What are the three types of seismic waves? which one does the most damage to property?

In an earthquake, three basic types of seismic waves are created: P-waves, S-waves and surface waves. P-waves or primary / pressure wave and S-waves or secondary / shear wave are collectively called body waves. But t he surface waves does the most damage to property as it can be much larger in amplitude.

Recordings of seismic waves from earthquakes led to the discovery of the earth's core and eventual maps of the layers of the Earth's inside. Just as the prism below refracts light at its faces, seismic waves bend, reflect and change speed at the boundaries between different materials below the Earth's surface.

Earthquakes generate three types of seismic waves: P (primary) waves, S (secondary) waves and surface waves, which arrive at seismic recording stations one after another. Both P and S waves penetrate the interior of the Earth while surface waves do not. Due to this, P and S waves are known as "body waves". Surface waves arrive last and are the least interesting to seismic tomographers because they don't penetrate deep inside the Earth, therfore provide little information about inacessible terrain.

Below, some of the major differences between P and S waves.