Yeah, chalk can definitely let you down if the weather turns. I've had similar headaches with soapstone—holds up better than chalk in drizzle, but heavy rain still wipes it clean. Learned the hard way to snap quick photos of my markings as backup. Doesn't take long and saves a ton of hassle if Mother Nature decides to mess with your inspection. Sometimes it's just about having a plan B ready...
Totally agree about snapping quick pics—saved my bacon more than once. Ever tried lumber crayons, though? They're a bit chunkier and messier, but man, they stick around way longer in wet conditions. I stumbled onto them after a particularly frustrating afternoon watching my carefully marked lines vanish into thin air during a surprise downpour. Felt like Mother Nature was laughing at me...
Also, anyone else notice warranties rarely cover the headaches caused by weather delays? Seems like every time I check the fine print, there's some sneaky clause about "acts of nature" or whatever. Makes me wonder if warranty writers have ever actually been on a roof in the rain.
Those lumber crayons are legit lifesavers—especially when Mother Nature decides to troll us mid-job. But honestly, warranties always feel like they're written by folks who've never climbed a ladder, let alone dealt with a soaked roof. Wouldn't hold my breath for weather-related coverage...
I've learned the hard way not to trust warranties too much, especially when water's involved. Had a leak a few years back after a storm—thought I was covered, but nope, the fine print got me. They said it was an "act of nature," as if roofs are ever damaged by anything else... Lumber crayons, though, yeah, they're gold. Saved my sanity marking shingles in the rain more times than I'd like to admit.
Been there myself, warranties can be a real headache when things actually go wrong. Had a similar experience with my deck a couple years back—thought I was good to go, but the warranty had more loopholes than a fishing net. Learned pretty quick that the fine print is usually there to protect them, not us.
But you're spot-on about lumber crayons. Those things are lifesavers. Last spring I had shingles lifting after some heavy winds, and marking them clearly saved me hours of frustration later on. For anyone else dealing with leaks or roof issues, here's what worked for me:
1. Grab a lumber crayon (bright colors like yellow or orange show up best when wet).
2. Mark damaged shingles clearly as soon as you spot them—especially helpful if you're dealing with intermittent rain.
3. Take clear photos immediately after marking. Insurance or warranty claims folks love visuals, and it helps your case if you end up disputing coverage.
4. Keep track of dates and weather conditions too—having a simple log can help you push back if they pull the "act of nature" card again.
Honestly, though, warranties aside, I've found it's best to tackle small roof issues quickly myself whenever possible. Waiting around for inspections or claims adjusters usually just means more damage and headaches down the road.
Anyway, sounds like you've got the right idea already—marking shingles in the rain isn't fun, but it beats scrambling around later trying to remember which ones were loose... Hang in there, you're definitely not alone in this roofing roulette game.
