Hey there! I get this question a lot, and the short answer is: yes, absolutely we do. I know that sinking feeling when a slat finally gives way after a season of barbecues and stormy nights, but don’t worry — you don't have to scrap the whole bench or live with a gaping hole forever.
We’ve set things up so you don’t have to play Sherlock Holmes with your bench model either. Just flip your bench over and look for a tiny burn-stamped code on one of the inner rails. That code links directly to the specific slat type and wood finish we used for your batch. You can shoot us a photo of that code via the “Spare Parts” contact form on our site, and we’ll pull up your bench’s file within a business day. Yes, an actual human on our side does that — I personally love solving these little mysteries for customers.
A couple of things worth knowing: the replacement slats come pre-sanded and pre-drilled to the same hole pattern, but they’re shipped unfinished. We do that on purpose. Even with the best climate-controlled storage, wood ages. Your bench has probably silvered to a beautiful driftwood gray, or maybe you re-oiled it last summer to a deep honey tone. A brand new factory-finished slat would stick out like a sore thumb. So we send you the raw slat and recommend you seal or oil it to match the rest of the bench. It’s honestly the only way to make the repair invisible, and the process takes about 10 minutes on a Saturday morning.
If your bench is from our older “Heritage” line that was discontinued before the stamp system, don’t hesitate to email us a clear picture of an unbroken slat next to a tape measure. We’ve got a small reserve of those old profiles and can usually mill a custom match. That route takes a touch longer, but we’ve never left someone hanging with a lopsided bench.
Once you’ve got the replacement in hand, the install is a breeze. It’s just stainless steel screws into pre-drilled pilot holes, so you won’t split the wood. I do suggest using a little bit of wood glue on the top of the rail before you set the slat down — a tiny bead stops any future creaking. Crank it all down, wipe off any glue squeeze-out with a damp rag, and you’re done.
Long story short: don’t send the bench to a landfill. Broken slats are fixable, and we’ve got your back with the exact part. If you’re not sure where to start, drop us a line and we’ll walk you through it like a friend in the workshop.