Trade layers in HomeFloorPlan: why your plumber should only see plumbing markups
Trade layer filtering gives each sub a clean view of only their scope. No more cluttered sheets with every trade's markups stacked on top of each other.
TL;DR
HomeFloorPlan trade layer filtering lets each sub see only the markups relevant to their trade. GCs keep the full picture while subs get a clean, readable view of their scope. This reduces confusion and makes subs more likely to actually engage with digital plans.
Key Takeaways
- 1Trade layers automatically filter markups so each sub only sees pins and comments for their own trade.
- 2GCs can toggle between the all-layer view for coordination meetings and single-trade views when talking to a specific sub.
- 3Bluebeam offers custom columns and filters, but requires each user to configure their own views on a desktop app. The platform handles trade assignment at the project level so subs see filtered views automatically in any browser.
- 4When subs only see relevant markups, they are far more likely to read notifications and leave useful comments instead of ignoring a cluttered sheet.
On any active construction project, a single plan sheet can accumulate dozens of markup pins from different trades — electrical callouts, plumbing notes, HVAC comments, framing questions. When every trade sees every markup, the sheet becomes unreadable. Subs stop checking the plans digitally and go back to phone calls and printed sheets, which defeats the purpose of digital plan management.
HomeFloorPlan solves this with trade layer filtering. When a GC sets up a project, they assign each invited sub to a specific trade. From that point on, when a plumber opens the project, they see only plumbing markups. An electrician sees only electrical markups. The sheet stays clean and readable for every user. This is handled automatically at the project level — subs do not need to configure anything.
Bluebeam handles this differently. It offers custom columns and sorting on its markup list, and users can filter by status, author, or custom fields. But each user has to set up those filters themselves, and Bluebeam runs on Windows desktops. For a sub standing in a crawl space with a phone, that workflow does not work. Tools like Procore and PlanGrid offer some filtering, but they are part of large enterprise platforms with steep learning curves and pricing that does not fit a 10-person crew.
The practical result of trade layer filtering is that subs actually engage with digital markups. When a plumber opens their view and sees three relevant pins instead of forty irrelevant ones, they read those pins. They leave comments. They flag issues. The GC still has the full picture — you can toggle to an all-layer view anytime for coordination meetings or cross-trade reviews.
Setting up trade layers takes about a minute per project. You assign trades when you invite subs, and the platform handles the rest. At $20 per seat per month with free view-only access for subs who just need to check plans, the cost is minimal. There is no app to download and no desktop software to install — everything runs in the browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does trade layer filtering compare to Bluebeam?
Bluebeam lets users create custom columns and filter markups manually, but each person has to set that up themselves on their desktop install. With HomeFloorPlan, trade layers are assigned at the project level by the GC. When a plumber opens a shared link, they automatically see only plumbing markups — no configuration needed on their end.
Can a GC still see all markups across every trade?
Yes. The platform gives GCs an all-layer view that shows every markup from every trade on the sheet. You can toggle to any single trade's view at any time. Subs only see their own trade by default.
What if a markup applies to multiple trades, like a coordination issue between plumbing and HVAC?
You can assign a markup to a general coordination layer that is visible to all relevant trades. The platform lets you create custom layers beyond the standard trade layers for exactly this kind of cross-trade issue.