Customer Stories: Gale Vessels

Gale Vessels loves solving problems – and the concrete slab that sank nearly 4 inches in the middle of her driveway was a problem.

The youngest of seven, Gale grew up working and learning alongside her dad in the garage where “there wasn’t anything he couldn’t fix.” Similarly, after a career of internal audits, information security, and risk management, Gale is taking full advantage of retirement, or as she calls it: “living the big life”. She fills her time hosting grill-outs, building guitars, reading books, and taking on home improvement projects. But even decades of DIY experience would have a tough time dodging the obstacles in her driveway—literally.

“There were times I’d have to step on the gas a little bit to get over that uneven area of the driveway. I figured one day I was going to come out the other side of my garage,” she laughed. “It was almost like a cavern. I had no skill on how to improve that at all.”

Gale’s first reaction was to find someone to rip out and replace the concrete entirely. But after some research online, hearing her brother’s professional opinion, and even the recommendation from her neighborhood’s trusted concrete expert – she called A-1.

Rob Rasnick visited Gale to provide her free estimate, where he explained that the main culprit (among others) behind her concrete issues was water from her drain pipes flowing beneath her walkway and driveway, eroding the soil and causing the slabs to sink.

“They actually came with the initial quote, and I almost had a relapse in my DIY thinking because, you know, he mentioned pressure washing and sealing and I'm thinking I can pressure wash that. And then I thought, I'm 62 years old. I don't want to pressure wash that,” she chuckled. “So I quickly caught myself and thought, ‘Yeah, that's a very good idea.’”

Related Resource: Why Concrete Cleaning and Sealing May Be Right for You

The A-1 team came out within a couple of weeks, and over the span of just two days, Gale’s sinking driveway and walkway were leveled, pressure washed, and sealed. The cracks and gaps were also caulked and repaired.

Gale, however, was a bit bummed. She left town for a few days while the work was being done despite really, really wanting to watch the process in person. “Five days after it was completed, I pull up to my driveway, and I see what looks like a brand new driveway,” she recalls. “And I'm thinking, man, this looks good. I’m so glad I did this and what a treat it is to drive home to that versus what I left.”

With decades of built-up grime washed away, a “cavern” nowhere to be found, and a protected concrete surface, Gale can focus on what matters most… Living the big life.

“It's important to me that people do what they say they're going to do and A-1 did that.”

If you’re ready to learn more about A-1 Concrete Leveling’s concrete care services, visit Concrete Academy and request an estimate with a member of the A-1 team near you.