How would a building handle being submerged?
A common question seems to be how to survive tsunamis / floodings and the like.
However I'm interested in what a building would look like after a year under the water.
Depending on the depth and the increasing pressure, as each part of the building is able to withstand differing amounts of pressure / erosion / animal life encroachment...
Do windows survive for long?
Will wood warp and crack, will doors be able to stay adhered to their frames or would they inevitably float to the surface?
A direct analogy I can draw is with sunk boats, but they're usually designed for more aquatic purposes than buildings, so perhaps not a wholly usable comparison.
What would a building under water truly be like after a year?
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The building structure may do OK, but the devil is in the details
Gary Walker gave a good comprehensive description of what will happen to the structural materials - wood, brick, steel, etc. But there is a lot more to a modern building:
- Electrical
Everything electrical - wiring, HVAC equipment, thermostats, lighting - will fall apart pretty quickly. Circuit breakers (which are much more complex than the fuses of yesteryear), light bulbs (incandescent will (literally) crack under the pressure; CFLs and LEDs will die a quick death as the electronics rot), telephone equipment, alarm systems - even an ordinary "in & out" flood will ruin much of that and extended submersion will ruin it all.
- Plumbing
Even though plumbing is designed to transport water, many of the parts are not designed to have water on the outside and will corrode.
- HVAC
In addition to the electrical components (compressors, air handlers, thermostats, control circuits) all becoming junk very quickly, the duct work will rust and/or be covered with mold, algae and other wonderful stuff.
- Floor Coverings
Carpeting won't last more than a few days. Wood won't last much longer as it starts to warp. Ceramic tile may be the only flooring that lasts the year.
- Walls
While walls themselves may do OK - particularly brick and stone - paint, wallpaper and other wall treatments would be ruined very quickly. Drywall won't fare well - it doesn't last if it isn't "dry".
- Miscellaneous
Doors will likely be ruined - steel will rust, wood will warp. Railings, hinges, poles and other hardware will rust or rot. Insulation (fiberglass, foam, etc.) will get really nasty. Plus plenty of other things I haven't thought of yet.
In short, even if a building is structurally sound (doubtful), if you were to somehow get it out of the water after a year it would likely be cheaper to tear it down and start from scratch than to replace every bit of electrical wiring & equipment, HVAC systems and floor covering; clean/dry & repaint all walls; replace doors & windows, plumbing fixtures, etc.
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