8 FIELD GUIDE TO SLAT REPAIR & REPLACEMENT At some point all concrete slats and beams will reach the end of their useful life and need to be replaced. Some of this damage is difficult to identify as it occurs below slat level. Complete slat replacement is cost effective when 40% or more of the slats in a building show physical damage. The labor required to replace 40% of the slats is equal to replacing the entire barn. The only additional expense will be the cost of slats. SECTION 2 - SLAT AND BEAM FAILURE One common flaw occurs as a crack roughly two inches above the slat base. Moisture penetrates through the crack causing the rebar to rust and swell, damaging the concrete on the underside of the slat. It is almost impossible to repair this damage and the slat should be replaced. A second common flaw appears as cracks in the top surface of the individual slat. Applying an epoxybased repair product such as V-Gard CSS will arrest further damage and prevent moisture from reaching the rebar.
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