Q. I want to expand my home with an addition. Is it better to hire a building designer to draw up plans for what I want and then have contractors bid; or would it be better tohire an all-in-one design build contractor??

A. If you can afford it ..go with the architecht/designer and let them design it for you, as a painting contractor who works in the luxury home market , I see first hand some plans that come fron design/build co's and they can be pretty lackluster as they have a designer on staff who usually is not the most creative person, the builders who use outside designers always have nicer plans/homes.

Q. Can anyone recommend a good, remodeling contractor that does excellent carpentry?

A. I used Marrokal here in San Diego. Like someone else said, I don't know if they do work in Orange County. but, contact at least three companies to get preliminary estimates of what you want to do in general. Here's a couple of things to look for when choosing a contractor: Be wary of independent contractors, where a couple of guys do all of the required work instead of subcontracting the job out. The bigger general contractors usually have so much work going on that they use the same subcontractors for every job and this is the only work the subs take. This means that your job will not be delayed by a subcontractor who has a bunch of irons in the fire and decides to put your job on the back burner. Also, the bigger general contractors have reputations and relationships with the city building inspectors. So, they know what to anticipate when submitting building plans that might be a sticking point. The bigger general contractors also buy lots of building materials and suppliers will make their jobs a priority, so the general contractor will continue to use the supplier. Choose a company that is a design-build company. This means they have in-house architects to put the plans together. If you use an independent architect, he might put some design aspect into the plans that he has no idea how expensive it is. If you end up changing the design to eliminate an overly-expensive design aspect, you have to pay the architect to redo the plans. The general contractor should provide you with a list of references. Contact these people and ask what their experience was like. Drive by their house and look at the work. Any horror stories they tell you might save you the grief of having the same thing go wrong with your remodel.

Q. When remodeling a home,to confirm design eligibility do you need to have the same criteria as a architect or engineer or is there some where we can send the plans.

A. Typically, yes, you need to have not only the 'design' approved, but also the work itself. Cosmetic alterations arent usually a problem, but if you are altering the structure, electical, gas or plumbing lines, then often you are required to pull permits, have inspections, etc. Check with your local building codes enforcement (municipal or county, depending on where you live). Have Fun

Q. I just want to put the ones that I have on paper onto the computer but I haven't been successful so far. Is there any program that I can use to put these blueprints on the computer that are free?

A. Start your research here; http://www.google.com/search?q=free%20house%20design%20software&sourceid=groowe&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8 A Decorating & Interior Design Web Site Dedicated to Advice, Books, Services, Products, & Articles for the Home http://myinteriordecorator.com/ Make it a great day!

Q. That can provide me with working drawings and ideas over the interner. All what I should provide is the home drawings and plans, some real photos and my style preference. Do you know any companies that offer this service over the internet? Thanks. If for remodelling it is an issue due to different codes, what about the interior design? This would be easier I think.

A. Building codes differ from place to place. If you require any structural changes, you really need to be loacation specific. It will be difficult for anyone to work accurately on a project over the internet or by phone.

Q. ...INTERIOR & exterior I want to design the outside as well as the inside CUSTOM so we can SEE the rooms not just go off of blueprints- but needs to be EASY to use & truly customizable- not preloaded room designs etc...

A. Your Custom Home (DVD-Rom) With Your Custom Home on DVD-ROM, you get 11 complete products to help you build a new home, remodel, or refresh your tired decor! Home Architect: Design and Tour Your Dream Home in Realistic and Stunning 3D 3D WalkAbout Technology allows you to walk through your creations, climb the stairs, and peer over balconies--all in stunning 3D. Choose from over 2 million combinations of furnishings, appliances, colors, materials, and styles. Home Design Guide: Learn All There is to Know About Home Design and Decorating Get creative ideas and valuable advice from design professionals. Learn how to use and apply color, arrange furniture, achieve the best lighting, and much more. Photo Home Interiors: Decorate Around Photos of Your Own Home Import photos of your home's interior then discover all the exciting ways you can refresh and revitalize your rooms. Drag-and-drop 1,000+ objects, 3D furniture, and fixture models including wood, paint, wallpaper, and stone textures. Designer Rooms Library: View Professional Floor Plans and Fully Decorated Rooms

Q. I just want an average price that professionals charge for doing a irrigation plan.

A. Send your plans in to an irrigation company like hunter or rainbird and theyll send you the irrigation plans for free :)

Q. Where can I find/buy a database consisting of url, email address and mailing address of web development and web design companies?

A. Http://getafreelnacer.com/ provides free web site design , professional web design, web design company, custom website design, web design an development.