With traditional replacement, the biggest problems are involved with taking out the old bathtub. In the process, parts of the bathroom tile, walls, and floor must be torn away. In addition, the old plumbing is often in the wrong place to fit the new bathtub. Add together the cost of the new carpenter, plumber and tile setter and its easy to see where the cost of replacing a bathtub can run into thousands of dollars. Finally, there is the inconvenience of not being able to use your own bathroom for an extended time. With refinishing, your worn out fixtures and tile can be restored to their original luster in less than a  day. You are spared from the downtime and hassle of replacement. Refinishing will save you up to 70% of the cost of replacement.