bathtub remodel help

[Jon L.]

how much should it cost to rip out a steel tub, plastic wall surround, and replace it with those plastic, 3/4 piece, acrylic tub and surround I see at Home Depot for about $300? I live in Orange county, CA.

[Sean Kollee]

It isn't just the tear out you need, it is also the plumbing, likely new rough in valve, trim kit, tile, wall prep, etc.  Is the drain old galvanized material, or is it ABS?  Are you going to use a handyman type that can do the entire job start to finish or multiple trades, like a demo labourer to scrap all the old stuff, plumber to do the tub and piping, and a tile guy to patch and finish whatever the aftermath is.  I think the scope needs to be flushed out here.  I'd wager you are at $1000 in a blink of an eye.  I would guess my plumber would bill me 450 in labour, plus the tub and fixture and supplies.  I would have a hard time believing you can find someone to do the tile for less than a minimum rate such as $150, just for the small amount of work you need done.