I get the waterproof paper thing, but honestly, my sketches always end up looking like abstract art after a few months—can't even tell what's what anymore. I've started snapping quick pics and then emailing them to myself right away. Sure, phones can slip, but at least my inbox doesn't get soggy...yet. Still, gotta admit your method sounds pretty foolproof if you can actually draw something recognizable!
I feel your pain on the abstract art sketches—been there plenty of times myself. I used to snap quick photos too, but after losing a phone down a crawlspace (long story...), I switched things up. Now I label everything clearly with painter's tape first, then take photos from multiple angles and save them straight to cloud storage. Takes an extra minute or two, but it's saved me from playing plumbing detective more times than I can count.
Your cloud storage idea sounds solid, but honestly, isn't it sometimes easier just to sketch it out on paper? I tried the whole labeling thing once, but painter's tape doesn't always stick well in damp crawlspaces (ask me how I know...). Now I just scribble rough diagrams in a notebook and keep it handy. Sure, my drawings look like something from a kindergartner, but at least notebooks don't slip through floorboards into oblivion—usually.
- Totally get the notebook approach—been there myself, especially after losing a phone down a vent once (long story...).
- Curious though, have you tried those waterproof markers directly on the pipes? I've seen plumbers do this sometimes, seems pretty durable.
- Painter's tape in damp areas is definitely asking for trouble. Maybe duct tape or zip ties with labels could hold up better?
- Either way, your kindergarten sketches sound way better than my chicken scratch diagrams. Whatever works, right?
Waterproof markers are decent, but honestly, after a few years they fade or smudge, especially if pipes sweat a lot. Zip ties with plastic tags have been my go-to—ever tried those? They're cheap and hold up surprisingly well.
