How do I build or install a walk-in shower at home?
Updated September 2026
Building a walk-in shower with Ella's Bubbles starts with a design, not a toolbox. You put the shower together online with the Shower Builder Tool, a contractor then visits your home to measure the space and finalize the installation details, and the base, wall panels and any screen are ordered as the pieces that contractor will install. Ella's Bubbles manufactures the shower components; a local licensed contractor does the installation work.
Step One: Design the Shower Online
The online shower builder lets you scroll through the options Ella's Bubbles offers and put together a custom shower design before your project moves forward. It is meant to help you picture the finished shower, so treat what you build as the starting point for a conversation with your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 rather than a finished order. Ella's Bubbles also offers a walk-in tub builder tool; if a tub might suit you better than a shower, ask for the link.
Step Two: A Contractor Measures and Finalizes the Details
Once your design is complete, a contractor will visit your home to measure your space in person and finalize the installation details based on your actual bathroom. This is where the design meets your existing plumbing rough-in and the real dimensions of the alcove. Ella's Bubbles does not send its own technicians, so the measuring and the installation are handled locally by a licensed plumber or contractor, with the components supplied through your Ella dealer.
Step Three: Choose the Base and Threshold
Ella's Bubbles manufactures its own shower bases in standard sizes of 30x60, 32x60 and 36x60 inches, each available with a left or right drain, and fully custom sizes are also made. A custom base typically has a threshold of about 3 inches, while zero threshold bases sit flush with the surrounding floor for a barrier free entry, which can make getting in easier. The Shower Bases and Wall Panels guide covers the full range, and your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 can confirm which threshold style fits your bathroom and your existing plumbing rough-in.
Step Four: Choose the Wall Panels and the Front
Shower wall panels are manufactured at 98 inches high, with side panels measuring 40 inches and the back wall panel measuring 60 inches. Styles include a plain white finish, a CNC routed design with light gray grout lines, and a digital print option, so ask to see samples before you decide. Bases are usually paired with multi-piece wall kits rather than sold as stand alone pieces, and a four-fold or LayDown glass screen can be added once the base and walls are in place.
Shower or Walk-In Tub?
Ella's Bubbles offers both walk-in tubs and walk-in showers, assembled in Chicago and shipped nationwide through its dealer network. If you are weighing a shower against a tub, the walk-in tub general overview explains the tub side of the lineup.
Related Guides
- What the Ella Acrylic Shower Base Is Made Of and How It Is Installed
- Acrylic 6-Piece Wall Panel Kit: Size, Shelves, Thickness and How It Compares to the 3-Piece Surround and SMC Panels
- How to Get Pricing and Order Ella Grout-Free Shower Wall Tiles: Measuring Your Walls and Estimating Boxes
Related Videos
Chapters in this video
- 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.
- 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.
- 3:04 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.
- 4:05 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 2:49 Preparing the Framing Pocket This chapter shows how to check and adjust the framing pocket for proper sizing, squareness, plumb, and level.
- 5:02 Installing the Drain Body This chapter guides you through installing the drain body and preparing the drain to meet local plumbing codes.
- 5:44 Permanently Installing the Base This chapter details how to permanently install the shower base, ensuring it is level and properly supported.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 4:07 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.
- 5:53 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.
- 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.
- 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
Can I install an Ella walk-in shower myself?
Does Ella's Bubbles install the shower for me?
What sizes do Ella shower bases come in?
Can the walk-in shower have no step at all?
How tall are the Ella shower wall panels?
Where do I get the shower components for my contractor?
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