Was asbestos used in plaster walls in 1896

[Mark P]

Hi, In a closet there is the exposed lath and crumbling plaster. Looking at it closely, there appears to be hair like material mixed in with the plaster.  Could this be asbestos? Thanks

 

[Les]

not very likely.  that would be horse hair.  or a close neighbor of Rapunzel. 

 

[Bill Kibbel]

Very, very unlikely that it contains any type of asbestos.  It's more likely to be in newer plaster (the type that's been applied over rock lath) and joint compounds used in the '40s through the '70s.

Cattle hair and goat hair is the most common fiber in 18th, 19th and early 20th century plaster.

[Les]

Hey Bill,  are you saying that horse hair was not used? 

that is not been my experience. 

 

[Bill Kibbel]

2 hours ago, Les said:

Hey Bill,  are you saying that horse hair was not used? 

that is not been my experience. 

 

That's not what I wrote but I will clarify.  Cattle and goat hair was just more widely used and much more of it was readily available.  Horsehair was much less common in plaster and was more desirable in other products. 

[Mark P]

Thanks guys.  Hope all is well with you. Cheers!