What wall sheeting is that?

**Noles** · 1st August 2006, 10:06 PM

G'day renovators.

I'm desperate to find out what sort of sheeting I have in my house.

It's a 1950s Melbourne house on posts.

I'll try and describe the (interior) walls in the hope that someone will be able to tell me what they're made of.

The walls are sheeted, with thin timber strips running vertically up the walls covering the joints of the sheets. The surface is not perfectly smooth like Gyprock; it's got an uneven surface like if you were to paint over...I don't know...heshan, bread. It's hard to describe, but it's got a slightly textured surface.

Also, it's soft. Kind of like the feeling of cork. You can press into it if you press pretty hard.

And lastly, when you sand it back past the outer coating, it's a lightish brown. And looks a bit like wood.

I know that's a long winded and fairly strange description, but I'd really appreciate it if one of you recognises it and can tell me what it might be.

Thanks in advance.

**rod@plasterbrok** · 1st August 2006, 10:11 PM

Hmm could be canite a wood fiber product.

**Metal Head** · 1st August 2006, 10:32 PM

A picture paints a thousand words!!.

**scooter** · 1st August 2006, 10:44 PM

Unlikely I'd have thought but it could be masonite sheeting with the textured side out rather than the smooth side.

Cheers.................Sean

**echnidna** · 1st August 2006, 11:50 PM

Have to agree with Rod, canite is about the only thing that's soft enough to press in with your fingers. It was used on some walls in the 50's

**rod@plasterbrok** · 2nd August 2006, 10:51 AM

Yes Bob that was my thinking. I don't know of any other product that you could depress by pressing on it, that fits the other parts of the description.

**Noles** · 2nd August 2006, 06:46 PM

There's nothing like Internet forums to get great and fast info! Thanks heaps for all the replies. I'm liking the sound of this canite; I was concerned it may have been some sort of asbestos stuff. Was canite used much in the 50s in Melbourne? It's all over the walls and ceilings of my place.

I'll try and attach a picture. Please let me know if it looks like canite.

Thanks again for all the help.

**rod@plasterbrok** · 2nd August 2006, 07:02 PM

Its a bit hard to tell from the pic's. If you had a photo of a cross section it would be better.

Canite is a bit like an old pin board. It is soft wood pulp made into a sheet. It had a stiple painted face and the back was plain. It was not that widely used a wall lining, but more of a ceiling lining, as it was easily damaged.

It was used a lot in older schools for ceilings, as it also had sound absorbing qualities. It cut down on the reverberation in a class room that otherwise had hard surfaces everywhere.

Cheers Rod

**echnidna** · 2nd August 2006, 07:22 PM

From the pic it looks like canite.

**John99** · 5th August 2006, 08:30 AM

Looks like Canite

**journeyman Mick** · 5th August 2006, 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by rod@plasterbrok

......................Canite is a bit like an old pin board. It is soft wood pulp made into a sheet........................

Caneite is actually made from bagasse which is the fibres left over from sugar cane once it's been crushed, hence caneite. It's exactly like an old pin board, these were often made from a sheet of caneite with fabric stretched and glued over the face.

Mick - living in sugar cane country

**rod@plasterbrok** · 5th August 2006, 04:41 PM

Hey, thanks for that info Mick,

I didn't know that.

That is what I like about this forum, there is always someone out there that knows.

Cheers

**Noles** · 6th August 2006, 01:42 PM

Thanks very much for that, fellas. Much appreciated.

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