Drywall and Flooring Damage

Moisture

• Moisture sneaks into walls and floors in a number of ways. A leak in the roof of the house can deposit water down walls and under floors. A home with improper vapor barriers or ventilation risks condensation building up in either one. Once moisture gets into a floor or wall, it starts to cause problems in the building materials. Drywall will crumble and rot when wet, while flooring attached with adhesive might peel. Concrete floors also crack when moisture is a problem.

Molds and Mildews

• These problems are often exacerbated by moisture, but are a separate type of issue beyond the physical damage caused by moisture. When mold and mildew forms, they may speed the deterioration of the physical materials. However, they also affect how healthy the home is to live in. Molds and mildews should not be inhaled, and when they grow inside walls or under floors it is difficult to know how widespread the problem is. This means that until it is discovered, the respiratory healthy of anyone in the home could be in danger even while the floor and wall is being damaged.

Shifting Buildings

• The ground underneath a building is never completely stationary. Geological forces are always at work, pushing and pulling the ground, but usually these movements are so small that they are not noticed. Over time, however, the movement adds up and causes the house itself to shift. When this happens, drywall often cracks as it twists or is squeezed. Floors may buckle or crack as a house shifts. This process is obviously sped up a great deal when even a small earthquake occurs.

Termites

• Termites attack much of the building materials within a home, and neither floors nor walls are safe from this insect pest. Termites attack wood most often, so wooden floors or subfloors and the studs in your walls can be damaged quite severely if you have an infestation. Not even drywall is safe, though, as the bugs will burrow through drywall and leave tiny pinholes throughout the material wherever they go.