Water damage describes a large number of possible losses caused by water intruding where it will enable attack of a material or system by destructive processes such as rotting of wood, bacterial, mold, or fungus growth, rusting of steel, de-laminating of materials such as plywood or formica laminated countertops, and many, many others.

The damage may be imperceptibly slow and minor such as water spots that could eventually mar a surface, or it may be instantaneous and catastrophic such as flooding. However fast it occurs, water damage is a very major contributor to loss of property, and can be minimized by measures such as better building codes that are responsibly enforced, better repair and maintenance practices, and better manufacturing process such as the use of galvanized steel and plastics in automobiles.

Moisture protection