How Are Walk-In Tubs Installed in an Existing Bathroom, Step by Step?

A walk-in tub is installed in an existing bathroom by a licensed local contractor, most often in the three-wall opening where a standard 60 inch bathtub used to sit. The tub stands on its own stainless steel frame and leveling legs, so the job is to prepare the space, level the tub, connect the plumbing and electrical, water test it, and only then finish the walls around it. What Is an Alcove Installation for a Walk-In Tub? explains the most common placement, and this page walks through the whole job in order.

Who Does the Installation

Ella's Bubbles manufactures the tub and does not perform installations. The work is done by a licensed, experienced local contractor, typically a plumber and an electrician. Ella's technical support is free, and it supports your contractor with manuals and live video help. Any licensed installer is fine, and certification by Ella is not required.

That split carries through to the warranty. Ella's lifetime limited warranty covers parts, and the labor is warranted by the independent contractor who did the work. It is a good reason to choose an installer you trust and to keep their contact details with your tub paperwork.

Where the Tub Goes in an Existing Bathroom

Most bathrooms were framed around a 60 inch tub, so that is the opening you are usually filling. In an alcove installation the tub is enclosed on the back and both ends, with only the front apron exposed. Every Ella tub fits an alcove.

• Tubs that are 60 inches or longer fill the space on their own. A 60 inch tub such as the Ultimate is actually 59.5 inches, which is why it needs no extension panel.
• Most 52 and 55 inch models use an Ella extension panel that mounts at the end of the tub frame and fills the gap, so the finished installation looks built in.
• A few models, such as the Front Entry and Mobile, have no extension panel, so the installer frames and finishes any remaining space instead.

An alcove is not the only choice. Ella tubs are finished for front and end exposure: every model includes a finished front apron and one reversible end panel, and a second end panel is available. No Ella model has a factory cover for the side opposite the door, so wherever the back does not meet an existing wall, your contractor builds a short framed wall behind it. What Is a Knee Wall Behind a Walk-In Tub? covers that wall in detail. With a knee wall, any model can sit in a three-wall alcove, in a corner, against a single back wall with both ends open, or in the middle of a large bathroom.

The Installation Sequence

The order matters, because the walls close only after the tub has proven itself watertight. A typical job in an existing bathroom follows these steps.

1. Measure the path and the opening. Measure the narrowest point of every exterior door, interior door, hallway and stairway between the delivery point and the bathroom. Then measure the width of the opening wall to wall, at the back and at the front. Always plan around the actual size on the spec sheet and not the nominal model name.
2. Confirm the door and drain sides. The door and the tub drains are on opposite sides of an Ella walk-in tub. A right-side door tub has its drains on the left, and a left-side door tub has its drains on the right, as you face the tub. Your contractor compares that with where the house drain sits.
3. Frame what the layout needs. In an alcove that may be nothing more than the space for an extension panel. Away from a wall, the contractor frames the knee wall to the finished height of your model.
4. Rough in the plumbing and electrical. The contractor runs the drain under the tub if the house drain is on the far side, and places outlets and shut-off valves within reach of the cords and supply lines.
5. Set and level the tub. The tub does not rely on walls for support. It is leveled on its own legs, with every leg touching the floor.
6. Complete the pre-installation water test. The tub is water tested before anything is closed in. Only after the test does the contractor close the wall.
7. Finish the walls. The walls above the deck are finished with tile or a surround over an aftermarket tile flange, so water runs back into the tub. Every joint is finished with silicone.

Ask your installer to photograph the framing and the shut-off locations before the wall closes. Those photos are a real help years later if a connection ever needs attention.

Service Access, the Step That Is Easy to Forget

The pumps, heater and cords live behind the front apron, so the apron and its access panels must stay reachable whatever the layout. An alcove adds one more consideration. The plumbing end of the tub is against a wall, which limits service access. Ask your installer to add a wall access panel behind the plumbing end, so pumps and drain connections can be reached without disturbing tile.

Two more rules protect the equipment and the finish:

• Do not insulate around the equipment. The space around the tub must never be packed with insulation.
• Where both ends of the tub are exposed, add the second end panel for a finished look. It can be included on your order through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, or requested later.

Shower Options That Change the Installation

Decide before installation day whether the tub will also be used for showering, because some accessories depend on the layout. Every Ella fast fill faucet set includes an extendable hand shower, and an optional Shower Column Kit adds an overhead rain shower to a tub with an Ella 2-piece or 5-piece deck mount fast fill faucet. Can I Shower in a Walk-In Tub? Hand Showers, Shower Columns, and Screens compares the choices.

• A shower column installed on a tub with an extension panel uses the long 4 to 5 inch pipe connector to reach the wall.
• The 4-fold glass screen converts to a 3-fold screen by removing one section, which is how it fits a 52 inch tub in a 60 inch alcove with an extension panel.
• Do not attach the hand held shower to a wall bracket unless the extension hose with the barrel protection is installed. Without it, water can travel down the hose and leak behind the tub where you cannot see it.

After the Tub Is in

Two short tasks finish the job. First, flush the system before the first bath. Combine 2 cups of white vinegar with 2 cups of water, fill the tub with water to one inch above the highest jets, add the mixture, run the tub for 10 minutes, then drain. The same flush is repeated once a month.

Second, activate the warranty. Activation is required to put the warranty in force, and the 2-page activation form must be completed and signed by both the customer and the installer. It is easiest to do this while your installer is still on site. If you have questions about the form, reach the team through ellasbubbles.com/support or (800) 480-6850.

Related Guides

• Common Installation Questions: Tile Order, Leveling Legs, Subfloor, Panels, Drain Size and the Outdoor Test
• Common Electrical Questions: 15 or 20 Amps, One Circuit or Two, GFCI at the Outlet or the Breaker, Cord Labels and Diagrams
• Common Plumbing Questions: One P-Trap or Two, Y Versus T, Center Drains, Drain to the Floor, Supply Threads and No Drain Pump

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