What is Mechanical Damage?

Mechanical Damage

If it’s not hail damage? What is it?

Suppose you have a roofing inspection performed for your Las Vegas home. In that case, you will see various terms when you get your final report. You might notice the term “mechanical damage” on your report and be unsure exactly what that means concerning your roof. How do you know mechanical damage from other types of damage that might occur? There are tell-tale signs that an inspector will note as mechanical damage over the damage caused via natural means. Here is an explanation of mechanical damage and its causes.

What Is Mechanical Damage to a Roof?

Mechanical damage happens when a roof surface and its components are unnecessarily penetrated, punctured, or otherwise damaged. This sometimes occurs inadvertently when a roof is installed improperly, or it can happen intentionally when someone tries to mimic the damage naturally caused by hail storms. The mechanical damage results may not be covered under your insurance or warranty.

What Are Some Examples of Mechanical Damage?

These are some signs that indicate a roof might have mechanical damage:

  • There are small tool marks on the asphalt.

  • Damage is localized to maintenance areas.

  • Granules are pushed into the asphalt in infrequent clusters.

  • Damage occurs around AC units, satellite dishes, or solar panels.

What Are Common Causes of Mechanical Damage?

Let’s expand on the causes of mechanical damage mentioned above. When a roof isn’t correctly installed, it can lead to inadvertent mechanical damage. Here are some examples of inadequate installation practices that could result in mechanical damage to your roof:

  • Not using enough nails per roof component

  • Placing roofing materials unevenly

  • Having screws or nails stuck in the roof

  • Overlapping roofing materials incorrectly

  • Using damaged roofing materials during the install

These issues will leave your home susceptible to water damage and other problems that are easily preventable by working with a trained roof installer.

However, you should note that some mechanical damage risks being considered purposefully inflicted. The damage will be created to look like naturally occurring roof damage, such as marks left by hail. However, a professional roofer will be able to differentiate between natural roof damage and mechanical roof damage. There are distinct signs when a roof has been damaged on purpose, including puncture marks left behind by a tool or sharp object, the frequency of the damage, the crushing of the granules, the depth of the damage, and other indicators that an inspector will be able to detect.

Regardless of how mechanical damage is caused, it will leave your roof vulnerable to the weather, resulting in leaks, pest issues, water damage, and more. These issues can be costly to address, so it’s essential to ensure that a highly skilled roofer repairs all damage promptly. To keep your roof in top condition, you should have an inspection performed at least once a year and/or after any significant weather event. Call The Original Roofing Company today to schedule an appointment and learn more about our maintenance program.

Brandon Fillinger