The Kulka Group

We’re thrilled to welcome Liam Murphy to the Kulka team as our new Assistant Estimator! Liam joins us with a strong foundation in construction project management and estimating and has a keen eye for detail. His passion for the industry and drive to grow make him a perfect fit for our team as we continue delivering high-quality projects. Please join us in welcoming Liam to the team! #BuildYourDream

We’re proud to announce that Kulka, LLC is now officially certified as a New York State Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)! This certification is a testament to our ongoing commitment to excellence, diversity, and building stronger communities across New York. As we continue to grow, this milestone opens new doors for partnerships, projects, and opportunities to make an even greater impact. A big thank you to our dedicated team and all our partners who continue to support our journey. #BuildYourDream #MBECertified #NYStateMBE #BuildingTheFuture #Kulka50YearsStrong

It’s a privilege to collaborate with such an outstanding organization and support them in bringing their project to life! #buildyourdream

Why Interest Rates are the Most Important Component to the Construction Industry: This week on January 29th the Federal Reserve will meet to decide what to currently due with the federal interest rates. The Obvious reason is that when interest rates rise, borrowing costs for construction loans increase, making it more expensive to finance projects. The less obvious reason is higher interest rates drive up cap rates because investors compare real estate returns to other investments like bonds. As bond yields rise with higher rates, investors demand higher cap rates to justify the risk of real estate investments. This increase in cap rates reduces property values, creating challenges for developers by shrinking profit margins and making it harder to sell or refinance newly developed properties.

An auger pile is a type of deep foundation element used in construction, created by drilling a hole into the ground with a rotating helical auger and then filling it with concrete or grout, sometimes reinforced with steel. It is commonly used to support heavy structures, especially in soils where shallow foundations are not feasible. #buildyourdream

2024 was a year of growth, challenges, and milestones. From new partnerships to exciting projects, we pushed boundaries and made an impact. Here’s a look back at the moments that defined our journey. Thank you to everyone who was part of it—here’s to an even bigger 2025! #BuildYourDream

The Different Levels of Drywall Finish: Level 0: No taping, finishing, or accessories required.? This level of finish may be useful in temporary construction or whenever the final decoration has not been determined. Level 1:?Joint tape exposed, bare fasteners.?Tool marks and ridges are acceptable.?In some geographic areas, this level is referred to as “fire-taping.” Frequently specified in plenum areas above ceilings, in attics, in areas where the assembly would generally be concealed or in building service corridors, and other areas not normally open to public view. Level 2:?Joint tape embedded, one coat on fasteners. Tool marks and ridges are acceptable. Joint compound applied over the body of the tape at the time of tape embedment shall be considered a separate coat of joint compound and shall satisfy the conditions of this level. Specified where gypsum board is used as a substrate for tile; may be specified in garages, warehouse storage or other similar areas where surface appearance is not of primary concern. Level 3:?One coat atop embedded joint tape, two coats on fasteners. Free of tool marks and ridges. Typically specified in appearance areas which are to receive heavy- or medium-textured (spray or hand applied) finishes before final painting, or where heavy-grade wall coverings are to be applied as the final decoration. This level of finish is not recommended where smooth painted surfaces or light to medium wall coverings are specified. Level 4:?Two coats atop embedded joint tape, three coats on fasteners. All joint compound shall be smooth and free of tool marks and ridges. This level should be specified where flat paints, light, textures, or wall coverings are to be applied.?Paints with sheen levels other than flat and enamel paints are not recommended over this level of finish. Unbacked vinyl wallcoverings are not recommended over this level of finish. Level 5:?Two coats atop embedded joint tape, three coats on fasteners, “skim coat” of joint compound on the entire surface.?The surface shall be smooth and free of tool marks and ridges. This level of finish is highly recommended where non-flat paint is specified or where severe lighting conditions occur.?This highest quality finish is the most effective method to provide a uniform surface and minimize the possibility of joint photographing and of?fasteners?showing through the final decoration.

Our CEO Devin Kulka, recently took part in the "Constructing Tomorrow: A&E and Construction Outlook" event, organized by HIA-LI, the Long Island Contractors' Association, Inc., and the Long Island Builders Institute. The panel, moderated Carl Oliveri of Grassi , included industry leaders Jimmy Coughlan of Tritec Real Estate, Robert Brewer of Grassi, and Rich Humann of H2M architects + engineers. Together, they reviewed findings from Grassi’s in-depth industry survey. Their conversation shed light on critical trends and pressing challenges currently influencing the #construction sector, offering attendees a forward-looking perspective on the industry. #buildyourdream

We’re always excited about firsts, and this marked our first self-storage facility project. Looking ahead, our 2025 pipeline includes one, possibly two, more self-storage projects. Thank you Barone Management LLC and Knickpoint Ventures for giving us this opportunity. #builyourdream #selfstorage