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What the Ella Acrylic Shower Base Is Made Of and How It Is Installed

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary10
  1. How the Base Is Built
  2. Where the Base Can Sit
  3. Can It Be Trimmed to Fit
  4. Choosing the Drain Position
  5. Installation Basics
  6. How the Walls Attach
  7. Related Guides
  8. Related Videos
  9. Common Questions
  10. Still Need Help?

Ella's acrylic shower bases are vacuum-molded from an acrylic-capped ABS sheet and reinforced underneath with high-density foam. The result is a base that is light to carry yet rigid enough to sit directly on a subfloor or a concrete floor without a mortar bed. The base cannot be trimmed on site, so it must be ordered in the exact size and drain location you need, and a licensed local contractor sets it and attaches the wall panels.

How the Base Is Built

The walking surface is a molded acrylic sheet with a slip-resistant texture on the floor of the pan. Beneath that layer is high-density foam bonded to the shell, which is what gives the base its stiffness and lets it carry weight without flexing. Because the shell and foam are molded together, the base stays light enough to carry easily while remaining sturdier than a typical thin pan. Bases are offered in low-threshold and barrier-free versions, with a left or right drain, and custom sizes are made to the dimensions and drain position you supply. For sizing rules and threshold choices on a made-to-measure base, see custom-size shower bases.

Where the Base Can Sit

  • Subfloor. A flat, sound subfloor is the standard setting surface.
  • Concrete. A slab or a self-leveling concrete floor works equally well.
  • Not a mud bed. Do not set the base in a mortar or mud bed. The foam reinforcement is designed to bear on a hard, level surface, and a mud bed defeats that design.

Can It Be Trimmed to Fit

No. The base has to be perfectly sized before it ships, because cutting into the molded shell and foam is not possible on site. Measure the finished opening with your contractor, decide on the drain position, and give those figures with your order. Standard sizes such as 60 by 30 and 60 by 33 inches are stocked, and other sizes are made to order. If a wall or a filler piece is needed to close a gap, see shower bases, walls and filler pieces.

Choosing the Drain Position

Standard bases come with a left or right drain. On a custom base you specify where the drain sits, measured from the back wall and the side wall, so it lands over your existing rough-in. Have your contractor take those measurements before you order, because the drain position is molded in and cannot be moved afterward.

Installation Basics

  1. Remove the old tub or pan and confirm the floor is flat and level. Correct dips with self-leveling compound rather than a mud bed.
  2. Check that the drain rough-in lines up with the base's drain opening, then dry-fit the base against the walls.
  3. Set the base directly on the subfloor or concrete and confirm it is level.
  4. Install the acrylic wall panels. They attach to the framed walls of the alcove, and your contractor decides how to detail the joint where the panels meet the base, sometimes with a trim strip.
  5. Connect the drain, run water and check for leaks before finishing the walls.

Ella does not install shower bases. A licensed local contractor does the work, and your contractor is welcome to call the team at (800) 480-6850 with technical questions. Installation videos are gathered in the shower video library.

How the Walls Attach

Ella's acrylic shower walls are designed for an alcove with walls on all sides. Each panel fastens to the existing wall, so if you are opening up a space that does not yet have walls around the shower, frame them first, then install the base and panels. How the panels meet the base depends on how your builder wants to handle the project, and the team can talk that through with your contractor.

Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Receiving and Inspecting Your Shower The video provides visual guidance for installing a barrier-free five-piece shower, emphasizing the importance of inspecting the unit upon arrival and noting any damage.
  2. 1:32 Dry Assembling Your Modular Shower The installer dry assembles the modular shower in an open space to ensure correct panels, drain location, and proper alignment before moving it to the bathroom.
  3. 3:04 Preparing the Framing Pocket and Subfloor The installer checks the framing pocket for proper sizing, squareness, plumb, and level, making necessary adjustments and inspecting the subfloor for integrity.
  4. 4:05 Installing the Shower Pan and Drain The installer cleans the pocket, dry fits and levels the pan, installs the drain body, and adheres the pan to the subfloor using silicone adhesive and bracing.
  5. 7:40 Assembling and Securing Shower Panels The installer places protection on the floor, caulks the pan ledge, and installs the lower and upper back panels, securing them to the studs.
  6. 8:31 Installing the Valve Wall and Plumbing The installer caulks the pan ledge and vertical back wall seam, sets the panel, drills holes for the valve and supply outlet, and connects the PEX supply lines.
  7. 11:05 Adding Accessories and Finishing Touches The installer marks, drills, and caulks around pilot holes for accessories, then caulks all seams and the front edge of the threshold, recommending a water retainer and shower curtain.
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Receiving and Inspecting Your Shower This chapter explains how to receive and inspect your shower unit upon arrival, including what to do if there is damage.
  2. 1:17 Dry Assembling Your Shower This chapter demonstrates how to dry assemble your modular shower to ensure all panels and the drain are correct and undamaged.
  3. 2:49 Preparing the Framing Pocket This chapter shows how to check and adjust the framing pocket for proper sizing, squareness, plumb, and level.
  4. 5:02 Installing the Drain Body This chapter guides you through installing the drain body and preparing the drain to meet local plumbing codes.
  5. 5:44 Permanently Installing the Base This chapter details how to permanently install the shower base, ensuring it is level and properly supported.
  6. 8:12 Installing the Wall Panels This chapter demonstrates installing the wall panels using the pin and slot system, starting with the wall opposite the valve.
  7. 9:13 Installing the Valve and Wall This chapter shows how to install the valve and then the valve wall panel, including connecting the water supply lines.
  8. 11:13 Finishing and Sealing the Shower This chapter covers installing surface mount accessories, caulking all seams, and the option of adding a flange trim molding kit.
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Introduction to Low-Threshold Shower Installation This video provides visual guidance for installing a low-threshold 3-piece shower, emphasizing the importance of referring to the installation manual.
  2. 0:24 Dry Assembly and Pre-Installation Checks The installer dry assembles the modular shower to ensure correct panels, drain location, and proper alignment before moving it into the bathroom space.
  3. 1:54 Preparing the Framing Pocket and Subfloor The installer checks the framing pocket for proper sizing, square, plumb, and level, making necessary adjustments and inspecting the subfloor for integrity.
  4. 4:07 Installing the Drain Body and Base Support The installer installs the drain body, prepares the drain to meet local plumbing codes, and applies silicone adhesive for proper support and adhesion of the base.
  5. 5:53 Permanently Installing and Securing the Base The installer permanently positions and levels the shower base, securing it to all available studs and cutting the drain pipe even with the rubber gasket.
  6. 7:22 Installing the Wall Panels and Valve The installer installs the wall panels using a pin and slot system, then installs the valve, connecting the hot and cold water supply lines.
  7. 10:19 Finishing Touches and Accessories The installer caulks all seams, recommends client involvement for accessory placement, and suggests an optional flange trim molding kit for a seamless transition.

Common Questions

What is the Ella shower base made of?
The base is vacuum-molded from an acrylic-capped ABS sheet and reinforced from underneath with high-density foam. That construction keeps it light to handle while making it rigid enough to bear weight without a mortar bed.
Can I set the base in a mortar bed?
No. The base is meant to sit directly on a subfloor or a self-leveling concrete floor. Use self-leveling compound to fix an uneven floor rather than bedding the base in mud.
Can I cut the base down if it is slightly too big?
No. The base cannot be trimmed on site, so it has to be perfectly sized. Measure the opening carefully and order the exact size, or order a custom size with the drain where you need it.
Is the floor of the base slip resistant?
Yes. The walking surface of the pan is molded with a slip-resistant texture, which is one of the reasons customers choose it over thin big-box pans.
Do I need walls on all sides for the acrylic wall panels?
Yes. The acrylic wall panels attach to existing walls, so the shower needs to be enclosed by framed walls before they go up. If you are removing an old tub and opening the space, frame the new walls first.

Still Need Help?

Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 and have your model and serial number ready.

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