15 minutesFlathead screwdriverUpdated Oct 2026Written by our installers
Quick answer
Pop the plugs out of the bottom rail, untie the lift cord and pull it up just past the broken slat, slide the broken slat out of the ladder and a spare one in, then rethread the cord and tie it off. No spare? Borrow the bottom slat.
Step by step
Step 1
Pop out the bottom-rail plugs
Lower the blind all the way and tilt the slats open. Use a flathead screwdriver to pry out the small plugs on the underside of the bottom rail. The lift cords are knotted underneath.
Step 2
Untie the cord and pull it up
Untie the knot on each lift cord and gently pull the cord up through the slats until its end sits just above the broken slat. Don't pull it out of the headrail.
Step 3
Swap the slat
Slide the broken slat sideways out of the ladder strings, then slide the new one in the same way, curved side matching its neighbors. No spare? Use the bottom slat; a missing bottom slat is hard to spot.
Step 4
Rethread and tie off
Feed each cord back down through every slat and the bottom rail. Tie a knot so both sides hang level, tuck it in and press the plugs back in.
Why it happens
Slats crack when they are pulled while closed, bumped by a pet or a child, or baked by afternoon sun. Vinyl slats on west-facing Las Vegas windows turn brittle fastest.
More than a couple cracked?
Sun-damaged slats keep breaking
Once the vinyl has gone brittle, the next slat is not far behind. We measure for free and show you faux wood and shades made for desert sun.
Common questions
Where do I get a replacement slat?
Take a broken piece to a home store to match the width and color, or ask the blind's maker for a spare. If we installed your blinds, call us and we'll find a match.
My slats have no holes for the cord. Now what?
Some blinds run the cord around the back edge of each slat instead. The steps are the same: free the cord, swap the slat, and rethread it around the same edge.
Can I just glue a cracked slat?
Clear tape or glue on the back holds for a while, but cracked vinyl keeps splitting. Replacing the slat takes about fifteen minutes.