Andersen patios receive facelift through housing project

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Carissa Wolff
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --  Team Andersen recently kicked off a housing project that will replace nearly 400 base housing patios. The project is scheduled to be completed May 21 and will cost about $1 million. 

Base resident's calls for service were heard after many called housing officials and submitted work orders requesting patio repair.

"The patios being replaced were small, some were damaged and others needed to be renovated," said Staff Sgt. Michael Harper, 36th Civil Engineer Squadron chief of Simplified Acquisition and Base Engineering Requirements construction. "Not every patio in housing is being replaced; some are simply without need of repair. We are working jointly with the Guam Construction company and the 36th Contracting Squadron to make this project come together smoothly." 

To date, 307 patios have been replaced or repaired, putting the project ahead of schedule.

"We believe the patio project will be finished long before its estimated completion date," Sergeant Harper said.

Each patio takes about five days to repair, according to Sergeant Harper. The contractors must follow stringent policies and procedures.

"First, a safety and construction fence must be installed. This is followed by leveling out the ground," Sergeant Harper said. "Once the ground has been leveled, we construct a rebar grid and set forms in place. Finally, the concrete is poured over the rebar. During the whole process, SABER inspectors perform daily inspections to ensure the construction meets all requirements."

So far, housing residents are pleased with the patio construction results.

"Before our new patio was constructed, we had a very small patio; we could barely fit our grill on it and move around at the same time," said Staff Sgt. Matthew Hamblen, 734th Air Mobility Squadron passenger service agent. "Now, we have parties where 10 or more people sit on the patio."

Once SABER construction has finished the housing patio project, it will move onto a new quality of life project.

"With the joint military buildup, we are leaning forward to meet mission requirements and obtain better quality of life for Andersen," Sergeant Harper said.