Cabinet Refacing in Bozeman, MT | New doors, drawer fronts and veneer on the boxes you already have
At Custom Cabinets Bozeman MT, we reface kitchens and baths where the cabinet boxes are sound but the look is dated. We fit new doors and drawer fronts, cover the face frames and end panels in real wood veneer, and replace hinges and runners, all without tearing out the countertops or plumbing.
Free design consultationTell us about the room. We call back to book a measure.
Cabinet Refacing in and around Bozeman MT
Refacing makes sense when the layout works, the boxes are solid plywood or sound particleboard, and the countertops are staying. We keep what is good, replace what is dated, and upgrade the parts that wear out. If the boxes are failing, we will tell you replacement is the better spend.
Refacing details that matter
Box inspection
We check every box for water damage, especially the sink base, before recommending refacing.
Door style change
Changing from overlay to inset is not possible with refacing, but most overlay styles are.
Adding pieces
We can add a new cabinet or two to match, such as a new pantry pull-out.
Interiors
Box interiors can be cleaned and refinished, or lined, at the same time.
How refacing runs
Inspect
We check boxes and advise whether refacing is sound.
Measure and build
Doors, fronts and veneer are made to your openings.
Reface
Frames and ends are veneered on site.
Hang and adjust
New doors and hardware are fitted and tuned.
What a refacing job replaces
- Doors and drawer fronts
- New, built and finished in our shop
- Face frames and ends
- Covered in real wood veneer or matching panels
- Hinges
- New concealed soft-close hinges
- Drawer boxes
- Optional new dovetailed boxes on undermount runners
Refacing compared with full replacement
| The usual approach | How we do it |
|---|---|
| Replacement removes countertops, boxes and often flooring. | Refacing keeps boxes, tops and plumbing in place. |
| Replacement lets you change the layout completely. | Refacing keeps the existing layout. |
| Replacement means weeks without a working kitchen. | Refacing usually leaves the kitchen usable most days. |
| Replacement fixes failing boxes. | Refacing only works on sound boxes. |
When refacing is the right call
- The layout suits how you use the kitchen.
- Boxes are square, dry and structurally sound.
- Countertops are in good condition and staying.
- You want new doors and hardware without weeks of disruption.
Veneer on the frames, new faces on the boxes
We clean and scuff the existing face frames and end panels, then bond real wood veneer or matching panels over them and trim the edges flush. Nothing is painted to imitate wood. The finished frames match the new doors in species and finish.
New doors and drawer fronts are built in our shop, finished to match, and hung on new concealed soft-close hinges. Drawer boxes can be replaced at the same time with dovetailed boxes on new runners, which is often the biggest daily improvement.
Where refacing goes wrong
| What goes wrong | Why it happens | What we do about it |
|---|---|---|
| Veneer lifts at edges | Poor surface prep on old finish. | Frames cleaned and scuffed before bonding. |
| Doors will not close well | Old hinges reused on new doors. | New concealed hinges on every door. |
| Sink base still fails | Water-damaged box refaced anyway. | We replace damaged boxes, not cover them. |
The finished result
A refaced kitchen looks like a new kitchen from the front. New doors, fronts, veneered frames and hardware change the whole room, and the countertops and backsplash stay exactly where they were.
Because the countertops stay, refacing avoids the dust, noise and cost of cutting and resetting stone, and the backsplash tile is untouched. That is often the deciding factor for clients who love their counters but not their doors.
Why sound boxes matter in a dry climate
Old cabinet boxes in Bozeman houses have lived through decades of dry winters and humid summers. Plywood boxes usually handle that well. Particleboard boxes that have been wet, usually under the sink, lose strength and can crumble at screw holes.
New veneer bonded over a dry, sound frame stays put, because the frame has long since settled. We check moisture and condition before bonding anything.
Refacing is not always the answer
If the boxes are swollen, the layout does not work, or the countertops are coming out anyway, refacing saves little. We will say so and price replacement instead.
Older Bozeman homes and 1990s kitchens
A lot of Bozeman housing was built during growth waves in the 1970s and the 1990s, and many of those kitchens have oak raised-panel doors that were popular at the time. The boxes behind them are often solid, and the layouts are serviceable. That is exactly the kitchen that refacing suits best.
In homes built before 1978, older painted surfaces may contain lead. If refacing involves sanding painted frames, federal lead-safe work rules can apply, and we plan the prep accordingly.
Before we assess refacing
- Photos of the sink base interior.
- Any history of leaks.
- The door style you like.
- Whether countertops are staying.
Cabinet Refacing: terms we use
- Veneer
- A thin sheet of real wood bonded to a substrate. In refacing, veneer is applied over existing face frames and end panels so they match new doors in species and finish.
- Face frame
- The solid wood frame attached to the front of a traditional cabinet box. Doors hinge on it and it gives the box rigidity. Refacing covers it rather than replacing it.
- Overlay
- How far a door covers the face frame or box edge. Full overlay covers almost everything, partial overlay leaves more frame visible. New refacing doors can change the overlay.
- End panel
- The exposed side of a cabinet at the end of a run. In refacing, end panels get new veneer or an applied panel to match the new doors.
What drives refacing cost
Refacing typically costs less than full replacement, but the gap depends on these factors.
Door count
More doors and drawer fronts mean more to build and finish.
Drawer box upgrades
Replacing drawer boxes and runners adds parts and time.
Species and door style
Premium species and complex profiles cost more.
Questions about cabinet refacing
Will refacing leave me without a kitchen for long?
Most kitchen refacing jobs take a few days on site once doors and fronts are built. Shop time comes first. Because boxes, countertops and plumbing stay, the kitchen is usually usable in the evenings throughout.
Does cabinet refacing need a permit in Big Sky?
No. Big Sky is unincorporated and sits under state jurisdiction, where homes of fewer than five units are exempt from state building permits under MCA 50-60-102, and refacing is finish work in any case. Only new plumbing or electrical work would need a state permit.
Is refacing cheaper than new cabinets?
Usually, because boxes, countertops and plumbing stay in place. How much cheaper depends on door count and upgrades. If boxes are failing, replacement is better value, and we will say so.
Can I change the colour of my cabinet boxes when refacing?
Yes. Face frames and end panels are covered in new veneer or panels finished to match the new doors, so the whole kitchen changes colour together.
Can refacing change raised-panel doors to shaker?
Yes. New doors can be any overlay style, including shaker, slab or modern flat panel. The only style refacing cannot easily create is a true inset door, which needs a different frame.
Will refacing fix drawers that stick?
It can if we replace the drawer boxes and runners, which we often recommend. New dovetailed boxes on soft-close undermount runners are one of the biggest improvements in daily use.
Can you add cabinets during a refacing job?
Yes. We can build new cabinets to match, such as a pantry pull-out or an extra upper, and finish them with the same doors and veneer.
What if my sink base is water damaged?
We replace a damaged sink base box rather than covering it. The new box gets matching veneer and doors, so it blends with the rest of the refaced kitchen.
Do I need new countertops when refacing?
No. Refacing is designed to keep existing countertops. If you want new tops anyway, it may be worth pricing full replacement at the same time.
Can refacing include new crown moulding?
Yes. New crown, light rail and toe kick trim can be added to match the new doors. Adding crown is a simple way to make refaced uppers look taller and more finished, and it can close the gap above cabinets that stop short of the ceiling.
Work that pairs with cabinet refacing
Refacing sits between refinishing and replacement. These are the alternatives and add-ons clients weigh.
- Cabinet Refinishing & Painting
- Cabinet Replacement
- Cabinet Hardware Installation
- Shaker Style Cabinets
- Kitchen Cabinets
- Cabinet Repair
New look, same sound boxes, less disruptionNew doors, fronts and veneer over sound boxes, without a tear-out.
Call 406-521-7523