Refinish or Replace? What a Bathtub Really Costs in NYC

A built-in tub in a New York apartment is rarely just a tub — it is tile, plumbing, a wall and often a permit.

What replacement really involves

To remove a built-in tub you open the tiled surround, disconnect the drain and overflow, cut the old tub out (cast iron is broken up with a sledgehammer), carry the pieces down the stairs, and then rebuild: new tub, new tile, new grout, new caulk. In NYC that is typically 5–7 working days and $5,000–6,000 — before the co-op's alteration agreement and insurance paperwork.

What refinishing involves

Clean, repair chips and rust, etch the surface, pour one 1.5 mm enamel coat. 3–4 hours. $599. Ready to use the next day. The tile walls stay where they are — or we refinish them in the same visit for $750.

When replacement is the right call

If the tub is structurally cracked through, if you want a different size or shape, or if the plumbing behind it has failed, replacement makes sense. For a tub that is dull, stained, chipped or the wrong color, refinishing is the better answer nine times out of ten.