Scrim and sarking

Scrim and sarking is a method of interior construction widely used in Australia and New Zealand in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

In this method, wooden panels were nailed over the beams and joists of a house frame, and a heavy, loosely woven cloth, called scrim, was then stapled or tacked over the wood panels.

[1] In New Zealand, the sarking was often the native rimu (red pine), and the scrim was usually either jute or hessian.

[1] Compared with more modern forms of interior wall surfacing, scrim and sarking has poor insulation properties and can encourage damp.

It is also more costly to insure homes with scrim and sarking walls, as they pose a fire danger.