JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph is in the midst of a roof replacement program that will result in new roofs for five hangars, including two hangars that house three flying training squadrons.
When the $6.9 million program is completed, hangars 12, 41, 61, 64 and 75 will have new roofs. Hangar 12 is home to the 99th FTS and the 560th FTS, while hangar 64 houses the 559th FTS.
“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the construction agent for the roof replacements,” said Tom Moore, 502nd Civil Engineer Squadron project manager and liaison with the corps. “They approve submittals, inspect the work, check for safety procedures and do the final inspections.”
In addition to the installation of new metal roofing material, the project requires the replacement of the roof substrate, gutters and downspouts.
Age and the elements take their toll on roofs, which have a life expectancy of 35 to 40 years, Moore said.
“It’s time to replace them when they’re leaking on a habitual basis,” he said. “It’s especially important in hangars where aircraft are kept because you don’t want them subjected to moisture.”
The roofs also have a preservation function – ensuring the integrity of flying squadrons’ memorabilia.
“In addition to training up over 100 T-38 instructors per year, our squadron hosts numerous high-profile events, including the annual Freedom Flyer Reunion,” said Lt. Col. Jonathan Elza, 560th FTS commander. “The newly renovated roof makes the building look pristine and keeps it watertight. This is extremely important, as many of the relics from the Freedom Flyer era are housed and displayed in the squadron.
“Ensuring those mementos from our rich lineage are preserved is an important part of being able to continue carrying the message of heroism and resiliency of our nation’s heroes to all of our visitors,” Elza said.
Another round of roof replacements at JBSA-Randolph is scheduled to begin this fall. Buildings 200, 861, 905, 977 and 1039, which all have flat roofs, will feature polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, roofing, which is easier to repair and more durable than the present bituminous material, Moore said. Building 499’s roof is made of the clay tile that is characteristic of structures throughout JBSA-Randolph.
“Those roofs are well past their life expectancy,” he said.
The Air Force Installation Contracting Agency will handle that project, Moore said.