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4.5

(48 reviews)

Top-rated architects.

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Find Architects in Costa Mesa

Avatar for Design X Architects
Design X Architects
5.0(
43
)

Serving Costa Mesa, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2009

Free estimates

Customers say: Quality work

"Jonathan and Design X Architects provided excellent service for our modest residential project. While small, our project brought with it certain complexities which were addressed skillfully and professionally. A major objective of the assignment was to clear City Plan Check with few corrections. The plans submitted accomplished that intent, as no plan check corrections were imposed and the plans were approved based on the initial submittal. Jonathan was clear in his communication and delivered exactly what he said he would do â always on or ahead of schedule. Speaking as an Architect myself, I would entrust a project of any size to this firm."
Pool View
Front Entry
Guest House View
Dining Area
Lobby

+7

Response time2 days
Response rate92%
7 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for YNG Architects, Inc.
YNG Architects, Inc.
4.4(
18
)

Serving Costa Mesa, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2005

Free estimates

Small jobs welcome

"Yenny has been wonderful to work with. We were very nervous adding on an addition and remodel to our home and he has been extremely helpful and patient with us. He is always available to answer our questions and we have made a lot of changes throughout the process. It has been a pleasure working with him and we are very happy we chose him as our architect."
Floor Plan
Floor Plan
Williams Residence Remodel - Living Room
Exterior View Between Units
Sectional Elevation

+144

Response time2 days
18 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by88%of homeowners
Avatar for K & K Engineering
K & K Engineering
5.0(
13
)

Serving Costa Mesa, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2020

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"I hired Kyle as my structural engineer for my ADU. Long story short, my original architect ghosted me, and left an incomplete plan and about two months before application expires. I had to change my design a bit and Kyle was so kind. He helped me finished my revision over a weekend even though he had a lot of work at hand after he leaned my situation. And the city revision only cost him a day. With his help I was able to pull my permit two days before the deadline! Excellent work Kyle! Much appreciated!"
Response time10 hrs
Response rate98%
4 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Jean Prescott Studio
Jean Prescott Studio
4.7(
33
)

Serving Costa Mesa, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2017

Emergency services offered

Credit card accepted

"Entire interior house remodel was done. Excellent company to hire and follow through with every little detail of your house. Add a price that fits your budget. Friendly and congenial people to work with."
Scavolini Kitchen
Livingroom
White and Bright Livingroom
Corona Del Mar
Corona Del Mar

+47

Response time4 hrs
Response rate98%
13 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for CAZ Designs
CAZ Designs
4.6(
23
)

Serving Costa Mesa, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 1998

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Working with Carolyn was a wonderful experience. She is very helpful, efficient and certainly knows about all aspects of the design business. Our project was finished on time and within budget. It was a pleasure working with her and I would be happy to recommend her to my friends, family and clients!"
Kitchen Remodel
Santiago Remodel
Santiago remodel
Santiago Remodel
Santiago Remodel

+14

Response time12 hrs
1 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by95%of homeowners
Avatar for Del Mar Landscaping
Del Mar Landscaping
4.6(
323
)

Serving Costa Mesa, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 1993

Free estimates

Warranties offered

"They did an excellent job. I talked to the owner, Conrad, through the whole process and he gave some beautiful suggestions. I would highly recommend them and I will definitely be hiring them again to do more work for me."
Fire pit patio
BBQ
Pavers, BBQ
Modpool, artificial turf, concrete, outdoor patio
BBQ island

+106

Response time2 days
Recommended by95%of homeowners
Avatar for Drafting Design Services
Drafting Design Services
4.8(
17
)

Serving Costa Mesa, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

Super Service Award Winner

In business since 2019

Credit card accepted

Offers commercial services

"He is very professional and courteous. He listens well and aims to please. I enjoyed working with Francisco, an over achiever and quite knowledgeable. Best decision I made was hiring Francisco, he got the job done....very satisfied customer."
Response time2 days
7 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by75%of homeowners
Avatar for CODAspaces
CODAspaces
5.0(
6
)

Serving Costa Mesa, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2007

Free estimates

Small jobs welcome

"Jeromes extensive experience with business TI projects made him the perfect choice for our needs. Hiring him was one of the best decisions we could have made. His exceptional skill, combined with his genuine kindness and honesty, truly set him apart. Culver City presents its fair share of challenges, particularly with the citys responsiveness, but Jerome and his team went above and beyond. They consistently communicated with the city on our behalf, advocating tirelessly to expedite the permit process and relieve so much of the stress on our end. Jerome dedication and professionalism are unmatched, and his commitment to his clients is evident in every step of the process. If you are looking for an architect with top-tier expertise who truly cares about his clients success, look no further. Jerome is simply the best!"
Response time1 day
2 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by66%of homeowners
Avatar for Viveros landscaping
Viveros landscaping
4.4(
28
)

Serving Costa Mesa, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2015

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"They provided excellent service and was very professional and quick. I am so pleased with the outcome. My yard is beautiful. All the neighbors are envious. They came back with a quote that be out all the other landscapers and were very nice to work with. Five stars across the board."
Landscaping Project
Landscaping Project
Landscaping Project
Landscaping Project
Beforw

+131

Response time1 day
32 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by65%of homeowners
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Showing 1-10 of 541

FAQs for architectural service projects in Costa Mesa, CA

While you might think that architects only draw blueprints for buildings, they are much more involved in the overall construction process than you might realize. While they aren’t the ones swinging the hammers, architects do the following: 

  • Communicate with the homeowner on the project request, including assistance when exact plans aren’t known

  • Develop computer-aided models and blueprints of the requested design

  • Ensure that the design incorporates form, function, and safety features

  • Provide the contractor with the agreed-upon design

  • Supervise the general contractor and any subcontractors throughout the project

  • Communicate any needed changes to the project with the homeowner and draw new plans accordingly

Before settling on and hiring an architect, it’s beneficial to you as a homeowner to ask some questions to familiarize yourself with their work. After all, you wouldn’t want to spend time and resources on a professional that doesn’t specialize in exactly what you want in a house. Some questions to ask your architect include: 

  • How do you charge for services? Is it on an hourly basis, based on square footage, or based on project size?

  • How do we work together to stay on budget for this project?

  • Do you anticipate any future challenges with this project? How are these communicated?

  • What is your project management style? If you are not handling the day-to-day details, who is my point of contact? 

  • Can I see previous similar projects that you’ve completed?

  • Do you have any specialty experience, like working on historic homes or using sustainable building materials?

The average cost to hire an architect for your home project ranges between $2,200 and $10,500. However, depending on location and project type, you might end up paying as little as $600 or as much as $45,000 or more. For example, the average cost of hiring an architect in North Carolina is between $1,800 and $2,000, but in California, that price tag jumps to $3,600 to $15,200

The price you pay for your architect also depends on their experience level. For example, a principal architect, the firm's owner, typically charges $150 to $250 per hour. However, an intern architect with three to five years of experience usually only charges $45 per hour. 

After you’ve spoken with your contractor and agreed on a project, they’ll draw up blueprints, or plans, that the construction crew will use. The blueprint process can take between four and six months to complete. While this can seem like a long time, remember that the architect must communicate with your municipality to determine codes, communicate with you as the homeowner with any changes or adjustments, and coordinate with the construction crew. 

If you simply remodel your home or add an addition, the time to draw up the plans will be shorter since fewer permits and surveys are required. Even still, it’s best to plan for a few months for the architect to complete this part of the project.

Knowing if you need an architect for your project can be tricky, especially if you've never worked with one before. In general, small remodeling projects like replacing fixtures typically don't require the expertise of an architect. However, larger projects, like moving walls or adding an addition to your home, should include an architect to ensure the project is structurally sound.

The Costa Mesa, CA homeowners’ guide to architectural services

From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.