Can Ella Cut a Walk-Through Opening or Add a Door to My Existing Bathtub?

No. Ella's Bubbles manufactures complete walk-in bathtubs and does not cut a walk-through opening, add a door or gate, or make any other alteration to an existing bathtub or tub and shower combination. There is no Ella cut-in kit or conversion product. If you want to keep your current tub, a licensed plumber or contractor would have to evaluate that kind of modification on their own, without Ella parts or support. Staff usually suggest looking at a purpose-built walk-in tub instead, because it gives you a sealed low door, a seat and grab bars rather than an opening in a tub that was never designed to have one.

Why Ella Only Sells Complete Tubs

A walk-in tub's door, seal, frame and threshold are engineered together. The door closes on an integrated gasket with a multi-latch gear and shaft mechanism, the acrylic shell sits on a rustproof stainless steel frame, and every tub is assembled and tested to order before it ships. None of that can be added to a standard tub after the fact, so Ella does not offer cut-ins or customizations of any kind. The same answer applies to a tub and shower combination where only the tub wall is the problem.

What a Walk-In Tub Gives You That a Cut-In Does Not

• A low step-in threshold. The Capri, for example, has a 3.5-inch threshold, far lower than the wall of a standard tub.
• A built-in seat at a comfortable height, so the bather sits rather than lowering down to the floor of the tub.
• Grab bars, a watertight door and a fast-fill faucet and gravity dual drain designed to work together.
• Optional hydro massage, air massage, heated seat and chromatherapy for a therapeutic soak.

For a fuller comparison, read the practical differences between a walk-in tub and a regular bathtub.

Keeping Your Existing Layout

Most Ella walk-in tubs go into the same three-wall alcove your current tub occupies, so you keep the room's layout and plumbing locations. Read what an alcove installation is for how that works, and use the walk-in tub size and measuring guide to see which models fit the length and width you have. When the tub is shorter than the alcove, an extension panel fills the gap, and a knee wall can hide the plumbing or carry fixtures. Ella tubs use their own deck-mount faucet packages, so your existing tub spout and handles are normally replaced rather than reused. If reusing a wall-mounted faucet matters to you, the LayDown 30 by 60 has no factory faucet option and requires a customer-supplied faucet, typically wall-mounted. If a walk-in shower turns out to be the better fit for your household, the shower builder tool lets you plan a base and walls instead.

Special Situations

Mobile homes, condos, upper floors and concrete slabs each have their own considerations for weight, drain access and electrical. See installing in mobile homes, condos, upper floors and on slabs before you choose a model.

Next Steps

1. Measure the alcove length, width and height, plus the bathroom doorway and any tight turns on the way in.
2. Choose a model with the threshold, seat height and door swing that suits the bather.
3. Hire a licensed plumber and electrician. Ella does not install; your installer can get free technical support by phone and live video during the job.
4. Contact your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 with your measurements to confirm fit and options.

Related Guides

• Walk-in tub dimensions by model: exterior sizes, seat widths, and door types
• Which Ella walk-in tub is right for me? Choosing between the tub families
• Using Your Own Faucet: No-Faucet Orders, Pre-Drilled Decks, Wall-Mount Options, and Which Tubs Require a Customer-Supplied Faucet

Common Questions

Still Need Help?

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