Painter's tape definitely beats masking tape in damp areas. Had a minor leak under the kitchen sink last year, and masking tape labels turned into a soggy mess...lesson learned. Painter's tape held up way better—plus, clearer labels mean fewer mistakes, and fewer mistakes mean fewer headaches down the line.
"Painter's tape held up way better—plus, clearer labels mean fewer mistakes, and fewer mistakes mean fewer headaches down the line."
Couldn't agree more about painter's tape. I remember a job where the homeowner had labeled all the shut-off valves with masking tape. Of course, the basement flooded after a storm, and those labels turned into unreadable mush...spent way too long figuring out what went where. Painter's tape would've saved me a good hour of frustration. Curious though, anyone tried labeling with permanent markers directly on pipes? Seems practical, but I've seen mixed results over time...
I've tried permanent marker labels directly on pipes before, and honestly, results were mixed at best. On PVC or copper, it fades pretty quickly, especially if there's moisture or sunlight exposure. One workaround I've found helpful is clear packing tape over the marker—keeps the ink protected and readable longer. Still, painter's tape is usually simpler and more reliable overall.
"Painter's tape would've saved me a good hour of frustration."
Exactly my experience too...
Painter's tape is definitely a solid choice, but I've had mixed luck with it myself. It works great indoors or in dry areas, but if you're labeling pipes in damp basements or outdoors, it can peel off or get soggy pretty quickly. Learned that the hard way after labeling a bunch of outdoor irrigation lines—came back a month later to find half the labels curled up and unreadable.
One trick I've found helpful is using aluminum foil tape (the kind HVAC techs use). You can write directly on it with a permanent marker, and it sticks like crazy even in damp conditions. Plus, the reflective surface makes it easy to spot labels in dimly lit crawl spaces or basements. The downside is it's pricier than painter's tape and can be a pain to remove if you ever need to relabel or adjust things later on.
Another thing I've tried is printing labels on waterproof vinyl stickers. Sounds fancy, but you can actually buy sheets of printable vinyl online pretty cheaply and run them through a regular inkjet printer. Once they're stuck on, they're pretty much bulletproof—no fading, no peeling, even outdoors. Of course, this requires planning ahead and isn't as quick as scribbling something down with a Sharpie, but if you're labeling something important or long-term, it's worth the extra effort.
Honestly though, for quick-and-dirty labeling indoors, painter's tape is still my go-to. Just make sure you press it down firmly and avoid touching the adhesive side too much before applying—it'll stick better and last longer that way.
I've had similar issues with painter's tape outdoors—it's great for quick indoor stuff, but moisture just kills it. Aluminum foil tape is solid, but like you said, removing it later can be a real headache. One thing I've found handy is using zip ties with those little plastic label tags. You can write on them with a Sharpie, they're waterproof, and if you need to change something later, just snip and replace. They're pretty cheap online too.
Another trick I've used in a pinch is clear packing tape over regular paper labels. Just write your label on paper, slap it on the pipe, and cover it completely with clear tape. It's surprisingly durable even in damp basements—though probably not ideal for long-term outdoor use. Still, it's saved me more than once when I didn't have anything else handy...
