8/25/2023 0 Comments Cougar paw roofing bootsThe summer heat required an early morning start, but heavy dew condensed on the metal overnight prevented it. Last summer, I provided six pairs of standard Cougar Paws boots with replaceable pads to a local roofing contractor about to install 36 squares of clear-coated Galvalume panels on a 10:12 pitch roof with multiple gables, dormers and valleys. But, the recent advent of the Cougar Paws SteelWalker ® mag-boot would soon change everything. Stopping to scuff the pads every time before ascending or descending the access ladder further extended the function of the pads while working on metal. I built a plywood scuff-board with several asphalt shingles attached and set it up with a folding chair near the bottom of the roof’s access ladder. Without refreshing a new contact surface, metal particles on older roofs or other substances would accumulate in the pores of the pads and eventually lose traction. The slow erosion of the outer layer of the replaceable pad caused by the abrasive mineral surface of shingles, does not occur on metal roofing. Instead of being naturally abraded, the pores in these replaceable pads would become clogged with fine construction dust and debris, eventually leading to less traction. The inexpensive, consumable Velcro-mounted pads are meant to be periodically replaced before advanced erosion.ĭan and I both noticed years ago that working as little as a day or two on metal the original pads became less effective. Over time, small particles of the outer rubber are removed by natural abrasion from the mineral or wood shingle surfaces, and a new layer of the micro-perforated compound is revealed below. The micro pores within the pad’s rubber compound are the key to the superior adhesion on most types of roofing, hence my nickname “Glue Shoes.” Although the manufacturer no longer recommends it, until recently I used these boots with replaceable rubber pads for years while accessing both steel and aluminum roof panels on my own home and outbuildings. The original Cougar Paws became the only boots I wear while roofing or conducting elevated training exercises. Soon thereafter, Cougar Paws began further research and development of an 8-inch high leather roofing boot using Donaldson’s patented magnetic design, specifically for the steep pitch steel roofing and ironworking trades in North America. Donaldson invented, designed and manufactured an excellent roofing shoe for the low pitch roofs in Australia, where steel roofing dominates the market. A year before that, Cougar’s company entered into a licensing agreement with Ben Donaldson, founder of M-Roofer Magnetic Roofing Shoes Co., a patent holder based in Merewether, Australia. Last year, Dan Cougar, owner and CEO, contacted me to conduct further static load performance tests on a newly-designed roofing boot with magnetic soles. Since then, I’ve tested, worn and written about Cougar Paws boots several times for RC. I was first introduced to Cougar Paws ® boots in the winter of 1999 at the first Northeast Roofing Contractors Association (NERCA) Convention in Boston.
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