Blue Collar Scholars did excellent work on our fence and gate project. Juan and Gustavo are excellent craftsmen -- the workmanship is top-notch and everything was done with real care. Nicholas was an excellent thought partner as we worked through design options, and Laura was a great project manager who kept the whole thing on track and communicated clearly throughout. Highly recommend. read more

See all

Very disappointing experience, especially given their high rating. We signed an agreement with Blue Collar Scholars at the end of June for a new front and back fence and paid several thousand dollars toward the project. We understood that permitting could take time, particularly because our home is in a historic district, and our contract did not guarantee a completion date. My issue is not that the permit has taken time, it is how little they seem to have done during the time they could control. Before hiring them, my wife had already attempted to submit the permit application herself. It took her about two hours to put everything together, and the application was returned because an architectural drawing was required. We gave Blue Collar Scholars all of the paperwork from that attempt when we signed, so they knew exactly what was needed. Yet throughout July, we were repeatedly told they were "gathering documents" and "finalizing" the application. The architect they work with didn't come out to take measurements until August. Since coordinating their architect is within the contractor's control, we cannot understand why this wasn't done in July while they were supposedly "preparing" the permit application. It is now September 29, more than three months after signing and paying the deposit, and we have no fence and no approved permit. We've now been told there were comments on the application and that installation will take another 3-4 weeks AFTER the permit is approved. I don't blame them for DC permitting delays or historic-district requirements. I do blame them for failing to use the time efficiently and for providing vague, noncommittal updates instead of clearly communicating what was actually happening. After more than three months and several thousand dollars paid toward the project, having no fence and no approved permit is an extremely frustrating experience. Based on my experience, I would not recommend Blue Collar Scholars. read more

They were over priced for the work that was required. I requested a sidewalk, 4-5 steps and a parking pad be installed. This company wanted $27k for a small job w/o visual inspection. Crazy work. read more

We had sod installation done by Blue Collar Scholars on part of our front and side yard (about 1000 square feet). They quoted an excellent price so we made a deposit of half of the price and we established a date in the fall to do the installation. They came with two people on the exact date we requested and they proceeded to do an excellent preparation of the area to be sodded by removing some weeds, roto-tilling and levelling that took many hours. It was more work than we had expected since the proposal only specified "light site preparation". On the next day they arrived with the sod and proceeded to do an excellent job of installing, watering and rolling it. When they were finished it looked beautiful. The men were very accommodating to our requests and very pleasant to work with. Based on our experience we would highly recommend Blue Collar Scholars to other customers. read more

Nice quality of work and finished on time. I liked the estimate format. It was very detailed and the cost/due dates were clear. Everyone I worked with was very nice. Esteban did a great job and I enjoyed working with him. Thank you! read more

Do you know how Disneyland makes magic happen? Well, BCS turned a botched job from another contractor into our backyard oasis. That's as close to magic that I can think of here in Virginia! The other contractor on Yelp didn't have the proper insurance when we were going through HOA submission and just kept dragging us along even after they started the work. We went through weeks of searching for companies and most companies didn't have the actual proper insurance and license to work in Virginia. Once blue collar scholars took over, the job got on track and communication was perfect. During the permitting, inspection scheduling, framing, and finishing portions of the job. We now have a custom gazebo and a full Trex deck that our whole family loves during the spring, summer and fall months. When it is warm in the winter, we are also out on it as well. This job was completed in the summer of 2023 and we are now using them for some interior work. read more

See all

We completed a large backyard renovation with blue-collar scholars in the fall . Their structural engineer was so easy to work with through the design and permitting stage. I am thoroughly impressed with the two crews on the ground and how clean they kept the job area and how thorough they were with all of the details. We built a very large stone retaining wall, which has expanded our backyard significantly to allow a lot more space. Even talking to the inspector, he said that blue collar has always been easy to work with getting inspections passed. Anyone interested on how big this foundation is for our wall??? Code required it that way! read more

Blue Collar Scholars - Footing for retaining wall - Masonry/Concrete Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

See all

Ice, camera, action!!! All of Bethesda went absolutely crazy during this January snowstorm. We had to call over 40 companies before we could get an answer and blue collar scholars was the only one that answered the phone and was able to get us on the schedule on Monday. Their team was able to get out the next day and we watched almost every second of their work. What a ton of ice! They literally had to pickax and use other tools to break up the ice first before being able to move the snow and ice. We had two neighbors who got charged around $3500 EACH to clean their two car driveway and walkway system. Can you believe that???? Blue collar scholars pricing was reasonable, but not cheap to be fair, and definitely lower than what my neighbors paid. I was able to put in our List Serve their direct number and it looks like they're able to take care of some of the neighborhood as well. read more

See all

Blue Collar Scholars were great to work with. We had several issues with our aging wrought iron fence, and Blue Collar Scholars knew exactly how to fix it at a very reasonable price. From the initial estimate to the completion of work, Esteban and his team were on time, clean, efficient, thorough, and most importantly, took pride in their work. Esteban and his team made sure every detail was covered and were in close communication the entire time. Great experience and great work. Highly recommend. read more

You have no idea what my project involves so don't try and blame it on permitting. It is a deck resurfacing that is now in its 4th week and not completed. Communication at this company is terrible. I have to tell construction professionals what they've done wrong and ask for information that takes weeks. Deck surfaces should be flat without tripping hazards. Access panels need some way to access. When you hire a deck builder you think they might know this. Nightmare. read more

I scheduled them, but They didn't show up at our arranged time. So not really anything to review other than unreliable.

Blue Collar Scholar installed a handrail for the three steps outside our front door. I had been told by others that it would be difficult to install a handrail on flagstone, but it didn't faze these guys. We needed the job done quickly, which required some problem-solving on their part, since they couldn't get the custom handrail they wanted in time. The crew of two were on time, respectful, careful, and thorough. The handrail looks great and is exactly what we needed. read more

They did a nice job installing an aluminum handrail along a wide expanse of cement patio stairs that needed to closely match the existing railing around the house. The work was neat and the clean up was excellent. The price was very fair, too. I didn't want to call just any handyman for this because not everyone can work with cement. I'm already asking for a quote on additional small jobs. Highly recommend them. (They are booked in advance but if it's an emergency let them know in case they can try to accommodate you). read more

Blue Collar Scholars - Masonry/Concrete Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

See all

STAY AWAY! Be warned: Blue Collar Scholars employs predatory contracting and pricing practices. I used them for snow removal for a small 50 sq ft patio and sidewalk. The job was done well, but i was charged nearly $1000 for the job, with BCS citing it took approximately 10 man hours to complete (3 man crew). Having done much shoveling the recent winter myself, I was empathetic to a higher cost, but their invoice for such a small area was completely unrealistic and downright predatory. I did both my driveway and my neighbors driveway in half the time. On top of that debacle; and given i was forced to sign a routine maintenance contract (for a one off job), they then showed up to salt before a light dusting - charging me over $300 to salt the exact same small patio. That was example #2 of their outrageous predatory pricing, backed up by their absurdly worded contract. Extremely disapointed, I cancelled the contract and attempted to negotiate the price down to a reasonable range. They responded by threatening to sue me. I'm putting this out there as a warning. Before contacting them, you should know this company employs a toolbox of: 1. Predatory contracting practices (terms completely one-sided to owner) 2. Predatory pricing practices/invoicing 3. Heavy handed dispute resolution practices. I would strongly recommend you avoid Blue Collar Scholars unless you have a perchance for being bent over a barrel financially and also enjoy the thrill from receiving legal threats. If those things are up your alley, these are your guys! read more

They do good work but are extremely expensive. You will pay over $800 for an average driveway and front yard for snow removal.

Blue Collar Scholars installed sliding closet doors for me. They were professional and the quote was competitive. They cleaned up nicely after the job and reviewed it with me. read more

David Aragon was the manager in charge of our project. I would give his customer service six stars if that were an option. The employees who plowed our driveway were conscientious and professional. I would definitely use them again. read more

What began as a stressful situation with another contractor quickly turned into one of the best decisions we've ever made when we hired Blue Collar Scholars. Their team took what started as a nightmare -- after we initially hired a small contractor with only a couple of reviews who completely botched the job -- and turned it into an absolute success story. Blue Collar Scholars stepped in, reassessed everything with true professionalism, and saved the entire project. The attention to detail and quality of work are unmatched. The new addition was built with a fully waterproofed crawlspace, giving us peace of mind for the long term. Inside, the natural hardwood floors flow beautifully throughout the space, and custom windows now overlook the backyard, creating a warm, open feel filled with natural light. They even planted privacy trees along the entire perimeter of the yard, and in just a couple of years we'll have complete privacy -- something we've always wanted. The kitchen has been completely transformed. It's now open and inviting, with natural cherry cabinets and granite countertops that make the space both functional and stunning. The electrical work was done flawlessly, giving us perfect lighting that connects seamlessly from the addition into the open kitchen. The master bathroom was expanded, and we now have a beautiful walk-in closet that has completely elevated how we use our space. They also solved drainage issues the right way, installing two dry wells that ensure the property remains protected even after heavy rains. The deck extension was built with Island Mist Trex and accented with sleek black aluminum railings -- a perfect combination of durability and style. Just off the addition and deck, they created a gorgeous Techo-Bloc patio where we now gather around fires in the fall. Every step of the way, the planning, design, and craftsmanship were top-notch. Even other contractors who have since been on the property have complimented the quality of the work. From the crawlspace to the custom finishes, Blue Collar Scholars delivered beyond expectations, and we are absolutely thrilled with the results. My kids were really excited about the framing/electrical and drywell portion of the job so I'll post pics of the process! read more

See all

Got a quote back super quick and reasonable! Then the issues started, paid the deposit to get put on schedule and it took 1 month to get scheduled. The estimate was unclearly worded causing an issue and there were weeks of delays to this. Very poor communication throughout the project. Only able to communicate by email with project. Project team never came to see my project. They hired a subcontractor to do the entire project. Subcontractor was no call and no show on several occasions and I was not told. read more

I was contacted by Blue Collar and set up another appt. with another estimator to review my project and received a ballpark estimate of what the costs would be before the final version via email. read more

This company completely replaced my driveway and walkway system in June 2025. I honestly don't know how we lived in this house without it! It's the first thing we see we when we come home and every piece of the concrete driveway with stone bordering looks flawless. The only problem was that we could not use salt this year as they told us not to use any ice melt or salt so there was some ice during this past storm. We were able to manage that luckily thru being careful. read more

A great job on bracing my retaining wall. The crew were hard workers and professionals. Glad I chose Blue.Collar Scholars! read more

We were very happy with their spring cleaning yard work. They advised us on pruning and pruned the bushes just as I asked, with a natural effect. They followed instructions and offered suggestions when asked. Thank you! read more

Their architect and structural engineer were very easy to work with. The entire permitting process in Montgomery County was easy using blue-collar scholars. We removed a couple of walls on the first floor and created an open concept kitchen, as well as extended a sunroom off of the dining room area. We went with an all white cabinet set with marble countertops for the kitchen, and we used natural hardwood floors throughout. read more

BCS has been maintaing drainage swales at my property for years. They do a meticulous job, keeping drainage features looking and functioning at their best! BCS also maintains the trees, landscaping and even my rain gutters. Christian and his crew are really knowledgeable about tree species, health and diseases. I really appreciate how they work. read more

The team installed a new fence for me and planted some trees for privacy. They did a great job.

They were professional and pleasant, and did exactly what I had hoped. I will use them again.

Sam and his staff did a fantastic job building us a stone patio. Some highlights: - Their quote was competitive. It was difficult for me to find landscapers who were comfortable working with stone who had more than 10 reviews. Sometimes you might save $1000 by working with a smaller company, but it's not worth it to efficiency and professionalism. - Scheduling was very easy. I was planning to leave town and they were able to squeeze me in the same week. - The whole job took 2 days and the crew was very respectful with a thorough cleanup. - The quality craftsmanship is very obvious in the curved boundary. In addition, the employees are well taken care of here and that's really important when you're selecting a local small business to support. read more

Blue Collar Scholars - Masonry/Concrete Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

This business terrible. Was quoted $200 for a snow removal job. Then they changed the amount to over $1000 and received another invoice for $200. Totally unethical. They employ deviois and unethical tactics. They were only tasked with shoveling my driveway (short) and clearing a small area around mailbox. It is only a 1/4 lot in total. This is a very sleazy business. It is horrible to quote one amount and charge another. Awful Busines Do Not Use Them. read more

Scheduled appointment with Parker was canceled due to contractor's arrival 45 minutes late. Scheduled appointment was at 1:30 PM. Parker called me at 1:30 PM saying he was running late and would arrive around 1:45. I said fine, no problem. Contractor actually arrived at 2:15. Sent contractor away explaining that I don't want a contractor who can't show up on time or within a reasonable time to do work for me. That's not a good sign when choosing a contractor. read more

We hired Blue Collar Scholars to install concrete steps in our backyard. Although their prices were higher than other quotes we thought going with with what seemed like a larger, more professional company would be worth it. However, that turned out not to be the case. The work was initially delayed, and then Blue Collar sent two laborers to our house, who seemed very confused about what they were supposed to do. Communication with workers on site was poor and significantly hampered by language issues. The stairs they initially installed looked very amateurish - they had visible dips in the concrete, the edges of the steps were completely uneven, and the wood railing had jagged edges inside and out. They also left drill holes in our brickwork. Blue Collar did fix these issues quickly when we raised them, but the work was so unprofessionally done the first time around - there is something clearly lacking in quality control. Once fixed, the work was ok, but I don't feel that it was worth the amount we paid. Based on our experience, I could not recommend. read more

Great collaboration with this team! Little shaky in the beginning about communication but once we touched based again communication was superb. The work in the extension and kitchen was done excellently and will use again :) Great work done by Jordan, Julie and William read more

The estimator arrived on time, was knowledgeable, and answered all my questions. He then quoted a price that was more than double the next highest bid. I told him that his number was way out of line based on three other bids that I had already gotten and asked him why that would be the case and he really didn't have a good answer. read more

They did a fantastic job screening in our gazebo. They finished it quickly at a great price. We have not had a single mosquito in the gazebo since. read more

Just to nail down a date/time to meet to access the project and provide a quote was too challenging and not respectful of my time. I can only imagine what challenges would have occurred for the actual project. I will not be looking to Blue Collar Scholars for any future work. read more

We used this company eight years ago for their lawn and landscape design. They have a fantastic newsletter they send out a couple times a month that I have been following. It has been truly impressive to watch them grow and keep adding more high-quality services to their portfolio. We have always thought about adding an addition to our home and I finally caved in and replied to one of their newsletters that gave tips on what to do and what not to do during a remodel. I set up an appointment with one of their, and I was truly impressed by the professionalism and knowledge that the team had. Not only that, but they had also completely built out a home on my street eight doors down. We moved forward with the design process and they gave us a couple of options with different budgets. The permitting and design stage took about four months and then the actual construction took around six months. We now have two new full bathrooms and a total of four more rooms with a lot of extra space. I do have an extreme attention to detail, and I was thoroughly impressed that they had separate teams to perform each craft. Their plumbers, painters, bathroom team and kitchen team did fabulous work. Communication was always great and they even were able to accommodate to changes during the construction. In all, I'm truly grateful for this company and will continue to recommend them to friends and neighbors. read more

BlueCollar was stellar from the start to the end. We contracted them to fix some front yard water leaks. Jordan came to assess the situation - during that engagement he was both engaged yet made sure he was not operating as a pushy salesman. He went back to his team and they assessed the best way to fix was to excavate and waterproof a section along with some regrading, as well as replace some pipes. Communication was excellent during the sell process. When it came to doing the work, I quite expected a disconnected team asking me basic questions that we had already discussed prior. I was pleasantly surprised when the team who came in were not just well informed on what was needed, but they actually asked me what else I needed while they work. I also appreciated the fact that there was always one person who I could communicate effectively with. This is generally not the case with many teams who arrive after the contract is signed. The contract said they'd excavate as much as needed. Frankly in my case, it wasn't more than 2 ft, but as they dug they opined that its better to dig to the foundation based on what they saw. They asked me if it was ok to dig further. Obviously, I asked if the price would change and they said no. They dug all the way down to 11ft. I was frankly surprised. They thought they needed to dig further down, and only after going to 11ft did they tell me further digging was going to cost more. I went with their recommendation, also super impressed they dug so far without cost. When it comes to quality of work, it was top notch. No stone was left unturned, from grading to high quality considerations on pipe replacement, water proofing and much more. At the end, they pretty much put my front yard area back to original stage include refreshing the riverbed they disrupted, adding new mulch and more. All through the process, they kept my property clean. I also appreciated the fact that they kept that area covered well to weather rains etc. Overall, I found them to be high quality and took pride and ownership in their work. I'd highly recommend them for any work. read more

We had an excellent experience with Blue Collar Scholars installing a set of ikea cabinets in our kitchen. We went with them instead of the ikea installers because BCS did demo and all needed plumbing (minor, like detaching and reattaching the sink and dishwasher) and ikea wouldn't, for comparable prices. We're so glad we went with them. Roberto and his crew were fantastic at every step of the process. When any functional or aesthetic questions came up, they clearly explained our options and their recommendations. There was no upsell, though we did decide to add on a few tasks based on issues we only saw once the old cabinets were removed. Even though this was a small job compared to big custom kitchens, it really felt like they cared about the quality of the work and how happy we would be with the resulting kitchen. Also, all of the company stuff were lovely to communicate with and very responsive. Would definitely strongly recommend the company and would hire them for future work. read more

Quoted us $15,000 for three steps with railing coming off our back deck. Other quotes came in between $2,000 and $5,000. They essentially wanted to charge us $5,000 a step. I would not recommend this business - they are just trying to price gauge consumers. If they didn't want to do the job, they should have just said so. read more

The entire team at Blue Collar Scholars is professional, kind, and knowledgeable. They were fantastic to work with on everything from navigating permits, design, and materials. Would (and will) work with them again! read more