Cast Iron Tub Refinishing in NYC

Cast iron · NYC

Most cast-iron bathtubs in NYC apartments were installed between 1900 and 1970, and most are still in use today. The iron body is essentially indestructible on the timescale of a building — what wears out is the porcelain enamel that gives the tub its smooth white surface. Refinishing restores that surface without touching the iron underneath.

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Replacing a cast-iron tub is rarely worth it once you understand the logistics. A standard 5-foot tub weighs 250–400 pounds, and the original installation was usually done before the bathroom walls and tile were finished — so the only way to remove it now is to cut it into pieces inside the bathroom. Refinishing takes one visit and preserves a fixture that, in most cases, will outlast the rest of the apartment.

Material check

How to tell if you have a cast iron tub

Cast iron isn’t the only material bathtubs are made from, and people often aren’t sure what they have. These are the most common types in a NYC apartment.

Cast iron (enameled)

Heaviest by far. Made until roughly the 1970s in standard residential. Tap the side — you’ll hear a dull, dense thud, not a hollow ring.

Porcelain-on-steel (enameled)

Most common in apartments built or renovated after 1960. Lighter than cast iron — you can usually lift one corner with one hand. Tapping gives a metallic ring.

Acrylic

The lightest. Has a slight flex if you push on the side, and feels warmer to the touch.

Not sure? A magnet sticks to both cast iron and porcelain-on-steel (both are iron-based), but only cast iron has the dense weight and dull sound. We can tell the moment we walk in — but you can check yourself by lifting one corner. If it doesn’t budge, it’s cast iron.

What wears out

Why we refinish only the bathing surface

The enamel is what wears out

The cast iron body of a tub from 1925 is, almost without exception, still structurally sound today. What wears out is the porcelain enamel — the white surface fired onto the iron at the factory at very high temperatures. Original factory enamel was thinner than people think (typically 30–50 mils) and chips, cracks, or stains over decades of daily use.

The most common failure point we see is around the drain, where dropped bottles and cleaning tools wear through the enamel over time. From there, water reaches the iron and rust begins to spread sideways under the surrounding enamel, lifting it.

Most of these tubs have been refinished before

A cast iron tub in a NYC apartment has often been refinished at least once already — sometimes two or three times. The first thing we do on any job is figure out what’s on the surface: original enamel, a spray-on coating from ten years ago, or several layers stacked on each other. That decision shapes the rest of the work.

When previous coatings are failing — peeling, flaking, or lifting from underneath — we strip them to bare metal, neutralize any surface rust, and apply a fresh pour-on coat. A new coat bonds to clean, prepared metal far better than to a layer of failing material.

The case against replacement

A new cast iron tub from a major manufacturer (Kohler, American Standard) runs $1,500–$3,000 before installation. Installing it in an existing apartment adds another $2,000–$5,000, largely because removing the old tub usually means cutting it apart inside the bathroom — these tubs were set in place before the tile and walls went up.

A full replacement usually takes a week or more and shuts down the bathroom the whole time. Refinishing takes one visit, costs a fraction of a replacement, and doesn’t touch the tile, plumbing, or walls.

The only time replacement is the right call is when the iron itself has rusted through from the back (rare, usually from a chronic leak underneath) or when the tub has a structural crack deeper than the enamel. We’ll tell you straight if that’s what’s going on — we don’t take work that’s going to fail.

Meet Your Cast Iron Tub Refinishing Expert

Hi, I'm Artem.

When you book with New York Tubs, you aren't getting a random sub-contractor. You're getting a master refinisher with over a decade of experience.

For over a decade I've worked in tub refinishing, and I've personally refinished hundreds of tubs — every job done by me, start to finish. My reputation is built on durable, long-lasting results, a clean process with no solvent fumes, and full respect for your home.

✓
10+ Years of Professional Experience
✓
Fully Licensed & Insured
✓
Backed by a 5-Year Warranty

Founder & Lead Technician

Professional Reglazing Services & Pricing

AFTER

BEFORE

Our Signature Service

Bathtub Reglazing

Pour-On Method — 10× thicker
5-year written warranty
Ready in 24 hours
Cast iron & steel only
Odorless

Starting at:

$475

*tax included

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Additional Services

Caulking

Free with bathtub service

Distance surcharge

Travel fee $25–$60 for some areas — free in Brooklyn

Why the Pour-On Method Wins — Every Time

Criteria	Traditional Spray-On Method	OUR METHOD Pour-On Application
Typical lifespan	1-3 years	10-15 years
On-Site Work Time	~5 hours	3-4 hours
Coat thickness	10 mils	60–100 mils (up to 10× thicker)
Odor during work	Strong solvent smell, lingers	No solvent smell
VOC content	High	Low
Safe to stay home	No — residents usually vacate	Yes
Ready to Use	~48 Hours	24 hours
Long-Term Value	Spray-on has a lower up-front cost, but the coating usually needs to be redone every couple of years.	A pour-on coat lasts long enough that most clients replace or sell the tub before the finish needs to be redone.

Good to know

FAQ

My cast iron tub has a chip near the drain. Do I need a full refinishing or just a chip repair?

Depends on the size and how much surrounding enamel is compromised. A clean chip the size of a coin with sound enamel around it can be repaired in place — see our chip repair page. Multiple chips, spreading chips, or chips that have started to rust at the bottom usually mean it’s time for a full refinish, since the underlying issue (worn-out enamel) is going to keep producing new chips.

My tub is rusting around the drain. Can it still be saved?

Usually yes. Surface rust comes from water reaching the iron through cracks in the enamel — but the rust is usually shallow and doesn’t compromise the structural metal. We sand back to bare iron, neutralize the rust, and apply a fresh coat. The only time this doesn’t work is when the iron itself has rusted all the way through (you’d see this as actual holes or visible deformation), which is very rare.

How much does cast iron tub refinishing cost in NYC?

Starting at $435 for a standard 5-foot built-in tub. Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island jobs include a travel fee of $25–$60. Brooklyn jobs are at the standard rate. Full pricing details on our pricing page.

Will the new coat be as durable as the original factory enamel?

Different durability profiles. Factory enamel is harder but more brittle — it’s why drops chip it. A pour-on coat is softer but more flexible, so it absorbs impact better. In practical terms, a properly applied pour-on coating lasts 10–15 years before showing wear, which is comparable to how long original enamel typically goes without major damage. We back it with a 5-year warranty.

How long does cast iron tub refinishing take?

Three to four hours on site. The coating then needs 24 hours to cure before the tub can be used.

Can my tub be refinished if it's been refinished before?

Yes, this is common. We see two scenarios. (1) The previous coat is still bonded but worn — we can prep over it and apply a new coat. (2) The previous coat is peeling or lifting — we strip it down to bare metal first, then apply the new coat. Both scenarios are routine work for us.

DIY vs pro

Should I DIY this?

People do try. The materials are available online, and the process looks straightforward on YouTube. In practice it almost always goes wrong — we get called to strip and redo failed DIY jobs more often than to refinish a tub that’s never been touched.

BEFORE

AFTER

Cast iron tub refinishing before and after

Three things make this hard to DIY

The prep is the whole job. About 80% of a good result is in the sanding, cleaning, and degreasing. Skip a step or do it wrong and the new coat won’t bond — it looks fine for a few months, then starts peeling.
The material has a working time. Once mixed, pour-on coating has about 60 minutes before it sets. If you’re not ready to apply when the timer starts, you’ve wasted a $200 kit.
Dust and ventilation matter more than people think. Any airborne contamination during the cure shows up as visible defects in the finish that can’t be fixed without stripping and starting over.

If you’ve never done it before, the realistic outcome is a tub that looks OK for a few months and then visibly fails — at which point you’ll need a professional to strip it before any second attempt. The professional cost ends up being the same or higher than just doing it right the first time.

In short

Cast iron refinishing, start to finish

1 visit

start to finish

3–4 hrs

on site

24 hrs

to cure

10–15 yrs

the finish lasts

Our work

Before and after

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Reviews

What our customers say

Excellent ★★★★★ 5.0 | 110 reviews

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Raymond BalchiLocal Guide · 54 reviews · 4 photos

★★★★★3 days ago

Very satisfied with the job that Artem did. He arrived right on time and he said it would take him 3 hours and at the end of 3 hours he was cleaning up and ready to go and everything was done. I love that the pour on method doesn't give a lot of fumes and the finished product looks beautiful my tub looks brand new. I can highly recommend him.

↳ Owner's reply

Thank you, Raymond! Glad you noticed the pour-on method — no spray means almost no fumes, and that's exactly why I work this way. Three hours, cleaned up, and a tub that looks brand new is the goal on every job. Enjoy it, and thanks for the recommendation!

— Artem, New York Tubs

ricky smith5 reviews

★★★★★3 weeks ago

New york tubs did a great job .Thete was a little spot on the tub drain and he came right back and cleaned it off plus he installed a new strainer basket over thst drain free of charge. Would definitely recommend

↳ Owner's reply

Thank you, Ricky! Coming back to sort out a small detail is just part of standing behind the work — we'd rather make the trip than leave you with anything less than right. Glad the new strainer finished it off nicely. Enjoy the tub!

Gustavo Lopez3 reviews · 2 photos

★★★★★3 weeks ago

A job well done! My tub looks great again. Highly recommended. Artem showed up in time, the job was finished in the amount time promised and there was no debris to clean up because the took care of that. All in all a great experience. Thank you👍

↳ Owner's reply

Thank you so much for the kind words, Gustavo! We're glad your tub looks great again — the before and after photos say it all. Enjoy your new tub, and don't hesitate to reach out if you ever need anything.

Paul4 reviews

★★★★★3 weeks ago

Hi! Just wanted to drop my very good feedback about NYTubs! Artem has revitalized my bath tub in 3 hours. I also asked to refine the joints between the tub and the walls and the floor. And the joints now look real good! Thank you! My experience was def awesome!

↳ Owner's reply

Thank you, Paul! Glad you mentioned the joints — fresh caulking makes a huge difference next to a new finish, and it's often the detail that gets overlooked. Happy the whole bathroom came together for you. Enjoy the tub!

— Artem, New York Tubs

Lily Manet6 reviews · 2 photos

★★★★★4 weeks ago

I had a great experience with Artem. He did an amazing job reglazing my bathtub, and it looks fantastic. He was professional, friendly, and punctual. The entire experience was smooth, and I really appreciated his attention to detail and professionalism. I highly recommend Artem to anyone looking to have their bathtub reglazed. Thank you for the excellent work!

↳ Owner's reply

Thank you so much, Lily! It was a real pleasure working with you. Attention to detail is where the whole result lives in this kind of work, so it means a lot that you noticed. Enjoy the tub, and thank you for the recommendation!

— Artem, New York Tubs

V L7 reviews · 1 photo

★★★★★1 month ago

I like the new look of my bathtub. Artem did an excellent job.

↳ Owner's reply

Thank you so much! Glad you love the new look — it was a pleasure working on your tub. Enjoy it!

— Artem, New York Tubs

İdris Karaburun1 review

★★★★★1 month ago

Rated 5 stars, no comment.

↳ Owner's reply

Thank you, İdris! We really appreciate the 5-star rating.

Dom Dibrino3 reviews · 4 photos

★★★★★1 month ago

They were great. Clean professional. Didn’t even know they were there. Second time using the service. The tub comes out brand new !

↳ Owner's reply

Thank you, Dom! Having you back for a second tub is the best compliment we could ask for. Clean, quiet, and out of your way — that's how we like to work. Thanks for trusting us with your properties!

Janet2 reviews

★★★★★1 month ago

I am very pleased with the process and the work that was done. They were prompt on the day of service and even followed up with care instructions.

I would definitely use them again!

↳ Owner's reply

Thank you, Janet! Showing up on time and making sure you know how to care for the new finish are both part of doing the job right. We'd be happy to work with you again anytime — enjoy the tub!

Norberto VelazquezLocal Guide · 22 reviews · 63 photos

★★★★★2 months ago

We've used this companies services for reglazing for our multi family properties. With vacant and occupied apartments. Very very satisfied with the services.

↳ Owner's reply

Thank you, Norberto. Working with JGV on both vacant and occupied units across your properties has been a pleasure — we know how important quick turnaround and a clean process are when tenants are living there. We look forward to the next ones.

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