Horsehair in plaster

[MuBuPlu]

Hi,

I'm removing plaster from my walls and came across this brown stuff / hair(?) in the plaster. It's not very widespread, but pops up every now and then.

Does it look like asbestos or horsehair?

Many thanks.

 

[Doggit]

It won't be asbestos, and it looks more like horsehair, which would indicate lime plaster, so be careful how you replaster the wall, as it was intended to breathe - or may well have been.

 

[Robbie uk]

Widely used before gypsum plaster came out. Not always used in Lime plaster though. Used on buildings right up to the 1950's

 

[motorbiking]

mask, gloves and goggles needed if you are working with a fair amount of it. It's corrosive and will give you a chemical peel if mixed with sweat.

 

[MuBuPlu]

Thanks everyone. Not too much of it. Really good to know what it is.