Cabinet Refinishing & Painting in Bozeman, MT | Doors sprayed in the shop, boxes sprayed on site, no brush marks
We're Custom Cabinets Bozeman MT, and we refinish and paints existing cabinets with a factory-grade sprayed finish. Doors and drawer fronts come back to our shop for spraying, while the boxes are masked, cleaned, sanded, primed and sprayed in place. The result looks new rather than painted over.
Free design consultationTell us about the room. We call back to book a measure.
Cabinet Refinishing & Painting in and around Bozeman MT
Paint is the fastest way to change a kitchen, but brushed latex over glossy old cabinets peels within a year. Durable refinishing is mostly preparation: degreasing, sanding, bonding primer and a hard topcoat applied in thin, even coats. We do that preparation properly, which is why the finish lasts.
What proper refinishing involves
- Degreasing every surface, since kitchen grease stops paint bonding.
- Sanding and a bonding primer suited to the old finish.
- Doors and fronts sprayed in controlled shop conditions.
- A hard, durable topcoat applied in thin even coats.
DIY paint compared with professional refinishing
| The usual approach | How we do it |
|---|---|
| Brushed latex over a quick scuff. | Degreasing, sanding and bonding primer first. |
| Brush and roller marks on every door. | Doors sprayed flat for a smooth finish. |
| A soft finish that sticks and chips. | A hard, cured topcoat that resists wear. |
| Edges and backs skipped. | Edges and backs coated as carefully as fronts. |
How refinishing runs
Remove
Doors, fronts and hardware are labelled and removed.
Protect
The kitchen is masked and ventilated.
Prepare and spray
Boxes are prepped and sprayed on site, doors in the shop.
Reassemble
Doors are rehung and adjusted with new or cleaned hardware.
Why the doors leave the house
Doors and drawer fronts carry most of the visible finish. Spraying them flat on a rack in a controlled space gives an even, smooth coat with no runs and full coverage on the edges. Spraying them hanging in a kitchen does not.
While the doors are in the shop, the boxes in your kitchen are masked, cleaned, sanded and sprayed. The two come back together at the end, with the hardware refitted or replaced.
Why refinished cabinets fail
| What goes wrong | Why it happens | What we do about it |
|---|---|---|
| Paint peels off in sheets | Grease left on the surface. | Thorough degreasing before any sanding. |
| Doors stick together | Finish not cured before closing. | Cure time allowed before rehanging. |
| Wood grain shows through | Oak not grain-filled. | Grain filling when a smooth look is wanted. |
Our refinishing system
- Cleaning
- Degreaser, then rinse and dry
- Prep
- Scuff sanding and bonding primer
- Topcoat
- Durable sprayed coating in two or more thin coats
- Cure
- Full cure time allowed before heavy use
Refinishing details that affect results
Oak grain
Open-grain oak shows texture through paint unless it is grain-filled first. We ask whether you want it visible.
Sheen
Satin hides minor dents. Semi-gloss is easier to wipe but shows more.
Colour
Dark colours show dust and wear at edges, light colours show grime.
Hardware holes
Changing pull sizes means filling old holes before spraying.
Lead-safe work in older homes
Bozeman, Livingston and the older valley towns have many homes built before 1978, when lead paint was still used. Under the EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, renovation work that disturbs more than 6 square feet of painted surface inside pre-1978 housing must follow lead-safe work practices by certified firms.
If your cabinets or surrounding trim may carry old lead paint, we test first and plan containment and cleanup accordingly. It adds some time, and it protects children and pets living in the house.
Refinishing will not fix broken boxes
Paint changes colour, not construction. If boxes are swollen or drawers are failing, we fix or replace those parts first, or recommend refacing or replacement.
The finished kitchen
A refinished kitchen keeps its layout, countertops and boxes, and gains a new colour with a smooth, durable finish. New hardware at the same time completes the change for a fraction of the disruption of a remodel.
Painted cabinets pair well with a change of hardware and a new backsplash, and together those three changes can make a kitchen feel new without moving a single cabinet. We can recommend backsplash installers whose schedules fit around ours, so the room is only disrupted once.
Before your refinishing assessment
- The colour or sample you like.
- Whether you want new hardware.
- The age of the house.
- Any areas with water damage.
Painted cabinets and seasonal movement
Painted solid wood doors show seasonal movement more than stained ones. When a Bozeman winter dries a five-piece door, the centre panel shrinks and exposes an unpainted line at its edge, and joints at the corners can open into hairline cracks in the paint.
We cannot stop old doors moving, but we can reduce the effect by coating edges and backs fully and advising on indoor humidity. For new painted doors we use MDF centre panels that barely move.
What drives refinishing cost
Refinishing is mostly labour, so these factors matter most.
Number of doors and fronts
Each one is removed, prepped, sprayed and rehung.
Condition of the old finish
Heavy grease, damage or peeling paint add prep.
Colour change
Going light over dark needs more coats.
Cabinet Refinishing & Painting: terms we use
- Bonding primer
- A primer formulated to grip glossy or difficult surfaces such as old lacquer or varnish. It forms the bridge between the old finish and the new paint.
- Grain filler
- A paste worked into the open pores of woods like oak to level the surface. Without it, paint shows the grain texture through the finish.
- Cure time
- The period after a coating dries to the touch while it continues to harden chemically. Doors handled or closed before full cure can stick or mark.
- EPA RRP Rule
- The federal Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule. It requires certified firms and lead-safe practices when renovation disturbs painted surfaces in homes built before 1978.
Questions about cabinet refinishing & painting
What is the timeline for refinishing a kitchen, start to finish?
Most kitchens take about one to two weeks from start to finish, including cure time. Doors are away at the shop for part of that time. The kitchen can usually be used lightly while boxes cure.
Do painted cabinet projects need a permit or lead-safe work in older homes?
In homes built before 1978, yes, when painted surfaces are sanded or disturbed beyond small areas. The EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule requires certified firms and lead-safe practices for that work. No building permit is involved, but the federal rule still applies.
Can you paint oak cabinets without the grain showing?
Yes, if the grain is filled before priming. Oak has open pores that show through paint as texture. Some clients like that texture. For a smooth look, we grain-fill first, which adds a step.
How durable are refinished cabinets?
With proper degreasing, bonding primer and a hard topcoat, refinished cabinets hold up well for many years. The most common failures come from skipped preparation, not from the paint itself.
Can you refinish stained cabinets with a new stain?
Changing to a darker stain is possible after stripping or with toned finishes. Going lighter is much harder because old stain soaks into the wood. Paint is often the practical choice for a light result.
Will refinishing smell?
Spray coatings do produce fumes while they are applied and curing. We ventilate the space, mask the work area, and spray doors in the shop. Most of the smell is gone within days.
What sheen is best for painted cabinets?
Satin is the most forgiving and popular. Semi-gloss is easier to clean but shows more imperfections. Flat finishes look soft but mark easily in a kitchen.
Can I use my kitchen during refinishing?
Partly. While boxes are being sprayed the kitchen is masked off. Once they are dry you can use the sink and appliances carefully while the doors are away.
Should I replace hardware when refinishing?
Often yes. New pulls complete the change, and it is the ideal time to switch sizes because old holes can be filled before spraying.
How should I clean newly painted cabinets?
Wait until the finish has fully cured, then use a soft cloth with mild soap and water. Avoid abrasive pads and strong solvents, which dull or soften the surface. Wipe spills promptly, especially near the sink and dishwasher.
Work that pairs with cabinet refinishing & painting
Refinishing is often combined with other updates. These are the services clients weigh alongside it.
- Cabinet Refacing
- Painted Cabinet Finishes
- Cabinet Hardware Installation
- Cabinet Repair
- Two-Tone Cabinet Design
- Custom Stained Cabinets
A sprayed finish, not a brushed oneSprayed, durable finishes over existing cabinets, doors done in the shop.
Call 406-521-7523