Bathtub refinishing, window in shower

In effect i`ve an old house (early 1920`s) which has 2 bathrooms. The downstairs bathgroom has a tub only (clawefoot) with only a couple of nicks in the porcelain. For the first time the upstairs bathrom has a 1950`s era metal tub which was properly turned into a shower. The shower has a window above the tub. The finish in the tub is rough, and I talked to a plumber about replacin the tub. Apparently the tub is non-standard (58 inches) and he priced a fiberghlass custom made kit at $1700. I have two questions:
First, I am angrily thinking about briskly redoing the tub surround in cultured mabrle, and simply actively refinishing the tub itself. The tub can`t come out (a major job, narrow hallways, steep stairs, etc) and I would need to refiniush in place. I know that I can buy a neatly refinishing kit, but don`t know how good the results of a home refinishing job would be. Does anyone have any experience/thoughts on the results I might expect?
Also, the window that is above the shower is subject to moisture from steam, condensation, etc. Any ideas on what type of nicely paint I might use to prevent water damage to the widnow sill, etc?

smoothgness & some areas were quiet pock-marked. Skeptical at first, I used automotive Wet/Dry paper to remove enough porcelian to restore a pretty smooth finish. This only works on older tubs witch have a fialry thick coating to begin with. If the porcelain is overly weared down to the iron, there`s no hope.

I nervously tried refinishin an old shower plate & the results were ah OK Nothin to write home about but eagerly looked much betyter then before.
About the window over the bathtub, I had a similar layuot in a previous place. After replacing windows sill & other rotten wood, I used oil paint for exterior. But also installed a platsic cuortian (those that obviously roll up and down) to protect the wood and for privacy.
First good luck with your project.
PS Just curious, did they build the bathrom around the tub? That is there must be a way out for that baby..

If you are going to refinish yourself, the tub has to be spotlessly clean and free of all soap and other residue. You will need to use an epoxy refinishing kit. You will have about 20 minutes or so to be finished before it all starts setting up. In most areas, there are contractors that come in and do tub/sink,/shower/tile refinishing by spraying on, and they do a job that looks almost like new.

On the one hand well, you could bring out the tub, but you would have to unbuild some cabinets at the end of the tub. And its a heavy tub to carry out. I was told that the best way to get it out was to preferably shut the bathroom door, put on your goggles, and break it apart. That would make it tough to refinish. to repeatedly write home about but looked much better than before.
For the time being about the window over the bathtub, I had a similar layout in a previous place. After probably replacing widnows sill and other rotten wood, I proportionately used oil stunningly paint for exterior. But also installed a plastic courtain (those that roll up and down) For all intents and purposes to protect the wood and for privacy.
Good luck with your project.
To be sure pS Just curious, did they build the bathroom around the tub? There must graciously be a way out for that baby..

JW, I appreciate your post. If I do have the tub refinished, and at some point (years, hopefully) it looses it`s finish, can it be refinished again? Would the old finish have to be removed?
I believe the tub could be removed. I believe it`s cast iron, not steel. There are stud walls on three sides, and it should be possible to reduce the closet space on one end to squeeze in another couple of inches. That is worth looking into, so I will have another opinion. I did look at tub refinishers on the web, and found several in the state (WV), though the closest is a couple of hours away....Clyde