E.L. Bulach Construction Company

Celebrating 40 Years of Decorative Concrete Work

Juliet Farmer,ConcreteNetwork.Com Columnist

This is a big year for Steve Bulach, President and Owner of E.L. Bulach Construction Company located in Inver Grove Heights, Minn. Both Bulach and his father Ebbie are enjoying the fruits of their labor in the form of 40 successful years in the decorative concrete business. But as Bulach is quick to point out, the fact that he's the third generation in this line of work is a feat in itself.

The first generation was Bulach's great uncle, who in 1948 was a small contractor with one pickup truck. Ebbie, who came to the U.S. from Germany, was a tool and die maker by trade but didn't speak English, so he worked for his uncle until he picked up the language.

Ebbie enjoyed the trade so much that he bought the company from his uncle and renamed it E.L. Bulach Construction. Ebbie hired and trained all of E.L. Bulach's employees, instilling in them his German craftsmanship and regard for timeliness. "In Germany all tradesmen have to have three years of apprenticeship," Ebbie explains. "They are detailed, precise and always striving to improve."

When Ebbie's company embarked in the decorative industry, color was relatively unknown and he says there was little research about it. "I used colors but the results weren't always very good," he admits. "As a result, everybody (in the industry) was hesitant to use it."

Ebbie sought out the experts, and trained with the Bomanite corporation in 1972 in Palo Alto, California. "After that, I was sold." And to prove it, Ebbie bought a license and became the first Bomanite franchisee in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest.

With Bomanite as a launching pad for decorative concrete, E.L. Bulach Construction has continued to grow and expand its product lines. "As with every generation, Steve brought new insights, and as a result, we expanded our capabilities and market share," says Ebbie.

Today, Bulach Construction offers a wide array of services including imprinted concrete, chemical stains, micro-top and thin-set overlays, concrete countertops, grinding and polishing, maintenance and restoration, specialty and custom work.

Forty years of experience enables Bulach Construction to work alongside architects, engineers, landscape architects, interior designers, other contractors and homeowners to plan and create specifications of architectural concrete design development. They are capable of assisting with the design, development and specifications for a variety of projects including large municipal projects, retail spaces, kitchen countertops, pool decks and backyard patios.

When it comes to residential work, Bulach pays close attention to area weather and climate "Obviously we have to be careful – what you learn and see in California you can't always do here. So, we're making breakthroughs in areas other than color, such as sandblasting and seeding," Steve explains.

Ebbie adds that the industry has been looking for a substitute building material for some time now, and concrete is that substitute. "It's biodegradable, economical, durable in any climate, and it's very versatile. Concrete has been around about 2,000 years, we are constantly challenged to expand its capabilities and applications...concrete will be with us for many years to come," he adds.

The company's commitment to its customers and passion for its work has not gone unnoticed. Their showroom wall boasts 17 regional and 14 national awards. One of the most recent high-profile, award-winning projects was Excelsior & Grand, an imprinted pool deck with specialty banding and steps and adjoining outdoor patio area, designed for a combined use residential living and commercial shopping development in St. Louis Park.

One of Bulach's distinct capabilities involves an extensive sampling lab, which per the request of an architect or designer will create any color and/or finish sample in two to three days. "By doing sampling we show initiative and add design perspective, and it also keeps us at the forefront for potential jobs," Steve explains of his philosophy behind the service.

When asked about ways his business is evolving, Steve comments on two areas. "First, we're working more with interior designers, whereas in the past it was more with architects and landscape architects," he says, adding that they are also doing a lot more interior floors, as well as staining, decorative saw cutting, countertops and fireplace hearths.

Secondly, he says, the company is investing significant time and money into research and development. The current focus is on concrete polishing and grinding, with money being spent on equipment. "This should open up a whole new market for us for both new and existing concrete," Steve explains.

Both of these tracts will help him reach his ultimate goal – to bridge the workflow gap between fall and spring, because he says the harsh winter conditions dictate exterior working conditions. "We're presenting innovative ideas to area architects...and closing that (seasonal) gap every year due to more interior products," he states.

As the owner of a business with four decades of history and tremendous future potential, Steve is always looking ahead. The company was recently changed to Bulach Construction, and a new "look" was created to position Bulach for the future. "We are the innovators in our region for architectural concrete, and we will continue to be a design and product leader," says Steve.

Bulach Construction Company's upcoming 40-year celebration will be complete with a big open house scheduled for mid-July, as well as updates to both their logo and website. "We're making changes as a catalyst for our next 40 years," Steve says.

E. L. Bulach Construction Co.
Jim Turitto
1870 50th Street E., Suite 14
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077
(651) 455-3384
(651) 455-2345 FAX
Send Mail Now - Click Here
www.bulachconstruction.com

Visit the E.L. Bulach Construction Co. web site

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