Painter's tape and dry erase markers are both solid ideas. A couple other things I've found useful:
- Snap quick photos with your phone. Easy to zoom in later, and timestamps help track progress.
- Keep a cheap notebook nearby—old-school, but no worries about smudging or accidental erasing.
- If you're dealing with pipes hidden behind drywall, jotting measurements on the wall itself (assuming you're repainting anyway) can save headaches.
Different methods work better depending on the situation, but having multiple options never hurts...
Photos are definitely handy, especially when you're halfway home and suddenly can't remember if that pipe was copper or PVC... Been there more times than I'd like to admit. Writing directly on the drywall is pretty clever too, as long as you're repainting—though I've had a homeowner give me a funny look or two over that one. Has anyone tried using voice memos? I've heard good things, but haven't gotten around to it myself yet.
Voice memos seem handy, but honestly, I prefer something visual. Quick glance beats listening through a recording, especially if you're in a noisy hardware store. I've scribbled notes on scrap wood or cardboard plenty of times—cheap and disposable. Ever tried marking pipes directly with colored tape or zip ties? Seems like it'd be quick and easy, but I'm curious if it holds up over time or just ends up confusing things later...
Colored tape seemed genius to me too, until my basement flooded and all the labels turned into soggy confetti... Zip ties held up better, but I forgot my own color code. Now I just sharpie directly on pipes—ugly but effective.
Sharpie on pipes is my go-to now too. Looks rough, but at least it stays put when things get messy. Live and learn, right?
