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What do you wear on your feet for roofing. I don’t do alot of roofing, usually only on something I’ve built. I’m doing 45 square on a barn I’ve built now. I’ve only been on the roof for three days and my feet are killing me.
I’ve tried boots with steel shanks figuring they would keep my feet from bending too much. Tried boots with no shanks figuring they would be soft and comfortable. Tried boots with fiberglass shanks because they must be somewhere in-between and it’s high tech enough to be better. Tried sneakers…nothings more comfortable than sneakers.
I’m wearing a four day old pair of Timberlands now and I’ve already worn through the toe right down to the steel. I’m still sheathing so It’s not like the rough shingles have worn a hole. And My feet still hurt!!!
I’m desperate. Help!!!
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Some days boots, some days sneakers. Depends on the pitch, and wether tear-off is underway. No, to steel toes. Work so that you can sit sideways, you should be able to cover six courses vertically and three horizonally that way. Then stand up and move... fetch shingles, whatever. The variety of movement will make your feet hurt less. Use brackets if over 8/12 pitch.
Your feet will hurt, it's a matter of how much.
*Ryan,Anymore, I wear tennis shoes when I roof. Back when I used to roof 9 1/2 mths. a year, I wore roofing shoes, which are still available. I wish I could remember the brand name. They cost about $80-90 now. I've got an old pair I just looked at, but no brand is visible. They are split leather, with extra layers on the sides, and a soft sole for better traction. I think Stephen Hazlett may know. I'll post back tomorrow.After I laid off roofing for the winter, it would take me about 2 weeks to get my feet and ankles used to roofing again. George is right, roofing is tough on the feet(and the knees, and the wrist,and the back!) It would also take about a week to break in the new shoes.John
*A good pair of low top Vans always seems best for me.
*I wear Nike ACG's, 3/4 top for decent support (broken ankles from roadracing) and enough flex to keep some tread on the surface, and not hot enough to sweat real bad. Seem to work for me.
*My computer has been on the blink for a couple weeks so I just saw this topic.I use roofing boots----I believe the brand is Thorogood or Durogaurd.My roofing materials supplier carries them($80-90).These are kind of funny looking ,when new they look a lot like bowling shoes.They have extra leather right where you need it----on the outside edge of the shoe----kind of like double knee pants.Soft soles that really grip well---with no tread.Also get a piece of foam rubber----like an old couch cushion,about 2'x2' or 3'x3'.sitting standing or kneeling on this will give you unbelievable traction,save a lot of wear and tear on you and the shingles,and greatly speed up the roofing.P.S. My helper was roofing in shorts 3-9-00 in N.E.OhioGood Luck,Stephen
*I usually wear rubber soled hiking boots...the ones that basically look like tennis shoes, and a piece of foam like Steve said. I did see a short article by our friend FredL on some new roofing boots from Couger Paw I think was the name. Looked pretty comfortable, might be worth a try.Dave
*Those roofing shoes from Thorogood are available from AJC Hatchet Co. Their web site is http://www.ajctools.comHi Stephen, I wondered where you been,although I did see you toolin' down Johnson Rd. last week-on one of those COLD days.John
*JRS, We were doing a tear-off and re-roof on johnson road last week,you should have stopped by to say hello.This house had been added onto about 3-4 times,had 3 different sheeting thicknesses,and the ridge line looked like the Loch Ness Monster.Luckily, Elk shingles made the whole thing look pretty good.I have been missing from here for a while due to an ongoing "discussion" with Comp USA regaurding the warranty on my monitor.I have owned the machine for 16 months with a 36 month extended warranty.Monitor dies and CompUSA says giving me a new HP Monitor(with a 12 month manufactures warranty) in exchange for my dead Compaq monitor, fullfills Comp USA's 36 month warranty! I told CompUsa's teenage wonder child that my humble calculations show I am being screwed out of about 8 months extended warranty on the monitor. CompUsa says stuff it,cause the New monitor costs more than I paid for the whole warranty.So taking a lesson from CompUsa,here is my new business plan.AFTER completing a customers roof I will now offer to sell an extended warranty on the roof.For an additional 10% of the cost of the just installed,Brand spanking new roof ,I will "warranty the roof" for 3 years.16 months after the roof is installed I will return to the customer,clean his gutters out ,and inform him I have fullfilled his 3 year warranty.Think I will get away with it? I wonder how CompUSA gets away with it?Good Luck All,Stephen