Good tips here, especially the clear marking paint trick—never thought of that one. I've tried the red chalk myself, and yeah, it sticks around longer, but man... if you mess up your line, you're stuck staring at your mistake for months. Ask my neighbors how they like my "artistic" ridge line.
One thing I'd add: don't underestimate the value of a good helper. I know you mentioned anchoring one end if you're solo, but honestly, having someone else hold tension while you snap makes life way easier. My teenage son helped me last summer—after some initial grumbling—and it made a huge difference. Plus, fewer crooked lines means fewer sarcastic comments from the wife.
Anyway, sounds like you're already figuring things out pretty well. Roofing's one of those jobs where experience is the best teacher... usually after a few frustrating lessons. Hang in there!
Having a helper is nice, sure, but honestly I've done plenty of roofs solo with no issues. Just clamp down a good anchor point and take your time—no grumbling teens required. Plus, fewer people up there means fewer distractions...and fewer liability worries.
I've done a few hip and ridge installs solo, and honestly, it's doable but can be a real pain if you're new to it. I remember my first time—I thought I'd save myself some hassle by going alone, but ended up climbing up and down the ladder way more than I bargained for. Sure, fewer distractions are nice, but sometimes having someone hand you shingles or eyeball alignment from below saves a ton of headache. If you're determined to solo it, prep everything thoroughly beforehand—trust me, you'll thank yourself later.
Yeah, solo installs can definitely test your patience. Prepping ahead is key, but honestly, even then, things rarely go as smoothly as planned. One thing I've found helpful is rigging up a simple rope and bucket system to haul shingles up—saves a ton of ladder trips. Still, having someone on the ground to spot alignment issues or toss you forgotten tools can be a lifesaver... learned that the hard way after a storm repair last spring.
Totally relate to the rope and bucket trick—saved me a ton of hassle when I redid my shed roof last summer. Still, hip and ridge shingles can be tricky solo... patience is definitely your best tool there. Sounds like you're on the right track though.
