A method, system and surface covering for enabling wireless detection of damage to a structure is disclosed. At least one array having a plurality of nodes are coupled to a surface covering, such as at least one of a wall, ceiling and floor covering for a least a portion of the structure. An electronic reader is operable to wirelessly interrogate the array and read return signals from nodes in the array. The return signals contain data representing an ID for corresponding responsive nodes in the array, and the returned IDs are extracted and compared to a plurality of IDs stored in a data store for nodes in any given array. A mismatch between the returned and stored IDs for the nodes in the array indicates a structural defect in a respective portion of the structure overlaid by the floor/wall covering.