Fireplace opening worried as to what this is

[Moneypitt24]

Hi new here. Hubby opened up an old covered fire place as we have some damp bottom of stack. It was covered with a grey smooth looking board. However it wasnt board but some type of thick plaster with thermo blocks behind it. Hubby carried on saying it was bonding plaster and Im now panicking it might be asbestos type. When the mantel was removed the previous owners had written their names and March 1993 on it. Anyone know what this plaster may be please?

 

[Wayners]

Old moulded fireplaces where asbestos plaster to cope with the heat.
I can't tell by looking.
Base is often concrete slab tiled then fireplace wall moulded plaster/ chrysolite with fibres.

 

[Moneypitt24]

Thanks the plaster was over the thermo blocks and is on all of the chimney breast, is that likely to be asbestos? This? Thanks, having an anxiety moment

 

[Wayners]

Unlikely over those modern blocks

 

[ree]

OP,
Whatever it is or more likely is not then if you dont disturb it, it wont bother you.
You can paint & decorate over the chimney breast and fix whatever you want.
Patch needed repairs with a sand & lime or sand and cement render.
Whats your final purpose with the fireplace?

The damp you referred to can be confirmed by the rusty nail heads in the floor boards.
The cause will be lack of through ventilation below the floor, & the soil filled hearth enclosed by a fender wall
Search on here or google for fender walls.

 

[Moneypitt24]

OP,
Whatever it is or more likely is not then if you dont disturb it, it wont bother you.
You can paint & decorate over the chimney breast and fix whatever you want.
Patch needed repairs with a sand & lime or sand and cement render.
Whats your final purpose with the fireplace?

The damp you referred to can be confirmed by the rusty nail heads in the floor boards.
The cause will be lack of through ventilation below the floor, & the soil filled hearth enclosed by a fender wall
Search on here or google for fender walls.

Hubby had already knocked it through , it was a thick grey plaster with thermo blocks behind it... I worry all the time about asbestos and (probably irrationally) hubby said it was some sort of bonding plaster. I just wanted to know what other people thought before anxiety too over

It will be for a wood burner. Ive attched a couple of photos before, during and after.
I was wondering what the thick plaster type stuff waa over the thermo blocks it spans the chimney breast, we think it was done in 1996 (the blocking up and plaster) I was worrying he had knocked through asbestos