switches, conduit, lighting |
| Site & Civil | Earthwork, paving, utilities, landscaping |
| General | Catch-all for items that don't fit elsewhere |
Multi-Trade Contractors
If you're a GC or do multiple trades, just select all the ones you work with. The system handles it fine.
Common combos:
- GC/Design-Build: Select all relevant trades
- MEP Contractor: Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC, Fire Protection
- Shell Contractor: Concrete, Masonry, Structural Steel, Roofing
Labor Region
While you're in settings, also set your labor region. This affects the default hourly rates the system uses:
| Region | Rate difference |
|---|---|
| National Average | Baseline |
| West Coast | +25% |
| Northeast | +20% |
| Southeast | -10% |
| Midwest | -5% |
| Australia | +15% |
| UK | +10% |
| Europe | +8% |
These are just defaults - you can always adjust rates on individual items.
Changes Take Effect Immediately
No need to re-run anything. Your trade filter is now available in:
- AI detection settings
- Symbol library
- BOQ templates
- Export options
Go run a detection and you'll see the difference.