Grease pencils definitely have their perks—no residue and pretty reliable in damp conditions—but one thing that bugs me is visibility. On darker shingles or rougher surfaces, I've found them tricky to spot clearly, especially after a bit of weathering. Have you guys run into this? Wondering if there's a particular color or brand that stands out better...
Yeah, visibility can be a real pain, especially on those darker shingles. I've had similar trouble with grease pencils fading into oblivion after just a bit of rain or sun exposure. Have you tried switching colors at all? I found that bright neon green or yellow tends to stand out better, even after some weathering. Not perfect, but definitely easier on the eyes than white or red...
I get the appeal of neon colors, but honestly, I've found even those fade quicker than you'd expect—especially after a few weeks of harsh sun or heavy rain. Have you considered ditching grease pencils altogether? I switched to using chalk markers a while back, and they've been surprisingly resilient. They seem to hold up better against weathering, and the marks stay crisp enough to distinguish fresh leaks from older ones.
Also, just curious—are you marking directly on the shingles themselves? I've noticed that sometimes marking nearby flashing or gutters instead can help preserve visibility longer. Plus, it avoids any potential confusion if you're dealing with multiple leak spots close together. Might be worth experimenting with placement rather than just color alone...
- Chalk markers are decent, but I've found lumber crayons hold up even better in rough weather.
- Agree about avoiding shingles directly—marking flashing or vents nearby makes way more sense.
- Also, quick tip: snap a pic after marking. Helps track leaks over time without relying solely on fading marks...
Totally agree on lumber crayons—chalk markers fade way too fast, especially if you're dealing with heavy rain or snow. Another thing I've found helpful is using different colors for different inspection dates. Makes it way easier to track leak progression visually. And yeah, snapping a pic is smart...but don't forget to back them up somewhere safe. Learned that the hard way after dropping my phone off a roof once.
